20180625Comments (2).pdf

Diane Holt
From:Mike and Kathie <[e-mail]>
Sent:Saturday,June 23,2018 9:00 AM
To:Diane Holt
Subject:Avista Utilities -Hydro One Proposed Merger Case AVU-E-17-09Case AVU-G-17-05
Dear Ms.Hanian:
I previouslysubmitted the followingcomments regarding the proposed Avista -Hydro One merger by using
you online customer comment form,but I do not see those comments posted in the open case Public Comment
files.So I am resubmitting via this email.SIncerely,Michael A.Neher
June 15,2018
Re:Case AVU-E-17-09
Case AVU-G-17-05
As an Avista natural gas and electricitycustomer,I am OPPOSED to the merger of Avista Utilities with Hydro
One Limited.The reasons have been well stated by others at the June 14,2018 public hearing in Coeur d'Alene.
In addition those reasons stated by others for the record,I submit the following:
1.Hydro One's could seek to acquire Idaho Power and other Idaho utilities,further wrestingcontrol of
Idaho's commerce.Hydro One has stated publicly that Avista is just the first such acquisition.Even though
Avista serves gas and power customers in northern Idaho,there is every reason to fear that electric utilities in
the rest of Idaho,including Idaho Power,could be a future target.The accumulation of U.S.critical
infrastructure by a foreign,quasi-governmental entityis most disturbing as it takes away the control of this most
basic and critical need away from the citizens of Idaho.
According to a November 21,2017 article in the Globe and Mail,"Hydro One Ltd.'s $3.4-billion(U.S.)deal to
purchase Avista Corp.is justthe beginning of a strategy that will see the Canadianutility expand into the U.S.
market."...Mayo Schmidt,CEO of Hydro One,stated "There are quite a number of organizations of the same
size and complexityof Avista in the arena that,as we think about over the course of the next years,there's some
potential,"he said in an interview at Bloomberg's Toronto office...The utility has faced criticism around high
electricityprices and executive compensation since the Ontario Liberal government sold a 13.6-per-cent stake
of its shares throughthe initial public offering.The province now holds about 45 per cent of Hydro One after
two subsequent sales and doesn't intend to go below 40 per cent."
2.Hydro One,should it acquire Avista,will compromise Idaho's control of it's critical infrastructure.The
merger has the potential to put in jeopardy the State's economy because power resources are the foundation of
commerce.The IPUC Commisioners have an unbearablepersonal burden in deciding this case.The pressure is
1
huge to approvethis deal as it has cleared the scrutinyof Federal regulatoryagencies,Alaska and Montana,and
received the approval of Avista stockholders.I assume that Oregon and Washington will follow suit to further
their motives of green energy.The only thing standing in the way of this merger is the IPUC.Three people,
three Idaho citizens,with unprecedentedauthorityand responsibility to serve the interests of Idaho citizens...and
NOT the power company shareholders...are now sitting in the hot seat.It is a monumental decision that will
affect the course of Idaho commerce and the well being of its citizens for generations.This merger offers no
real benefit to Idaho and has the potential to do great harm in the future.In balance I urge the IPUC
Commissioners to vote with caution and prudence for the good of Idaho.
3.VOTE NO.
2
June 22,2018
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O.Box 83720
Boise,ID 83720-0074
RE:CASE #AVU-E-17-09 &CASE #AVU-G-17-05
Dear Idaho PUC:
We are writing to urge you to do whatever you can to block the final sale of Avista Utilities in Spokane,WA to Hydro One Ltd.of Ontario,Canada.Our power company,Avista,is rich with the history of
Washington Water Poñer &the early beginnings of our Northwest.We treasure our natural resources ofthisarea&can see no good come from tlie sale of this ootnpany to Hydro One.We know the salemustcleartheIdahoPUC,so we implore you fo stop this sale.We believe that national security &protectionofratepayersare2vitalreasonstodenythissale.And if Washington &Oregon go the way of Alaska,Montana,&Washington DC,then you,our Idaho PUC,are our last bastion of hope in saving &keepingthisassetinthelocalhandsofthepeopleofourgreatPacificNorthwest.This niust stay Local!
We strongly believe ownership of all U.S.utilities must remain in the hands of American chartered
corporations located within the domains of this country.Our resources,as well as any entities whodeveloptheseassets,harness the energies of,and/or facilitate the sale of these energiesshould all remainunderthecontrolofourregion&our country,period.We feel strongly about this,and think most peopleofourentirestatealsobelievethisway.URANIUM ONE was a catastrophe.This was a sale of a verystrategicnaturalresource.We do not want the sale of Avista to Hydro Oneto also be a catastrophe,andyou,our state PUC,may be the only one left to protect the people of our region.Just as uranium isstrategicallyimportanttoournationaldefense,we also think our own power grids should not be in the
hands of foreign players.We feel this is a matter of national security in the long run.We have a glitreactionthatthispendingsaleisverywrong,&we believe a lot of other peoplealso have this same gutfeeling.We don't want this!We want our company to stay locally controlled by our own state PUC.
Just because Canadais our neighbor to the north doesn't always mean that Hydro One will alwaysprimarilybeOntario-owned.It could be sold to the Russians,or China,even.And,interestingly enough,
our country itself is in a somewhat unfriendlyposition at this very time on trade with Canada.PerhapsrelationswithCanadawon't be so good in the future.Who's to say?What then about our region and the
loss of ownership of Avista to primarily Canadian-controlled entities?Or,who's to say that some buyerofdubiousintentwillnotbeaplayetinthepurchaseofthisutilityinthefuturefromHydroOneoreventheprovinceofOntario?Who can guaranteèthey wðn't?Who can say that Idaho Code 61-328 will
still be able to foster protection of Avista's ratepayers after this sale?Please help protect us by blocking
this sale.Because of national security alone,we believe this sale should immediately be stopped&we
urge you,our Idaho PUC,to block this transfer of assets.
One other consideration in this sale,should be the staunch regard for &the firm protection of Avista's
ratepayers,the real actual owners of the natural resources that Avista is using in its production &
disbursement of its electricity.If a utility is not American owned,profits will still flow to the company
of ownership,which is outside the U.S.,to Hydro One of Ontario,Canada.That's not good for the local
economy or for the U.S.Who or what can guarantee our rates will be controlled then?Idaho Code
61-328?Just because Hydro One says they are going to give us credits on our bills &that they will be
investing additional monies into our communities,this just sounds like plain old BIG BUSINESS,seeing
a cash cow with already existing lower rates (which they can raise,if they justwait a while,&then make
a profit-margin killing),by stringing a bunch of red herrings across our Northwest to cajole us into
acceptance.
Even aside from the assurances we have heard about economies of scale,competitive rates,community
involvement,&company philanthropy,somehow,this whole sale does not feel right (that gut feeling
again),especially for the ratepayersof this region--the real owners of the natural resources that are used.
We can't help but feel that ratepayerswill somehow,somewheretake a drubbing on this sale,if not now,
at least eventually &it is vital to keep our electric grids safe from foreign influence of any kind.We urge
you to help block the finalization of this sale.Thank you very much.
Mike &Debra Roberts
l155 N Bainbridge Street
Post Falls,ID 83854