Imperial Irrigation District Approves Tariff For Large Electricity Users

LA QUINTA, CA — The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors approved a tariff Tuesday on projects requiring a high electric load, shifting the costs away from customers while setting a formal process on how the utility governs large electricity users.

Board members unanimously voted to apply a tariff aimed at protecting rate payers, maintaining reliability to the electric grid and providing a pathway for "economic development," officials said.

The tariff will apply to any customer requesting at least 20 megawatts of electricity and meeting an 80% minimum load factor, which is a measurement of electric or energy consumption.

Officials said it would apply to projects including data centers.

The "large-load customers" would be held responsible for financing all costs associated with their projects, including infrastructure and power supply.

The tariff follows months of public reviews that resulted in 243 comments from customers and stakeholders and revisions to the proposal prior to its approval.

"The tariff would also establish a formal process for determining whether IID can reliably serve a project and what system improvements may be required," officials said.

The district would determine whether electric service can be provided and under what conditions, with land-use, zoning and siting decisions remaining under the jurisdiction of cities and counties.