If you are indigent and cannot afford hospital and medical care, including medications, or basic necessities such as rent, food, and utilities, then the county is required by law to assist you in paying for them. This is a "last resort" program. This means that the county will pay for these services or necessities only if you have no other way of paying for them on a temporary basis.  If, for example, you receive Medical Assistance through the state, then that program must pay for your hospital and medical bills.

How to Read your electric or natural gas meter: Your Avista Utilities electric and/or natural gas meter is a precise instrument with an outstanding record of accuracy. Before being placed on your home, Avista Utilities employees calibrate meters to within five tenths of one percent of total accuracy.

Not all utilities are regulated by the commission, see: Who Does The Commission Regulate for details. If you have a problem with a regulated utility, please contact the utility first to try and resolve your complaint before contacting the commission. If the utility does not resolve the issue to your satisfaction you may file a complaint

In Idaho, investor-owned utilities providing basic services such as electricity, gas, water and telecommunications services must follow rules that protect consumers. The rules are established and enforced by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC). The IPUC is a state agency charged with regulating investor-owned utilities. (City-owned or cooperative utilities are not regulated by the IPUC). The rules say when a utility can and cannot disconnect service to a customer. They also require utilities to inform customers before service is actually shut off, so that payment plans can be attempted and disconnection avoided.

This fact sheet answers common questions about your rights and responsibilities as a customer of a regulated gas, electric, or water utility. Please click here to view the factsheet: Utility Disconnection Factsheet.pdf.

Este folleto es un resumen breve de las reglas adoptadas por la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Idaho (Idaho Public Utilities Commission) (PUC por sus siglas en Ingles) en referencia a prácticas de terminación de servicios eléctricos, gas natural, y del agua. Las reglas aplica a todos los consumidores residenciales de servicios públicos de los servicios públicos de propietarios...

Ever wonder what all those numbers on your Intermountain Gas Company bill mean?  Take a few minutes to get acquainted with your bill by reading the explanations on this site.

This pamphlet is a brief summary of the rules adopted by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) concerning electric, natural gas, and water termination practices. The rules apply to all residential customers of investor-owned utilities in Idaho under the jurisdiction of the PUC such as Idaho Power, Avista Utilities, Intermountain Gas, Utah Power & Light, Pacific Power & Light, Citizens Utility, and United Water.

These rules do not apply to cooperative utilities or municipally owned utilities.

Attached is a What to Do If Your Landlord Shuts Off Your Utility Service(s) Guide created by Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc.

This guide provides information on your rights in this situation and the steps you can take to get your utility service turned back on as quickly as possible.

The commission regulates investor-owned or privately-owned utilities that provide gas, water, electricity or telephone service for profit. Examples are: Idaho Power, Intermountain Gas, Qwest and United Water of Idaho.

The Commission does not regulate utility cooperatives (owned by the customers) or utilities operated by municipalities like the City of Weiser. Many cities own and operate electric, sewer and water utilities. The commission has no jurisdiction over these operations or over any sewer operations. A regulated water company may also provide sewer service, but the commission would only regulate the company’s water operations.

The commission does not regulate interstate long distance rates or payphone rates. The commission also does not regulate cell phones, fax machines, voicemail services, internet services or digital subscriber lines (DSL).

The commission does not regulate cable TV or satellite TV.

In addition to rates, billing issues, quality of service and customer relations, the commission is also responsible for safe operations of the utilities it regulates including inspection of gas pipelines.

The commission also oversees the safe operation of railroads in the state and enforces state and federal regulations safeguarding the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. It also inspects railroad crossings and clearances for safety and maintenance deficiencies. The commission reviews railroad abandonment proposals and determines the affect on Idaho, it then represents the state before the federal Surface Transportation Board.