Session May Be Last Chance For State To Act On Deregulation

If Idaho is to make its own deregulation rules for the electrical utility industry, the next legislative session may be its last chance before Congress steps in.

Gov. Phil Batt, interviewed Friday for KTVB’s “Viewpoint” program, said deregulation is coming whether the state likes it or not.

Idaho Power Co., a large industrial users’ group and two lawmakers plan to present deregulation proposals to the next Legislature.

Congress may not pass a bill of its own this year because of strong opposition from Western lawmakers who represent states with low-cost power. That gives Idaho a chance to take the lead.

But state lawmakers are uncertain whether any legislation that may be enacted will actually move Idaho closer to deregulation. Few legislators think Idaho is ready to see its hydroelectricity-based power industry deregulated.

State Rep. Ron Crane, R-Caldwell, cochairman of the Legislature’s special committee on deregulation, said his committee hasn’t decided to draft a bill.

‘That does not mean that individual people won’t come forward,” Crane said.

Sen. Laird Noh, chairman of the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, thinks Crane’s committee will work on legislation to extend the authority of the Idaho Public Utilities commission to gather information and make decisions for Idaho utilities.

“I also have several ideas of things that I’m working on that I am not ready to discuss,” he said.

Noh predicted there will be some kind of legislation on deregulation. “But I would be very surprised if the state moves down the road to restructuring,” he said.

Others involved in the debate say they plan to submit proposals.

Idaho Power will present a bill that would require large users to pay a fee if they take their business to another utility.

A coalition of large industrial users, including FMC Corp. and Potlatch, will present a plan calling for electricity competition for large users by 1999.

Conley Ward, former member of the Public Utilities Commission who represents the large users, said the group is still polishing the proposal.