Rocky Mountain Power seeks to increase Utah rates 30% by 2026
Jul 2, 2024, 9:30 AM
High-tension power lines run along Mountain View Corridor on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY— Rocky Mountain Power has filed a request with the Utah Public Service Commission to increase its rates by just over 30% between now and the start of 2026.
Rocky Mountain Power is seeking to increase customers’ rates from 2.31 cents per kilowatt hour to 3.35 cents per kilowatt hour.
The company said the rate hike would increase power bills by just over $24 a month on average for residential Utahns.
The increase would come in two waves. The first price increase would happen on February 23, 2025. The company said at that point, residential Utahns would start paying an extra $13.87 on their power bills.
By Jan. 1, 2026, residential Utahns would start paying an additional $10.27 on their power bills, according to the company.
Rocky Mountain Power’s president speaks out
Dick Garlish, president of Rocky Mountain Power joined KSL at Night on Monday to talk about the company’s request.
“We are aware that [price] increases impact folks, and we’re trying to mitigate those,” Garlish said.
Garlish said the main driving factor behind Rocky Mountain Power’s request is inflation impacting the company. And, it’s impacting others in the energy sector.
“We’re feeling it now a little bit later on the curve,” Garlish said.
According to Rocky Mountain Power’s website, the average monthly power bills for residential Utahns is just over $115 a month.
However, that’s significantly cheaper than other states and is well below the U.S. average, according to data shared on the site.
“I think even with this increase, we will stay … very competitive in the affordability range,” Garlish said.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox criticized the company’s request on X.
“The proposed rate increase from Rocky Mountain Power would be laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous. The proposal is completely unacceptable. The audacity and lack of awareness with this request seriously calls into question management at RMP. I will do everything I can to make…
— Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox (@GovCox) June 30, 2024
The Utah Public Service Commission will have the final say on whether the rate hike happens or not.
Adam Small is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio. He primarily reports on the Great Salt Lake and Natural Resources. Follow him on Facebook and X.
