Sun Valley Co. will soon be operating its own electrical power distribution facility.
On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission announced its approval of the sale by Idaho Power Co. of a facility that feeds power to the resort.
Jim Bell, Idaho Power Co. area manager, said the sale—which was initiated by Sun Valley Co.—allows the resort to eliminate monthly payments to Idaho Power for maintaining the facility, located near the old Moritz Hospital Building. However, Sun Valley Co. will still pay Idaho Power as before for electricity sent into the resort through a primary meter.
Sun Valley Co. spokesman Jack Sibbach said the sale will give Sun Valley Co. more flexibility in implementing its ambitious master development plan, which includes new hotels, residences and various guest amenities.
A press release from the Idaho Public Utilities Copmmission states that Sinclair Oil Corp., which owns Sun Valley Co., will pay Idaho Power $135,533 for the facility. The purchase price includes $7,500 to remove meters and reconfigure the system to a master-meter arrangement between Idaho Power and Sun Valley Co.
That means the 19 businesses on the Sun Valley Mall will pay their power bills to Sun Valley Co. rather than to Idaho Power Co. However, Sibbach said it will have no effect on rates.
The deal does not affect other Idaho Power customers in the city of Sun Valley. Nor will it affect the power supply to Bald Mountain or Dollar Mountain.
Bell said he plans to meet with Sun Valley Co. representatives soon to finalize the sale.
"We'll lay out the time line and the things that need to be done to separate the two systems," he said. "It could be well into spring."
