BOISE - Idaho Power says vandals are going after the company’s property – and customers are paying the bill.

Someone shot a set of five informational signs at the Hagerman Reach along the Snake River with a large-caliber handgun.  The signs were installed just this spring and less than two months later someone destroyed them.

“When people think about their power rates, the most likely don’t think about how the high cost of repairing vandalism is a part of their bill,” Idaho Power technician Cindy Sorenson said in a prepared statement.

Idaho Power has to post safety and informational signs at its hydroelectric plants as part of its federal licenses to operate the dams.  The company pays for the signs out of the money it gets from electricity bills – and the replacement cost as well.

“Our customers really pay for them twice if they are destroyed,” Sorenson said. “Once when they are installed, and again when they have to be replaced.”

“We’re asking anyone who sees or knows of someone destroying signs or other facilities to contact their local law enforcement agency,” Sorsenson said.  People can also call Idaho Power security at 388-6600.