12/12/08

State Public Utilities Commission staff members are asking their bosses to approve an expanded program that's getting the nod from Idaho Power Company and the State Irrigation Pumpers Association.

The program would give irrigators credits on their electricity bills when they agree to turn off their pumps during hot summer days, when electrical demand is at it's highest.

Idaho Power officials say all it's customers would benefit, since costs to reimburse irrigation pumpers for not using their equipment would be less than the cost of building new power plants to provided all the electricity needed during those peak demand time periods.