20090421Comments.pdf

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JOHN C and IR B PICKA
P.O. Box 62
13610 S Cataldo Drive
Cataldo,Id 83810
208.68.2175
E-mail: johncp~iinbris.net
Apri 18, 2009
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
Re: Avisa's request for a rate increase
Dear Commission:
I am responding on the rate increase and upcoming workshop being held in
North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on June 17, 2009.
For all good Avista has done for the community by keeping power grds workig
and ensurig natul gas users had plenty to use either commercially or
residential, I really don't want to wri a negative letter about their proposaL
Rate Increse: When you look at past increases and the proposed increase that is
going to compound on the others, cost is becoming prohibitive. In Cataldo, the
medium age is approximately 68. This is not a guess but information gathered by
asking people their age. I am 72. We are all on rixed incomes. The circuit breaker
program Avista sponsor is satisfactory but is not formulated long enough. But the
program is helpful
I am suggesting a cost adjustment for seniors and disabilty people. Take my
income. Wit an income of $550 minus presription ($220), medical insurance
($281) per month, leaves $49 allowance for the whole month.
I hate to use the word "somethin" because it denote prorastinations. Let there
be a program instituted, an income producing formula for Avista that wil help
their consumers.
In my former life I was a Credit Manager for thirt years. I became disabled at
the age of 55. I lost my social security quarters and thus the minimum amount
Social Secunty is being paid out. My wife was fortunate and was able build
quarters so an amount is paid to give us some comfort.
In my business years I saw consumers fall economically due to power biDs and
taxes and payments. Some would come to me and borrow money and if they
could prove repayment, then money was paid to borrower to consolidate their
bil so utilities and taxes could be paid. Litte did they know a hole was dug
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Apr 20 09 01 :49p Jmgm 2086823818
~.deeper for them? If they did not repay their loan, that hole became deeper. I
know by company experience debt consolidation can alleviate money problems.
I am suggestig Avista formulate a prorate factor for seniors that wil help them
maintain their dignty and pay the utity company that served them so well for
years.
Let me be clear. i am not symptomatic of Avita Utilities become a f"mance
company. Just prorate the utiity cost for seniors.
There is a defiite need for cost adjustments and D.ot increases. Welfare is not the
aner and that is not what I am asking for. Dinity is what I am aski for.
Meetigs: Why are not the workshops held in respective areas? Coeur d'Alene is
fine for those that live in that area. We live in the Silver Valley. Gas is $2.25 a
gallon and the expense too great for some of us to even spend 55.00 for expense to
Coeur d' Alene. Round trip from my house to the Court house is 47 miles.
Pinehurst and Kellogg is further.
My point it would be better for Avista to hold workshop in Pinehurs and then
Wallace so persnal consumer partes can be hear without the expense of gas
and oil. Forget about shopping, what senior has any cash left over.
I hope you wiU consider my sugestions and rmd a way for seniors to live with
dignity and the comfort of natural gas and/or electricity. Avista does a great job
providing it.
Thank you for reading my lettr I ask that it be placed in Avista's hearing fie
and acted upon.
Sincerely,(ýc~
John C Piekard
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
stevepaint~verizon. net
Tuesday, April 21, 20096:52 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from steven painter follows:
Case Number: Altl-£-Of-t1j .lfli/-6-09-o/
Name: steven painter
Address: 12295 Grand Ave.
Ci ty: Orofino
State: ID
Zip: 83544
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: stevepaint~verizon.net
Name of Utili ty comp~ steven painterAdd to Mailing List ~
Please describe your comment briefly:
I cannot express my displeasure enough on Avista' s requested rate increase. Their rate of
.08050 cents a kwh is overwhelming on us retirees. I think it' s time to go back to what we
had a few years ago and that is wood heat. Even propane has come down to where it costs less
to heat my house. Please reject this latest request of Avista.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 68.238.130.138
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
loisw46~usamedia.tv
Sunday, April 19, 20095:10 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Lois Warren follows:
Case Number: AVU-E-09-01 AVU-G-09-01
Name: Lois Warren
Address: 117 E. Park Ave.
