Example 1: A customer used Idaho Power’s energy mix with no extra purchase of renewable energy. The customer’s total annual energy used was 12,000 kWh.

• Total annual kWh used = 12,000
• kWh from zero-emissions renewable energy = 0

Example 2: A customer used some renewable energy by participating in Idaho Power’s Clean Energy Your Way program or from buying RECs. The customer’s total annual energy used was 12,000 kWh, and 5,000 of that total came from renewable energy or RECs purchased through Clean Energy Your Way or a similar voluntary program.

• Total annual kWh used = 12,000
• kWh from zero-emissions renewable energy = 5,000

*Please note that some renewable energy, such as biomass, has associated emissions. If your renewable energy is not zero emissions, enter your kWh like Example 2 above. Then, you will need to separately calculate the emissions from your renewable energy and add that to your Market-Based total. For example, if the biomass you use has an emissions factor of 0.00043 metric tons CO₂e per kWh, you will need to multiply the 5,000 kWh by 0.00043. Then, add the resulting 2.15 metric tons of CO₂e to the total metric tons from your Market-Based total.

If you participate in the Clean Energy Your Way – Flexible Option, you’ll find your renewable energy total as a message on your bill. The bill you receive in January will show your total purchase from the prior year. Bills from other months will show a running total for the current calendar year.

Location-based energy-use emissions factor: 0.0002748 Metric Tons CO₂e per kWh

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s eGRID for WECC Northwest Subregion Total Output Emission Rates (eGRID2022, created 1/30/2024).

• Example calculation: Total energy used for the year = 12,000 kWh
  12,000 x 0.0002748 = 3.298 Metric Tons CO₂e

Market-Based energy-use emissions factor: 0.0003326 Metric Tons CO₂e per kWh

Source: Idaho Power’s 2023 energy supply and sales data. The methodology is based on Idaho Power’s interpretation of the guidance from Edison Electric Institute’s protocol on utility-specific residual mix emissions. See the FAQs for more information on the calculation methodology and data sources.

Only apply the market-based emissions factor to your energy that is not purchased from a zero-emissions renewable source. Some renewable sources, such as biofuels, have emissions. If you use a renewable fuel that has associated emissions, ensure you include the proper emissions for that amount of energy. See the previous FAQ for an example of adding biofuel emissions.

• Example calculation: Total energy used for the year = 12,000 kWh, of which 4,000 kWh was covered with a purchase of wind and solar renewable energy certificates.
  (4,000 x 0) + (8,000 x 0.0003326) = 2.661 Metric Tons CO₂e

On-site generation is energy that you produce and consume yourself; it is not delivered by Idaho Power. On-site generation is generally considered a Scope 1 emission and is not included in the type of calculation on this webpage. There are many resources available with more detailed and nuanced guidance on how to calculate scope 1 and 2 emissions, such as the World Resource Institute’s GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance.

Emissions scopes provide a way to categorize the various emissions that occur either directly or indirectly as a result of one’s actions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains it best:

Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an individual or organization (e.g., emissions associated with fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces, vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Although scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where they are generated, they are accounted for in an individual’s or organization’s GHG inventory because they are a result of their energy use.

Source: epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-1-and-scope-2-inventory-guidance

The Market-Based emissions factor represents the energy Idaho Power delivered to its retail customers. The methodology is based on Idaho Power’s interpretation of the guidance from Edison Electric Institute’s protocol on calculating a utility-specific residual mix emissions rate, which accounts for REC sales and “null” energy, wholesale energy purchases and sales, and specified sales including Clean Energy Your Way sales. Idaho Power adds its total generation and net energy purchases and subtracts specified sales for the total megawatt-hours (MWh) delivered to retail customers. Emissions factors for the various generation plants are sourced from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data. For unspecified energy sources, like purchased power and renewable resources without RECs, Idaho Power uses Oregon DEQ’s aggregated calculated emissions factor for all Oregon electricity providers. Calculations are subject to future revisions, as regulations or industry standard best practices evolve.

For calculating the emissions associated with your electricity use (Scope 2 emissions), there are two methods, and leading sources like the World Resources Institute recommend reporting both.

The location-based method considers the grid’s emissions for the geographic location in which you are using electricity. It does not account for contractual instruments, such as Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) ownership. The location-based method gives a good representation of actual emissions from the energy generation facilities located in the region where you live or do business.

The market-based method considers the purchase of contractual instruments, like RECs, that allow you to reduce or eliminate your emissions from Scope 2 electricity use. Although Idaho Power’s energy supply includes renewable sources, renewable energy is not provided to our customers because we sell the associated RECs. The REC buyers own the rights to claim the zero emissions attributes in their emissions reporting. The energy without the REC is provided to Idaho Power customers and is assigned an average emissions value to use for the market-based method. This is also called the “utility-specific residual energy mix.”

Idaho Power’s published energy mix and Corporate Responsibility Report show the energy supply and emissions that Idaho Power is responsible for in conducting its business of providing electricity. It does not reflect energy delivered to our customers for two reasons. First, at times when Idaho Power’s grid produces more energy than customers need, we sell the excess energy to other utilities, so that portion of the supply is not delivered to customers. Second, the energy generated from renewable sources on Idaho Power’s grid comes with a Renewable Energy Certificate, or REC. The REC represents the right to claim the use of that renewable energy and its associated environmental attributes. Idaho Power sells these RECs on the market, so the buyers – not our customers – get to claim they used that renewable energy. Proceeds from REC sales offset power supply costs, which helps keep our customer prices low.

Yes. Read about our plans, including our short-, medium-, and long-term targets in our Corporate Responsibility Report or on our Clean Today. Cleaner Tomorrow website. You can also see the progress we’ve made on our path away from coal, including our emissions intensity reduction since 2005.