Mops Ii Gets Green Light Regulators Approve Wwp Program Enabling Deer Park Residents To Choose Rate Options

Deer Park residents become power players May 1.

Regulators Wednesday approved a Washington Water Power Co. proposal that will allow 2,256 residential and business customers in that community to choose from a menu of rate options.

Called More Options for Power Service II, or MOPS II, the program will last two years. During that period starting May 1, participants could buy power based on rates that move monthly or yearly depending on activity in the wholesale market.

Another option would allow customers to purchase power from renewable resources such as wind or biomass.

Customers could also decide to stay with the current rate structure. They would have to stick with their choice for one year.

WWP, which wants the Washington Legislature to implement a similar plan statewide, says MOPS II will give consumers the opportunity to experiment with a deregulated electricity marketplace without leaving their traditional utility.

Bruce Folsom, a senior rate analyst with the Spokane utility, said Wednesday those who select an annualized rate under existing market conditions would save about 5 percent compared with WWP charges.

But customers could pay as much as 5 percent more if the market swings upward and they want to back out of their choice, he said.

MOPS II could also be available to 5,570 residents of Hayden Lake if the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves.

Spokesman Dave Scott said the commission is taking public comment on the plan until Jan. 14. Depending on the response, the commission could vote or schedule a hearing, probably in February.

MOPS II replaces, in part, another program designed to give customers a choice of utilities who might undersell WWP.

That pilot, MOPS I, continues in Odessa and Harrington, where a spokesman for the Grant County Public Utility District said about one-quarter of the residents have opted to switch.

, DataTimes