City: Kellogg
State: Idaho
Zip: 83837
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: 10isw46~usamedia.tv
Name of Utility Company: Avista Utilities Add to Mailing List:~
Please describe your comment briefly:
I am writing today in regard to Avista' s rate increase. I do hope you will take into
consideration how this well affect all of us. My husband and I are on social security and I
just don't know how many more of these rate increases we can handle. I was always taught that
when you owned the company and wanted to make up grades or improvements or repairs, it was
to come out of the profits. But i tseems that Avista never uses their profits for anything
but raises and stockholders. I don i t mind if company i s get raises but I i m not getting any
and yet I have to pay for theirs. I also saw on TV and read in the paper that natural gas
prices are the lowest that they have been for years and that everyone's bills should be lower
next winter. Does this not apply to us too? Are they not taking advantage of those low
rates? I always shop for bargains, don't they? I sincerely hope you will tell them to
tighten their belts like the rest of have to. Thank you for your time. Mr. and Mrs Gary
Warren
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 72.47.153.56
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
tigerskin_83815~yahoo.com
Saturday, April 18, 2009 5:23 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Kenneh Clark follows:
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Case Number: AVU-E-09-01
Name: Kenneh Clark
Address: 833 S. Division
City: Kellogg
State: ID
Zip: 83837
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: tigerskin 83815~yahoo. com Name of Utility Company: Avista Add to MailingList:(!
Please describe your comment briefly:
I think the rate increase would be very inapproprate at this time. Since our economy is in
a recession, we all have to tighten our belts. Including the millionaires that run Avista.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 24.32.202.17
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Cdanow~verizon. net
Saturday, April 18, 20094:12 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from JIM ALEXANDER follows:
Case Number: AVU -E-e9-e1&AVU-G-e9-e1
Name: JIM ALEXANDER
Address: 6ee W HUBBARD #38
City: COEUR D ALENE
State: IDaho
Zip: 83814
Daytime Telephone: 666 19ge
Contact E-Mail: Cdano~verizon.net
Name of utility Company': AVISTA
Add to Mailing List:~
Please describe your comment briefly:
RATE INCREASES? WHAT ARE THESE GUYS THINKING ? EVERYTING IN THE FREE WORLD IS CHEAPER TODAY
THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY . CONCRETE, STEEL, COPPER DIESIEL AND GASOLINE ARE ALL OF THEIR
HIGHES. WHY DO THEY NOT USE THE COST DIFFERENCE TO COVER THEIR COSTS. OH YES THE COST
SAVING ALL WENT INTO THE CEO'S POCKET FOR HIS BONUS --WHAT WAS I THINKING. WE ARE NOT ALL THE
DUMMYS THAT AVISTA THINKS WE ARE SAY NO THEY WILL FIND THE WAY TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN THANKS
JIM ALEXANDER
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 7e.11e.39.58--- - - - --- - ------- - - - - -- - --- - - - -- - - --
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Jean Jewell .
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
kar0995505~aol.com
Saturday, April 18, 20093:35 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Karen Woods follows:
Case Number: AVU-E-Ø9~Ø1
Name: Karen Woods
Address: 315 E. Market Ave.
City: Kellogg
State: ID
Zip: 83837
Daytime Telephone: 2Ø8-783-9221
Contact E-Mail: kar09955Ø5~aol.com
Name of utili ty comp~Avista
Add to Mailing List:~
Please describe your comment briefly:
Sir, I find it absolutely immoral for Avista to be asking for a rate increase at this time.
So many people are having a hard enough time as it is, to be asking them for more money on
their utility bill is outrageous. Maybe Avista could cut back on their expenses by not
giving bonus i. Also, what have they been doing with the profits they have been making through
out the past years?
The form submitted on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 24.32. 2Ø2 .178-- ----- ---- - - - - ------ - - -- - -- -- - - - ---
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
rharlocker(§hotmail.com
Saturday, April 18, 2009 3: 15 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Reid Harlocker follows:
Case Number: AVU-E-09-01
Name: Reid Harlocker
Address: 1635 E Miles Ave
City: Hayden Lake
State: ID
Zip: 83835
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: rharlocker~hotmail.com
Name of Utility Company: Avista
Add to Mailing List: no-
Please describe your comment briefly:
At this time I am in opposition to the any rate increases proposed by Avista for anything
other than cost of goods.
Currently energy materials futures markets are trending lower and it is presumed will
continue to do so throughout this unprecedented economic distress. It would be unfavorable
for the utility to presume that its customer base can afford to shoulder their plans for
expansion, and especially where it is related to "new business" expectations and commitments.
