We see evidence of growth everywhere. Longer lines, more traffic, and new development.
 
Planning engineers anticipate an annual average growth rate of 2 to 3 percent throughout the company’s service area.
They look at higher-growth areas like eastern Idaho and target the most effective location for new facility additions to meet those growth requirements.

Planning for the Future

Planning engineers monitor growth and project when and where electric load growth will occur. Based on those projections, Idaho Power, together with local jurisdictions and customers, devises a construction strategy that stays ahead of the growth curve.

The company invests tens of millions of dollars annually in distribution, transmission and substation projects. In the past five years, Idaho Power has invested over $445 million – nearly a half billion – in new facilities and projects related to growth and customer need.

Eastern Idaho Load Growth

The eastern Idaho electric load – or demand on the system – increases by about 8 megawatts annually. That’s equal to adding a city the size of American Falls each year. 

In the near future, this growth will begin to strain our system. If no energy supply additions are made, power outages may occur when we have relatively minor emergencies on our system. Learn more.