Boise—The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 29 approved Rocky Mountain Power's second year of a two-year rate increase authorized last January for eastern Idaho customers. It takes effect on Jan. 1,2013, and means another sharp rise in power rates for Agrium Inc. and Monsanto, which operate phosphate mining and processing operations in Caribou County. Earlier this year, Josh Regan, plant manager at Agrium's Conda Phosphate Operations, said "Higher utility rates increase the cost of production across the board. Unfortunately, we have seen these costs go up annually for the past several years, and the impact is felt throughout the economy.
展开▼
