The ever-increasing cost of electricity can squeeze Wyomingites’ monthly budgets, but Rocky Mountain Power says ongoing rate hikes are necessary. 

The company, which serves about 144,000 customers in Wyoming, will host a series of workshops to explain its newest proposed electric rate hikes in the state and take questions from customers.

The company — a division of Warren Buffet’s PacifiCorp — recently filed requests to the Wyoming Public Service Commission for a combined 16.5% increase, or a total of $116.3 million.

“We understand that a price increase is never welcome news, so we want to meet with customers to answer their questions and share with them the financial conditions our company is facing that are driving recent price increases,” Rocky Mountain Power Vice President for Wyoming Sharon Fain said in a statement.

Rate hike proposals

Rocky Mountain Power in April filed for a 12.3% rate increase that — if approved — would tap Wyoming customers for a one-time $86.4 million, mostly due to higher-than-expected fuel costs in 2023, according to the utility. If Wyoming regulators approve the full amount, the company’s typical residential customer will experience a 9.3% increase, or about $12 more to their monthly bill, beginning July 1 and lasting for 12 months, the company said.

This map depicts the PacifiCorp and Rocky Mountain Power service territory. (Rocky Mountain Power)

In another request filed in April, Rocky Mountain Power seeks permission to cancel a ratepayer credit derived from the then-President Donald Trump-era Tax Cuts and Jobs Act because it is set to expire, resulting in another 4.2% hike, or about $29.9 million.

The company is also expected to file another request to increase its general rate for Wyoming customers.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission approved an 8.3% general rate increase for the company last year, and allowed the company to tap ratepayers for a one-time fuel cost adjustment.

Customer workshops

  • Monday, May 13,  4 p.m.–7 p.m. in Casper at the Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, 800 N. Poplar St.
  • Tuesday, May 14,  4 p.m.–7 p.m. in Laramie at the Holiday Inn Laramie, 204 South 30th St.
  • Wednesday, May 15, 4 p.m.–7 p.m. in Rawlins, EconoLodge, 1801 E. Cedar St.
  • Thursday, May 16, 4–7 p.m. in Riverton, Holiday Inn Riverton, 900 E. Sunset Blvd.
  • Friday, May 17, 4 p.m.–7 p.m. in Rock Springs, Sweetwater Events Complex, Pronghorn Room, 3320 Yellowstone Rd.
  • May 28, 4 p.m.–7 p.m. in Cody, Holiday Inn Cody-at Buffalo Bill Village, 1701 Sheridan Ave.

Company officials will discuss what’s driving higher utility costs and provide information about state and federal payment assistance programs.

Comments regarding the proposed 12.3% rate increase can be submitted to the Wyoming Public Service Commission at this email address: wpsc_comments@wyo.gov. Be sure to include that your comment regards Docket No. 20000-664-EM-24.

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include how to submit a public comment. —Ed

Dustin Bleizeffer covers energy and climate at WyoFile. He has worked as a coal miner, an oilfield mechanic, and for more than 25 years as a statewide reporter and editor primarily covering the energy...

Join the Conversation

4 Comments

WyoFile's goal is to provide readers with information and ideas that foster constructive conversations about the issues and opportunities our communities face. One small piece of how we do that is by offering a space below each story for readers to share perspectives, experiences and insights. For this to work, we need your help.

What we're looking for: 

  • Your real name — first and last. 
  • Direct responses to the article. Tell us how your experience relates to the story.
  • The truth. Share factual information that adds context to the reporting.
  • Thoughtful answers to questions raised by the reporting or other commenters.
  • Tips that could advance our reporting on the topic.
  • No more than three comments per story, including replies. 

What we block from our comments section, when we see it:

  • Pseudonyms. WyoFile stands behind everything we publish, and we expect commenters to do the same by using their real name.
  • Comments that are not directly relevant to the article. 
  • Demonstrably false claims, what-about-isms, references to debunked lines of rhetoric, professional political talking points or links to sites trafficking in misinformation.
  • Personal attacks, profanity, discriminatory language or threats.
  • Arguments with other commenters.

Other important things to know: 

  • Appearing in WyoFile’s comments section is a privilege, not a right or entitlement. 
  • We’re a small team and our first priority is reporting. Depending on what’s going on, comments may be moderated 24 to 48 hours from when they’re submitted — or even later. If you comment in the evening or on the weekend, please be patient. We’ll get to it when we’re back in the office.
  • We’re not interested in managing squeaky wheels, and even if we wanted to, we don't have time to address every single commenter’s grievance. 
  • Try as we might, we will make mistakes. We’ll fail to catch aliases, mistakenly allow folks to exceed the comment limit and occasionally miss false statements. If that’s going to upset you, it’s probably best to just stick with our journalism and avoid the comments section.
  • We don’t mediate disputes between commenters. If you have concerns about another commenter, please don’t bring them to us.

The bottom line:

If you repeatedly push the boundaries, make unreasonable demands, get caught lying or generally cause trouble, we will stop approving your comments — maybe forever. Such moderation decisions are not negotiable or subject to explanation. If civil and constructive conversation is not your goal, then our comments section is not for you. 

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. The hike in prices is nothing different than what PG&E has done to their customers. All it does is give the company money to pay out bonuses to its higher up employees. Some employee makes a HUGE bonus for keeping the dust off the counter tops and window sills. They accommodate the bonus by raising your electric and gas prices. Seen this move in the past plenty of times. It just takes someone to find the evidence. Then watch them stutter and trip on their own tongues to give you a fake answer! It’s all about lining the pockets of these people who in all actuality laugh at us because they get away with this stuff.

    Reply

  2. yada, yada, yada, more lip service and to waste my time and breath again telling this sold out board of so-called advocates for us ( tony) Mr Case will get the best deal for us. | Don’t buy it folks. RMP made some bad decisions putting wind and solar above what is cheap and abundant and were getting the stick broke off in our Rears. Why has no one sought out another company to supply our needs and tell RMP to take a f in a rolling donut: with us exporting and wyoming getting the money for state coffers for exporting and taxing 80% of our power, why are we getting poked everytime this company makes a bad deal. i say boo hoo RMP you own your own mistakes. i do when i make a bad investment: hows that for public comment. fee free to pass it on to our fake advocates.

    Reply

  3. Rate increase because fuel cost increases? Really? Fine.. everyone knows that fuel costs are higher, however.. given an increase fueled by fuel costs is given, after the fuel costs drop does the given fuel cost driven price for electricity go down?? IF so, how long does it take to drop after fuel costs at the pump drop?

    Reply
    1. Reply