20250717Comments_2.pdf

The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Chris Anderson
Submission Time: Jul 16 2025 8:15PM
Email: hiptr(cbmindspring.com
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 1441 Spurlock Ct
Twin Falls, ID 83301
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-25-16
Comment: "For the following reasons, I believe that Idaho Power's request for a residential
service charge increase should be rejected:
1) Since December 2023, when the residential service charge was $5 per month, this latest
request, if approved, constitutes a 500% increase in just three years'time. On its face, this
is an outrageous rate of inflation (I challenge the IPUC to quote charges for any other
consumer good or service—with the possible exception of eggs—that has grown at a
comparable rate), and begs the question of how long it will be before Idaho Power requests
further increases.
2) Because residential customers will pay this service charge irrespective of how much
power they use, it will act as a disincentive to customers who wish to install on-site
alternative energy production (e.g. solar panels, wind turbines, etc.) because it will
increase the time horizon before such systems pay for themselves. This comes on the
heels of Idaho Power's recent reduction of the rate they compensate on-site power
producers for excess power production. Similarly, it will act as a disincentive to residential
customers to implement the very energy conservation measures that Idaho Power purports
to support, since doing so will result in a smaller reduction of their power bills. In light of
these facts, it's hard to see Idaho Power's"green energy program"and frequent messages
to consumers to conserve electricity as anything but cynical greenwashing. Multiple
independent studies have shown that anthropogenic climate change (primarily due to the
burning of fossil fuels) is rapidly approaching a tipping point, leading to imminent and
catastrophic economic and environmental impacts. Simply put, "kicking the can down the
road" is a recipe for disaster. A recent study(Szinai, J.K.,Yates, D., Sanchez-Perez, P.A. et
al. Climate change and its influence on water systems increases the cost of electricity
system decarbonization. Nat Commun 15, 10050 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-
024-54162-9) estimates that anthropogenic climate change will reduce annual rain and
snowfall in the intermountain West, resulting in a 23% reduction in hydroelectric power
generation by 2050, Idaho's single largest source of in-state power.
3)This service charge will disproportionally impact residential customers who can least
afford it. The less power you use, the larger a percentage of the total bill this fixed fee will
represent. It is the utility bill equivalent of a regressive tax that hurts the poor more than the
wealthy. The flyer included in July's Idaho Power bill admits as much, via the euphemistic
Language"...a larger portion of a customers' (sic) monthly bill will be collected through the
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fixed charge rather than the variable energy charge. The intent is to make fixed cost
collection more equitable among residential customers." Translation: The power bills of
the wealthiest customers will effectively be subsidized by those at the bottom of the
income spectrum, made more egregious by the fact that, in addition to the residential
service charge request, Idaho Power is also requesting to substantially raise the per
kilowatt-hour residential rate. As it stands, this request, if approved, would be a one-two
gut punch to the Idaho Power customers who are already experiencing the greatest
challenges in making ends meet."
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The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Robert Chumley
Submission Time: Jul 17 2025 7:15AM
Email: rustydog001 @msn.com
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 4924 Roy Drive
Nampa , ID 83686
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-25-16
Comment: "Idaho Power in there May 2025 general rate case are proposing a residential
service charge from $15 to$25. 1 have been told by an Idaho Power representative that in
my case that during the summer months I supply solar generation for 3 other homes in my
area. How is it fair that Solar Generated customers must pay an increase of$10 for
residential service charge??"
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