Boise State earns $28,509 for slashing summer power use

Boise State University received a $28,509 incentive payment from Idaho Power for reducing electricity consumption during the summer of 2026. The university joined the utility’s Flex Peak Program, which pays organizations to lower usage on days when extreme heat strains the local electric grid.

The university’s energy team analyzed building occupancy and usage data early in the summer to create an optimization plan. They coordinated with the Registrar’s Office to schedule classes and events in a way that allowed specific buildings to remain fully cooled while others were set to unoccupied modes. This targeted approach reduced the energy required to cool entire structures, resulting in the final incentive payout.

Idaho Power representatives presented the university with a giant check on Friday, Nov. 6. Doug Clark, a Key Account Energy Advisory for Idaho Power, noted that the university’s actual savings reached 102 percent of their projected amount. He stated that this performance reflected the quality of the team the university assembled for the program.

The partnership aims to benefit three groups simultaneously. Boise State gains direct financial returns, Idaho Power avoids the cost of purchasing supplemental power on the open market during peak hours, and local residents may see more stable electricity rates. Amy Parrish, the university’s sustainability director, described unused energy as the cheapest power available and a contribution to the entire grid.

Beyond the summer incentive, the two organizations are collaborating through a Strategic Energy Management Cohort. This 18-month program began in August 2026 and involves regular meetings to share ideas on cutting energy use. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, about 25 participants from both organizations split into teams to tour campus buildings. They searched for simple, incremental changes that could collectively reduce energy consumption.

Greta Doyle, Boise State’s energy manager and cohort lead, said working with Idaho Power colleagues helped the team view facilities from a different perspective. She noted that walking through buildings revealed small actions that could make a large difference in overall efficiency. The cohort continues to meet to identify these opportunities across campus.

The initial analysis focused on maximizing efficiency in HVAC systems by aligning building operations with actual occupancy. By setting unused buildings to unoccupied levels, the university avoided the energy cost of cooling empty spaces. This method proved effective enough to exceed the savings projections set at the start of the program.