Facts About Idaho Power
Our secure energy future is built on responsible planning and development, responsible preservation of resources and responsible energy use.
Our energy future and the future of our communities is dependent on the understanding, input and actions of each of us.
The information below provides facts about our customers, generation resources, and our business.
2008 Customers by Type
Idaho Power provides low-cost, reliable energy to nearly a half-million people, powering the lives of residential, irrigation, and commercial and industrial customers since 1916.
Right-click on the pie chart to print, rotate image, or view in 2D.
2008 Energy Sources
Idaho Power must balance competing considerations to ensure comfort and security for today’s customers, as well as tomorrow’s.
Balancing the elements of our three part strategy—responsible energy planning, responsible development and protection of resources, and responsible energy use—ensures we meet future challenges conscientiously.
In 2008, 79 percent of our energy resources came from Idaho Power-owned generation resources. In above average water years, our low-cost, renewable hydroelectric plants are the largest source of energy for our customers.
- Market Purchases are electric power purchases from other utilities in the wholesale electric market.
- Long Term Power Purchases are electric power contracts with small and utility scale energy producers and firm power purchase agreements with other utilities.
Right-click on the pie chart to print, rotate image, or view in 2D.
*Long Term Power Purchases by Resource Type
Please Note: This disclosure of the generation resource types supporting our long-term purchases does not claim or represent that any environmental green tags (Renewable Energy Credits or “RECS” ) or attributes benefit or otherwise accrue to Idaho Power or its customers.
Idaho Power is an electric utility engaged in the following activities regarding electric energy:
- Generation
- Transmission
- Distribution
- Sales
- Purchases
Idaho Power-Owned Generation Resources
| Resource by Type | MW Nameplate Capacity | Number of Plants |
| Hydro | 1,709 | 17 |
| Coal* | 1,118 | 3 |
| Natural Gas | 444 | 2 |
| Diesel | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 3,276 | 23 |
*Idaho Power has partial ownership in each coal plant.
At the end of 2008, Idaho Power had 487,165 customers within a 24,000-square-mile area in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon.
With 17 low-cost hydroelectric projects as the core of our generation portfolio, our residential, business and agricultural customers pay some of the nation’s lowest prices for electricity.
The company is regulated by:
- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- The Idaho Public Utilities Commission
- The Oregon Public Utility Commission
Idaho Power is the chief operating subsidiary of holding company IDACORP, Inc., traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IDA.
As of Dec. 31, 2008
Service Area
Population of Service Area: 1,000,000
Square Miles of Service Area: 24,000
Customers
Residential Customers Added in the Past Year: 3,736
Number of Substations: 297
Transmission Line Pole Miles: 4,752
Distribution Line Pole Miles (Underground & Overhead): 26,576
Number of Full-Time Employees: 2,057
Sales and Load Facts (2008)
Total Annual MWh Sales: 16,591,948
Peak Load—MW (June 30, Summer 2008): 3,214
Peak Load—MW (Jan. 24, Winter 2008): 2,464
Related Information
Learn more about our CO2 emissions by viewing charts about:
© 1995-2009 Idaho Power Company.

