20171030Comment.pdf

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From:TAC member:David G.Van Hersett,Professional Engineer Ret.Avista TAC member since the
beginning,WWP/Avista residential customer since 1967.
Reference:Customer Comments for Avista's 2017 Electric IRP for WUTCand IPUC's consideration
IDAHO COMMISSIONDocket N.AVU-E-17-08 WASHINGTONDOCKET NO.UE-161036
99%of Avista Customers want low cost and rellable power resources.They want the lights to go on
when they flip the switch.I am one of these customers.It is noteworthythat only 1%of Avista
customers chose to participate in Wind and Solar projects.Conclusion,the great majority of customers
want low cost and reliable power resources.
DISREGARD SIERRA CLUB PRESENTATIONS:This TAC meeting was attended by the Sierra Club,with
representatives from San Francisco,Portland,Seattle and Montana.They seemed to forget that the
obJectiveof the TAC meetings is to have input to Avista's plans to provide the LEAST COST PLAN FOR
PROVIDING GENERATION RESOURCES FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.All of these persons but one were not
customers of Avista.None of their suggestions contributed to the objective of developinga LEAST
COST PLAN.The Montana representatives were not able to convince their own state representatives to
close down Coal Strip.So they pleaded for Avista to not include the Montana Coal Resourcesin our
LEAST COST PLAN.This is sheer follyas coal is a low cost,abundant and reliable electric energy resource
for Avista's customers for the 20 year resource plan.
I would like to urge the Idaho and Washington Utility Commissionsto disregard their comments and
suggestions in the task of developing the LEAST COST PLAN.
ENCOURAGE CUSTOMER BASED COGENERATION to take advantage of the following major benefits.
First this resource happens during the customer real time loads.Second no transmission penalty and
exactly fits the utilityload profile.Third,this creates an importantthe cogeneration revenue for the
customer makes the customer a stronger long term customer,improving the overall economic customer
base for its customers and the utility.A WIN FOR ALL PARTIES.
EXPENSIVEWIND BAD CHOICE:However Avista has chosen to go after Wind generation with all of its
faults such as poor load factor,power generated not necessarily when needed for customer loads,and
finallya very expensive power resource.Only governmentsubsidies make this close to an economic
choice.
FINALLY:the Avista staff is doing a very good job in researching,detailing the economics
environmental impact of the proven and reliable generation resources for the 20 YEAR C T
PLAN.Some of the constraints the staff have to work with have provided a real challeng of they rn
efforts to create the long term LEAST COST PLAN.