20110706Comments.pdf

Jean Jewell
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Roy and Lynn (royandlynn(§frontier.com)
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 8:27 AM
Jean Jewell
gary(§spokesman.com
Fw: Avista Rate Increase Filng in Idaho
AV4'-l" -II-oJ/AI/LA -(5 -11- 0 I
Hi Jean,
I recently sent the following email to the Washington Commission. These comments are
applicable to the Avista rate increase request in Idaho. Based on my years of experience as a
manager for GTE, I know that what I observed reflected poor utilization of personnel and
equipment and is probable that this waste was not just a one time incident, but reflective of a
company that has not waken up to the fact that it cannot continue to operate in the lIutility!l
mode wasting customers money. They cannot expect to earn their allowed rate of return by
padding their expenses, but must operate !llean and meanll like the private sector has to.
Roy Tiefisher
4278 N. Alderbrook Dr.
Coeur d Alene, Idaho 83815
2086644272
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission:
Avista rate increase application.
Although I am a Idaho resident, I believe my comments are pertinent to the Washington Avista
rate application. Approximately 4 weeks ago, I observed Avista employees working at the corner
of Alderbrook Dr. and Magnolia in Coeur d Alene. There were 5 employees and two trucks. They
were there for approximately 30 minutes. They were working on a underground cabinet. During
this time, only one employee was working in the cabinet, the other 4 were just standing there
joking and laughing. After they left that location they all drove a block to the corner of
Deerfield and Magnolia and repeated the same scenario, one employee working and 4 standing
around just joking around.
As disgusting as this is to a ratepayer, there also was the issue of the trucks. One was a
approximately a 3 ton truck, the other was a large man lift about as big as they come. Why in
the world is a large, expensive aerial truck like that, being wasted on some small underground
activity?
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While observing this waste of time and money, I called Avista in Spokane and told a customer
representative what I was observing. The person I talked with said that they would contact the
Coeur d Alene office and find out what was going on.
I am very familiar with utility activity as I was both a District Manager and a Operations
Manager for GTE in Idaho for many years. I also was a Building and Fleet Manager covering 5
States for GTE, responsible for all purchasing and maintenance of all vehicles. Proper need and
utilization of vehicles was a prime responsibility I had.
I am aware, that singular incidents like I have described, happened occasionally in earlier times,
but in these current times, no utility company, especially those under the jurisdiction of the
Utility Commission not to mention the rate payers who are faced with tough times and ever
increasing rate increases by Avista should occur. It shows poor management and gives the
Commission reason to question the need for rate increases when improved utilization of
personnel and equipment should be the first order of business.
Thanks for your review of this.
Roy Tiefisher
4278 N. Alderbrook Dr.
Coeur d Alene, Idaho
2086644272
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Jean Jewell
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Sent:
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Subject:
H2odropping(§yahoo.com
Wednesday, July 06, 2011 1: 11 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Sarah Noble follows:
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Case Number: A,vu-£-I/-oljA-lllA-G-/I-ol
Name: Sarah Noble
Address:
Ci ty: Oldtown
State: Idaho
Zip:
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: H2odroppin~ahoo.com
Name of Utility Company: Avista
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I have heard that Avista is requesting a rate increase on electricity and gas. As one of
their customers, I ask you to deny their request.
We pay the highest utility rates in this area, and not by a small amount! Ask any Avista
customer if they would choose to use an different power company if given the choice and I am
sure they would say yes. Avista has a monopoly over us and we are being victimized by it.
With the state of the economy as it is right now, I i m asking you to please not let this
company further burden its customers un-necessarily!
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 75.244.81.51
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