Dive Summary:

• Idaho Power Co. will ditch its demand response (DR) program providing a $7 credit every summer month to customers and irrigators using less power at peak times.
• The $17. 8 million program allowed the utility to remotely control air conditioners and irrigation pumps but the costs of the initiative were passed to customers via annual rate charges, outweighing the value of DR to customers.
• In a compromise with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the utility will scale- down DR for one year and re-strategize the program for future use.

From the article:
“Due primarily to the economic downturn, Idaho Power now claims its generating plants can meet peak demand in the summer months at least through 2016, eliminating the need for the programs.”