Utilities commission approves emergency surcharge for Atlanta Power,

Atlanta Power Company’s 75 or so customers in rural Elmore County will see their utility bills increase this summer, after the Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved a 33.6 percent emergency surcharge effective July 1. The commission said the surcharge – which will increase residential rates from about $81 to $108.22 – will go toward paying down $110,000 in debt incurred from expenses related to the failure of Atlanta Power’s hydroelectric turbine last August. The turbine, though it had been rebuilt and maintained, dated from the early 1900s and failed when pieces of the control gate burst and damaged the unit.

The company had originally requested an emergency surcharge of 54.2 percent on top of a 60.6 percent increase to base rates. According to the company and the commission, Atlanta Power, which isn’t connected to the statewide grid, hasn’t adjusted its base rates for 15 years. The increase will be taken up by the commission at an as-yet unannounced date.

While the commission approved a more limited emergency surcharge, it also ordered the company to keep separate records of customer surcharge payments. The commission said it will review the surcharge when it looks at the proposed base rate increase.

“If they find anything in the course of review that customers should be refunded a portion or all [of the surcharge payments], it just leaves the door open for that possibility,” said commission spokesman Gene Fadness.

Copies of files relating to the case are available on the commission’s Web site.