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-Editorial
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors approved an $81 million allocation to provide relief for customers’ power bills during the summer months of 2025. The decision, made at the Board’s regular meeting on March 4, aims to reduce power costs by approximately 25% for all customers from June through September.
The allocation follows a directive issued on January 21, 2025, when the Board approved power rate updates through 2028 and instructed the General Manager to develop a plan to return excess Energy Cost Adjustment (ECA) collections within one year. The newly approved plan fulfills that directive by applying a negative ECA to customer bills, effectively reducing the financial burden on ratepayers during the region’s peak summer temperatures, which can range from 112-119°F.
The $81 million allocation will be distributed through bill credits, beginning with the July billing cycle for June energy consumption. Customers will see varying levels of savings based on energy usage, with reductions estimated at approximately 25% per month.
Under the approved plan, customers will see significant reductions in their summer power bills. For example, a customer’s bill for June would decrease from $303.74 to $241.85, for July from $440.67 to $355.65, for August from $438.70 to $355.64, and for September from $393.70 to $317.17. These savings applied through a negative Energy Cost Adjustment, aim to provide direct financial relief during the peak summer months when electricity usage is at its highest.
IID Chairwoman Gina Dockstader and General Manager Jaime Asbury emphasized the district’s commitment to easing the financial burden on ratepayers, particularly during the high-cost summer months. Dockstader acknowledged the challenges residents face in paying their power bills, reaffirming the board’s dedication to providing meaningful relief. Asbury expressed gratitude to the board and staff for their extensive efforts in crafting a holistic plan, noting the significant financial analysis and labor involved in ensuring an effective solution. She highlighted the increasing difficulties posed by California’s renewable energy mandates and infrastructure demands but remained optimistic that deploying financial relief back into the community would provide much-needed stability. Asbury encouraged customers to take advantage of available assistance programs and resources, reinforcing IID’s focus on transparency and long-term rate stability.
El Centro resident Pete Rodriguez voiced his frustration with the IID board, accusing them of playing a “shell game” with public funds and lacking transparency in their financial decisions. “You gave me a letter saying there was $60 million in the ECA overcollection and $63 million in the rate stabilization fund, but where did you find the extra $1 million to return? You’ve been doing this for years without telling the public, and that pisses me off because you’re elected officials,” Rodriguez said. He criticized the board for failing to acknowledge past mistakes and waiting too long to address the issue. “Why couldn’t you just say, ‘Hey, we made a mistake, let’s pump the brakes and fix it’ years ago?” he asked. Expressing a deep loss of trust, Rodriguez said, “The public doesn’t believe you guys—I don’t. You’ve lost all credibility with me.”
He highlighted the struggles of the community, stating that while he is financially secure, many residents are barely making ends meet. “People are struggling, and it’s not fair,” he said. Rodriguez called for genuine accountability, urging the board to issue a formal letter admitting their mistakes and providing clear details on when overcollections began and when they would stop. “That’s how you earn the community’s trust back,” he said. “People want real answers, real leadership, and real apologies—not just a band-aid solution.”
Larry Cox, a representative of a large power user in Brawley, addressed the IID board regarding the energy cost adjustment (ECA) plan, expressing concerns about its impact on businesses. “Brawley is a major power user, and most of our electricity purchases from IID occur in the first half of the year,” Cox said.
He noted that previous discussions about overcollections in the ECA suggested that refunds would be distributed proportionally to those who overpaid, which did not happen.
“Instead, the board moved to harmonize the ECA, changing it from a monthly calculation to an annual average, which disproportionately affects large users like us, especially during the winter and spring months,” he explained. Cox also pointed out that despite multiple complaints about high standby charges, no revisions were made. “One of our coolers incurred nearly $40,000 in standby charges from July through the highest-demand period, and even when we offered to limit our use, IID refused, stating we’d still have to pay those fees upon reconnection,” he said. He expressed concern that IID’s current proposal to use over-collected ECA funds to assist residential customers in the summer of 2025 places an additional burden on large power users. “I understand the board’s intent to help residents, but combining this plan with the annual ECA averaging unfairly shifts the cost onto businesses. Doing business in California already puts us at a disadvantage compared to Yuma, and IID’s decisions are only making it worse,” Cox concluded.
Brawley resident Eric Reyes pressed the board for clarity on the origins and allocation of funds being used for rate relief.
“The question is, where did this money come from? Where was it before?” Reyes asked. “Was there an overcollection that we weren’t aware of at the time? Or did you take that money from the rate stabilization fund to maintain a higher bond rating?” He emphasized the need for transparency, stating that the public deserves clear answers.
Reyes pointed to past discussions where IID officials acknowledged overcollections in the ECA, noting that previous efforts to return funds had been slow and limited. “When this started, it was a much larger amount, and it trickled back. The last time, I believe it was $10 million under Mr. Hanks and Director Alex Cardenas,” he said. “We were at $70 million, then $60 million, and now suddenly, with all the public pressure, this relief is being offered—but it will only last for a year.”
He warned that without structural changes, ratepayers would face the same issues in the coming years. “What happens next year when rates go up again? And in 2027?” Reyes asked. “We can’t just say thank you when this was the public’s money to begin with. But we acknowledge that people need relief this summer.”
Reyes urged the IID board to focus on accountability and open communication with the public. “How can we make this work?” he asked. “There are too many barriers, and one of the biggest is the lack of accountability and transparency. People can work with the truth—but they can’t work with this kind of uncertainty.”
In addition to power bill relief, the Board approved a $10 million augmentation to IID’s Public Benefits Programs, focusing on financial assistance and energy efficiency. The decision follows the recommendations of a Public Benefits Workgroup formed in November 2024 to align customer needs with IID’s 2024-2025 Strategic Plan.
The updated programs include enhancements to customer assistance initiatives aimed at providing financial relief to those in need. These include READY (Residential Energy Assistance Designed for You), formerly known as REAP; CARE (Customer Assistance for Residential Emergencies), previously EEAP; and EASE (Energy Assistance for Special Equipment), which replaces the Medical Equipment Energy Usage Assistance program. Additionally, IID introduced SHIELD (Senior Health & Income Energy Lifeline Discount), a new program designed to assist seniors with medical or pharmaceutical expenses exceeding 10% of their income.
IID is also expanding its energy efficiency initiatives to help customers reduce energy consumption and lower costs. The new EASY program will provide free energy-efficient wall A/C units and refrigerator exchanges for eligible customers, while GEMS will offer grants for HVAC replacements in schools. The GLOW program will fund sports field lighting upgrades, and the IID Energy Store will serve as an online marketplace for discounted smart home devices. Additionally, IID will introduce a Virtual Power Plant, a demand response program allowing customers to pre-enroll smart thermostats to help reduce peak demand and improve system efficiency.
Under this expansion, $5 million will go toward payment assistance programs, while another $5 million will support energy efficiency initiatives.
IID is launching the Powering Our Future Together Community Open House Series, an initiative proposed by Vice Chairman Hamby to strengthen customer relationships, enhance trust, and increase community engagement. These open houses will provide residents with direct access to information on IID’s role, power infrastructure challenges, rate updates, modernization plans, and public benefit programs. IID staff will be on-site to answer questions and assist with enrollment in assistance programs. Events will take place across Imperial County and Coachella Valley, with additional locations to be announced.