The utility should in my personally opinion operate like a normal business where expansion is
concerned and pay those costs forward by selling bonds, share offering or a reduction in
dividend.
Nowhere do I see any potential in this proposal to increase the wages of their own hourly
employees who are faced with the similar economic woes as the utili ties customer base.
Therefore I must come to the conclusion that the board of directors and management are
generally only concerned about their personal compensation and keeping the investors happy,
how shameful is that?
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 98.145.84.141
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
FAKLCcæaol.com
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:55 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from laurie Coyle follows:
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Case Number: ? Gas rate hike
Name: laurie Coyle
Address: 6010 E. Frazier Drive
Ci ty: Post Falls
State: Idaho
Zip: 83854
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: FAKlC~aol.com
Name of Utility Company: AVISTA
Add to Mailing list: ~
Please describe your comment briefly:
Avista is requesting a nearly 8% raise to gas customers even with the price of natural gas
is approaching historic lows.
Avista has a string of quarterly profit records nearly five years long.
Avista's 10K indicates that their core investors are corporate insiders and hedge funds, not
independent investors as their marketing department would like you to think.
The company claims that they need to "recover costs to upgrade the system" caused by
increased demand from "new customers". Is this a bad thing? In the real world companies
can't just pass the costs for new customers along to the existing customer base, unless of
course they are a "monopoly".
Nowhere in the rate request are provisions to pay the company's hourly workers more money or
provide better benefits. When CEO Scott Morris who currently earns more than 66 times the
average hourly wage earner in North Idaho does that seem fair and equitable?
I do not feel this is fair to raise the rates at this point in time of our current economic
conditions.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipucl/ipuc. html
IP address is 72.37.171.28
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
skravik~msn_com
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:57 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Sandra Kravik follows:
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Case Number: AVU-G-Ø9-Ø1
Name: Sandra Kravik
Address: 1Ø721 N. Friar Dr.
City: Hayden Lake
State: ID
Zip: 83835
Daytime Telephone: 2Ø8-699-64ØØ
Contact E-Mail: skravi~msn.com
Name of Utility compa~ Avista
Add to Mailing List:~
Please describe your comment briefly:
In response to Avista' s . need' for a rate increase, I will share with you that my husband
receives royalties from several natural gas wells on land he owns in northern Montana. He now
receives 1Ø% of what he received 4 years ago. Why? The price of natural gas has plummeted in
excess of 75%, and the energy companies have drilled in excess of 148,ØØØ wells in the U.S.
In other words, natural gas is cheap and plentiful. That Avista can ask for an increase in
natural gas rates for its customers in these circumstances is ludicrous .Nor is this the time
to increase executive compensation and stockholder dividends. Few corporations in the country
are so insensitive as to be doing this at this time of economic crisis in this country. The
number of Avista customers struggling to make their utility payments far exceeds the needs of
a few well paid executives; those who could afford to purchase Avista stock as an investment
are also more able to financial deal with smaller dividends than customers are able to deal
with bigger utility bills. Thank you for considering these thoughts as you decide on Avista' s
request.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov /forms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 65.54.154.13- ------- ---- - - - -- --- - - --- - - --- - - ----
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Jean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
bob541 (§roadrunner.com
Monday, April 20, 20096:59 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness; Ed Howell
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Robert Silva follows:
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Case Number: 4tii-£-ocr-oljA-(l-6-o9-0/
Name: Robert Silva
Address: 2217 E. Hayden View Dr.
Ci ty: Coeur d i Alene
State: Idaho
Zip: 83815
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: bob541~roadrunner.com
Name of Utility Company: Avista
Add to Mailing List: ~
Please describe your comment briefly:
I have a problem with Avista i s request for a substantial rate increase. They indicate they
made a substantial profit last year. They have apparently not learned a lesson from other
large companies with bonuses and pay increase' s. They have given their top management huge
pay increases while at the same time raising our rates!!
The new rate increase basically wipes out around 50% of Obama' s tax decrease that he has
touted. I believe the average person can help the economy more by having no further increase
in utility cost.
Say no to Avista i s rate increase.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho .gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 24.32.250.80- -------- ---- -- - ---- - --- - - --- - - -- - --
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