Rocky Mountain Power Rate Hike For Wyoming APPROVED

Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) residential customers should prepare to see their monthly electric bills jump starting this June.

Expect to see an extra $14 on the average bill.

The rate hike was approved by the Wyoming Public Service Commission approved the rate hike Tuesday.

This is the latest in a series of hikes requested by the company.

RMP pointed to market volatility in coal and natural gas markets, skyrocketing insurance for wildfire liability, and major investments in wind and solar power.

The three-member commission voted unanimously to accept the settlement agreement, which was lower than RMP's orgional request.

RMP had originally asked for a $123.5 million increase, or 14.7%, to an increase of about $85.5 million, or 10.2%.

A final order by the commission could potentially change some calculations.

RMP must comply with wind and solar requirements that many in Wyoming regard as “unwise,” according to Commission Deputy Chairman Chris Petrie.

“I think many of those [Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp] decisions represent the utility’s best effort to continue to provide the required service and to control their costs, as best they can, while complying with other pressures exerted on them,” Petrie told WYOFILE.

“We certainly have to acknowledge that there have been significant rate increases that are welcomed by nobody.” (WYOFILE).

The Trump administration's new policies on wind and solar energy, including an end to their subsidies, plus the declassification of CO2 as a "pollutant," will bring major changes to how energy companies invest in wind and solar.

Deregulation of the coal, gas, and oil industries should bring those prices down.