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Power Buyback by Dr. Greg Nelson Idaho Farm Bureau News, May 2001

With spiking energy costs and predictions for about 51 percent of normal run-off, water and energy outlook is not good. Idaho Power offered its buyback of power from farmers using at least 100,000 kilowatt per year at 15 cents per kilowatt hour. About 151,000 acres of farm ground went out of production with that offer.

PacifiCorps (Utah Power) offered only 8.5 cents for their buyback but on March 30 announced that they, too, are offering 15 cents per kwh. In their buyback, pumps have to be disconnected.

Avista (Washington Water Power) held its offer at 10 cents per kwh for both Washington and north Idaho, but there are few large pump farmers in their service area. We are not sure at this point what effect these buybacks will have on regional economies, but for individuals it looks like it may help keep some people in business.

(bluefish had further discussion with PacifiCorps and found that as of May 11th, 429 sites had signed up at 15 cents and 30 sites at 13.5 cents. Conservative estimates suggests that this removes 257,590 kw from June 1 to September 15 or about 400,000 Megawatt*hours assuming a 60% load).