20030814Comments.pdf

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Norman E. Anderson
1253 Cow Horse Drive
Kuna, ID 83634-1429
August 11 , 2003
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Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
IN THE MATTERN OF THE INVESTIGATION
OF TIME-OF-USE PRICING FOR IDAHO
POWER RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
CASE NO. IPC-02-
I would like to comment on the above referenced case and answer the questions raised in
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Order 29291 dated July 14 2003.
1. The Commission should direct Idaho Power to implement AMR on its system to
force Idaho Power into the use of modem technology. Idaho Power has and is
dragging its feet on implementing new technology. Its current manual meter
reading process is archaic at best. The thought of continuing to have meter
readers driving pickups across the state, getting out ofthe pickup, reading a meter
getting back in, and driving down the road is incomprehensible. Forty years ago
when I was a college student living in the Chicago area, the local electric utility
had a system of customer self-meter reading where each month the customer
marked the dial pointer positions on a post card that was mailed to the utility for
billing. Having now lived in Idaho for 31 years, I can t recall any change in Idaho
Power meter reading. Based on its track record, I don t see Idaho Power ever
moving in the direction of AMR voluntarily, and it is up to the Commission to
direct Idaho Power to implement AMR if we are ever to see it happen.
My primary interest in moving Idaho Power into higher metering technology is
with respect to Time-Of-Use (TOU) pricing. Unfortunately, in Order 29196 the
Commission declined to authorize residential TOU rates. I am hopeful that
implementing AMR may bring about TOU rates sooner rather than later, an
option that I think is owed to the ratepayers.
2. The use of advanced metering technology should eventually result in lower meter
reading costs and position Idaho Power to take advantage of future smart grid
options as they become available.
3. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the public meetings on this matter so I do
not feel I can comment on this question
4. AMR meters should be implemented as fast as practical within the ability of
Idaho Power to obtain the meters from suppliers and the time required to change
out a meter. Meter replacement is quite simple (See Answer 5), and in many
cases could be accomplished during the monthly meter read.
5. The cost recovery vehicle is ofless importance than the AMR implementation.
Although there are no doubt several methods of cost recover, it seems the cleanest
avenue would be through either a temporary increase in the monthly "Customer
Charge, per meter per month" charge or a special temporary monthly "AMR
meter" charge. However, I question whether the customer should bear the entire
cost ofthe AMR meter. Sometimes Idaho Power does things that make no sense.
For example, I built my current house in Kuna in February 1995. I paid Idaho
Power a tidy sum to provide an electrical connection including a brand new meter.
Earlier this year, an Idaho Power employee showed up at my house unannounced
to replace my perfectly good, still operating, only 8-year old dial meter with a
new Siemens solid-state meter. The meter was replaced in minutes, and the meter
guy was gone. So, who paid for this meter that has done nothing to improve the
quality of the electrical service I receive from Idaho Power or to lower my rates?
Idaho Power has never justified this meter replacement expense. So, if Idaho
Power can replace my meter at its own cost for no apparent reason, why can
Idaho Power replace my meter at its own expense with an AMR/TOU meter that
will reduce meter reading cost and lead to me being able to control TOU
electricity demand?
Thank you for considering my comments, and I hope the Commission will direct Idaho
Power to immediately proceed with AMR implementation.
Respectfully,
f\I~t.
Norman E. Anderson
Cc:
Barton L. Kline
Maggie Brilz
Idaho Power Company
O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83707-0070
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