Utah regulators have signed off on a long-discussed plan that lets 19 communities band together and use customer dollars to buy new renewable power. In a March 4 order, the Public Service Commission removed the biggest regulatory roadblock for the Utah Renewable Communities initiative. If local governments move ahead, most households in those cities will be swept into the program by default and can expect about a $3–$4 increase on their monthly bills once charges kick in.
What the commission approved
The Public Service Commission approved Rocky Mountain Power’s application to roll out the Community Clean Energy Program, but only after layering on a list of conditions and tweaks. The order (Docket No. 25‑035‑06) outlines a three‑phase implementation plan and an initial tariff structure. It authorizes Schedule 100 with per‑kWh and monthly charges, and it also orders more work on how resources are valued and how results are reported. According to the Public Service Commission of Utah, the approval takes effect immediately, although key pieces still depend on future implementation procedures and additional filings.
What it will cost households
Under the approved design, residential Rocky Mountain Power customers in cities and counties that join the program would see an extra charge of roughly $3–$4 a month to help pay for the new clean energy. Local reporting pegs that figure at about $4 per month. Businesses and other nonresidential customers would pay a surcharge based on usage, plus a smaller fixed fee. Enrollment flips the usual script: customers in participating communities are in unless they actively opt out.
There will be an initial opt‑out window during which people can back out at no cost. After that, residential customers who decide to leave would face a $30 termination fee, according to local reporting. For a deeper breakdown of pricing and the fine print on opting out, see KSL.
What comes next for cities and customers
Now the ball moves to the city halls. "Now it will be up to elected leaders in the 19 communities to adopt ordinances by June 2 formalizing their intent to take part," KSL reports. State law requires that local step before Rocky Mountain Power can send opt‑out notices or start signing contracts for new resources on behalf of those communities.
Some of the planning documents from last year assumed a quicker turnaround. Salt Lake City staff documents previously flagged a February target for passing an ordinance and a July 2026 launch date for the program, a reminder that the timeline has already shifted as the application wound through the process. For official program documents and a current list of participating jurisdictions, see Utah Renewable Communities.
Contested valuation and oversight
Not everything in the filing sailed through. The Office of Consumer Services and other intervenors objected to Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed "one‑time" method of valuing resources, arguing that it could unfairly spread costs and benefits among customers. The commission’s order notes those concerns and directs the creation of a workgroup, new reporting requirements and collaborative efforts to develop a Resource Valuation model, along with annual reconciliation templates.
The PSC also signed off on an extended six‑month cancellation period for existing customers and spelt out the timelines for rehearing requests and judicial review. These procedural guardrails are meant to add transparency as the utility and the agency start contracting for new resources, according to the Public Service Commission of Utah.
How much clean power could be added
Supporters say this is not just an accounting exercise. The program is projected to add hundreds to more than a thousand gigawatt‑hours of new clean energy to the Rocky Mountain Power system by 2030. Utah Renewable Communities has estimated an annual range of roughly 300 to 1,600 GWh by the end of the decade.
The initiative traces back to HB411, the Community Renewable Energy Act passed in 2019. Since then, local governments working in a coalition with the utility have refined the program’s structure and rules. Program materials and contract guidance, including the request‑for‑proposals schedule, are posted by Utah Renewable Communities.
What customers should watch for
If your city opts in, expect at least one or two opt‑out notices before any automatic enrollment happens, along with multiple ways to say no thanks, including online, by phone or by mail. Rocky Mountain Power and Utah Renewable Communities say low‑income protections and targeted outreach will be part of the rollout, and some cities have already set aside funds for communication and notification work.
It is worth keeping an eye on your city or county council agendas. Without a local ordinance, a community cannot participate at all. The cancellation clock for customers only starts when the first opt‑out notice is mailed, so the timing of those notices will control how long people have to leave without fees. For the utility’s description of how enrollment and notices will work, see the program announcement and press materials from Rocky Mountain Power/Utah Business.
