20120508Comments.pdf

Jean Jewell
From: Jean Jewell
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 3:49 PM
To: Jean Jewell
Subject: FW: Consumer Assistance Form, Zachary Murphy, Idaho Power Company, Pocatello
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Original Message-----
From: zmurphy5s @vahoo.com [mailto: zmurDhy5s(vahoo. corn]
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 8:44 AM
To: Front; Beverly Barker
Subject: Consumer Assistance Form
Consumer Assistance Form submitted by Zachary Murphy follows:
Name: Zachary Murphy
Contact E-Mail: zmurphy5s(@Yahoo.com
Daytime Telephone:
Home Address: 1215 N. Main st.
City: Pocatello
State: Idaho
Zipcode: 83204
If this concerns a Business, Business Name:
Business Address:
Business Phone:
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power Company Have you contacted the utility regarding your
concern?: No
Please describe your question or complaint briefly:
Idaho Power customer brochure for April 2012 states the company is opposed to Federal
requirements to buy energy from alternative sources. The company states further this
increases consumer costs. I find the power company to be irresponsible, their objections
unjustified, and their attitude opposed to the interests of Idaho. They have started spending
money to lobby, advertise, and obstruct Federal policies. They pass on capital costs to
customers, separate charges in their billing to falsley claim low killowatt costs, and are
now passing on to customers the expenses of their attempts to evade Federal regulation. I
request they be penalized for false claims, such as that cogenerated electricity burdens
their customers. Wind turbines are no financial burden more than other power sources. Idaho
Power wants ownership and control of generating sources rather than cooperate in the public
interest.
The form submitted on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/cons/cons.html
IP address is 66.160.243.44
cons
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Jean Jewell
From: [e-mail]
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 2:43 AM
To: Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
Subject: PUC Comment Form
A Comment from John Weber follows:
Case Number: GNR-E-11-03
Name: John Weber
Address:
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip:
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: is weber(hotmail.com
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
It seems that Idaho Power is waging an all out war against PURPA projects. I believe their
reasoning for this is to maximize company profits, which is pretty much the goal of all for
profit corporations. This is how the capitalistic system works. IOUs (Investor-Owned
Utilities) in Idaho are regulated monopolies. The PUC is the regulator that sets the rules.
The regulated utilities play by the rules to maximize their profits. I think it is time for
the PUC to review the rules.
I understand currently the regulated utilities are allowed an opportunity to receive a fair
rate of return on asset investments; an example would be building a new power plant. Power
purchases on the open market or from PURPA contracts are passed through to ratepayers without
a mark up or rate of return for the utility. The perfect scenario for an electrical utility
would be to have as much asset investments (receiving an approved rate of return) as possible
and the least amount of purchased power regardless of the source of generation. An IOU is
responsible to maximize the company profits for their shareholders.
Shareholder profits are not always in the best interest of the ratepayers in the service
area. Shutting down PURPA projects could cost the state of Idaho hundreds of millions of
dollar in lost investment and thousands of jobs. In the interest of the people of Idaho, the
PUC should review rates of return for electrical utilities. The rates of return should not
discourage power purchases, energy efficiency, and in the future, storage. The rules the
Idaho PUC set should at least be neutral regarding generation, purchases, efficiency, and
storage. That way the IOUs can receive a rate of return on power purchases and they won't
have a profit incentive to shut down PURPA projects.
While attending the Idaho PUC hearing for approving the Langley Gulch gas plant I recall the
most compelling reason to build the plant was so more wind power could be integrated into the
grid. Now that the plant is almost done being built (at substantial cost to the ratepayers)
it seems Idaho Power wants to limit wind projects just when the plant built to help
incorporate more wind into the system is near completion. The below is from Idaho Power's
brochure about Langley Gulch gas plant.
"This flexible resource will have the features of a base load plant, in that it is
economical and will run a great deal of the time. It also has the flexibility to vary output
quickly to integrate intermittent resources from area wind and future solar projects."
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If the Idaho PUC knew Idaho Power wanted to shut down wind generation and the plant would not
be used to integrate wind resources, would it have been approved?
I challenge the commission and the staff of the PUC to regulate electrical utilities in a way
that to maximize profits of IOUs they must also maximize the benefit to the community.
Without appropriate regulation, deregulation may be the best course of action regarding IOUs
in Idaho.
The form submitted on httP://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuci/ipuc.html
IP address is 71.33.103.73
Barb Barrows
From: jhulvey@hotmail
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2012 7:38 AM
To: Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
Subject: PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Julie Hulvey follows:
Case Number: PICEi2i;(ZPCEI 7) -'
Name: Julie Hulvey
Address:
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip:
Daytime Telephone:
Contact E-Mail: jhulvey@hotmail
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
I am writing regarding the proposed rate increase requested by Idaho Power. It would seem
that any increase in PURPA QF expenses would be offset by an elimination of power generation
costs from other sources. A detailed accounting of that issue is warranted. Additionally,
being paid 6.77 million in take or pay contracts and requiring no load seems like a windfall
to the Idahp Power Company.
The realization that new power sources are here to stay should come in to play in all
decisions. Idaho Power needs to right-size itself in the wake of these new realities. Being
guaranteed profits this year, and operating on the same company assumptions they had several
years ago is not prudent.
I know that they no longer need to pay an individual to look at my meter. That should have
saved tons. I know they are no longer installing meters day and night as they may have in
the boom of 2006, and that should also save a ton.
Please deny their request. More detail should be provided. At some point, considering the
economy, the costs to all of us for electricity should go down.
The form submitted on http://www.ruc.idaho.gov/forms/ipucl/ipuc.html
IP address is 66.195.188.162
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