Net-100% renewable electricity means that the program's electricity usage is balanced by renewable energy generated through Rocky Mountain Power's system on a yearly basis. Notably, this pioneering program is the first of its kind in the nation, serving as a model for municipal collaboration with a major utility. URC offers customers a choice to supplement their current energy mix with renewable energy options at a minimal cost increase. 

 

Through collaboration with several municipalities, the program's framework was established under House Bill 411, sponsored by Rep. Steve Handy and Sen. Daniel Hemmert, and signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert in 2019. 

 

When the Community Renewable Energy Act was signed into law, interested communities were required to pass a resolution by December 31, 2019, expressing their commitment to achieving net-100% renewable energy by 2030. While 23 Utah communities initially expressed interest, a total of 18  took the next step to formally join the URC Program by signing the Governance Agreement in 2022.

 

In 2024, the Utah Legislature removed the requirement that communities must have passed a resolution in 2019 to be eligible. The URC Board responded by adopting Resolution No. 24-05, which established a pathway for new communities to join the URC.

 

One community decided to join the URC, bringing the total number of participating communities to 19.

 

The URC Board meets monthly to discuss how to design  the program and inform the program application that will be submitted to the Utah Public Service Commission.