Public Service Commission Decides Power Rate Case
George Funk is "Pleased in retrospect"
by Jennifer Binning

"Had I known then what I know now, I would have asked for more," said George Funk on Wednesday after he was notified that the Wyoming Public Service Commission had ruled on the Pacific Power rate case.

The PSC took almost all the time they were allowed to issue its order to Pacific Power. Last year, Pacificorp applied for a $12 million rate increase, but several groups intervened in the case, including Pinedale's George Funk. Mr. Funk had noticed that power consumers in the western half of the state were paying considerably higher rates than those in the east, and he asked he PSC to force Pacificorp to bring the rates in the west more in line with those in the east.

The PSC will allow a 9.9 percent increase in the power rates in the eastern half of the state, and a 5 percent increase in the west, which should average out to a $1.29 increase per month for Sublette County consumers, according to a report in the Casper Star-Tribune.

The PSC also has told Pacificorp to equalize the rates in the state within seven years.

When he began intervening in the rate case, George Funk said that is exactly what he asked for, but he does have some lingering concerns.

"The parity issue can now be tied to a future rate case, which may or may not be filed within the next year. We need to move on it right now before it gets lost in other issues," Mr. Funk said on Wednesday.

The PSC allowed Pacificorp a $10.62 million rate hike, cutting $1.38 million of the request as unjustifiable.

The rate increase is expected to take effect immediately.