20110509Senator Davis Comment.pdf

DISTRICT 33
BONNEVILLE COUNTY
HOME Å6DRESS
2638 BELLIN CIRCLE
IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO 83402
www.senatorbartdavis.com RECE'Vr:n...."'.";,,.l
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Idaho State Senate \ 8. 31
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SENATOR BART M. OÅ\lts1 J;:E; GOi'./¡;q~1íS'SfOl"J
MAJORITY LEADER
OFFICE ADDRESS
STATE CAPITOL
P.O. BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0081
(208) 332 -1300
FAX: [phone]
May 3, 2011
The Honorable Marsha H. Smith
The Honorable Paul Kjellander
The Honorable Mack A. Redford
Idaho Public Utilties Commssion
472 West Washington Street
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
RE: Case No. GNR-E-ll-OI - PURPA
Dear Commissioners Smith, Kjellander, and Redford:
Please allow me to briefly comment on the above case. I wrte this letter in my
individual legislative capacity and not as Senate Majority Leader.
I voted for H 348 in the Senate State Affairs Committee. If the bil had not been
pulled back to committee, I planned to vote for it. This important piece of legislation
would have set the eligibility cap at 100 kw for wind and solar energy projects seeking
published avoided cost rates. I supported this legislation because it would have required
wind and solar projects larger than 100kw to negotiate with the purchasing utilties on
prices that are more in-line with the utilities' actual avoided costs and need for
energy. Since these costs are passed-through to Idaho's ratepayers, it is critical that the
utilties pay no more than what they would have otherwise paid for the same type of
energy.
As par of the above-entitled case, I urge you to consider setting the published rate
eligibility cap at 100 kw on a permanent basis. Making this policy permanent would align
Idaho's published rate eligibility with federal regulations and require developers to
negotiate a fair price for ratepayers with the utility.
WWW.STATE.ID.US/LEGISLAT/LEGISLAT.HTML
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Idaho Public Utilties Commissioners
RE: PURPA
Page NO.2
Through the Commission's leadership, Idaho has had a long history of offerig
businesses and consumers reliable energy at reasonable rates. We must set appropriate
energy policies that ensure this will continue into the futue. I believe that a permanent
cap would help achieve that end.
Than you for your consideration.
BART M. DAVIS
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