20030817Comment.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
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2003 AUG 14 PM 2: 55
Public comments
Idaho Power s May 9, 2003, updated AMR filing
Case No. IPC-02-
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As an Idaho Power residential and small business customer, I have a real problem with
the Idaho Public Utilities Commission attempting to push an automated meter reading
(AMR) system on Idaho Power. It appears to be the first step leading to time-of-use
pricing which will not work for Idaho Power s residential and small business customers.
The cost of AMR is tremendous, the benefits miniscule. It is a lose-lose situation for
Idaho Power s customers.
The cost of AMR, estimated at 86.5 million, would ultimately have to be paid by price
increases for Idaho Power s customers. The break-even point appears to be beyond the
life expectancy of the new meters.
The use of an AMR system would result in the loss of a multitude of meter reading jobs
putting many Idaho Power employees in the unemployment lines at a time when
unemployment is already far too high.
Service outages are currently reported immediately by customers. Here in Idaho City
many have Idaho Power s outage number on their speed dialer.
As an Idaho Power customer I can tell you that consumers don t want real time
information on pricing or consumption. Our lives are already consumed with details.
Most of us work far beyond a 40 hour week. We do NOT have the opportunity to shift
our power usage to different times of the day.
Ifwe are still living with some kind of power crisis, then let us know and we will
conserve or change to other forms of energy. But don t give us another costly disaster
like the buy-back programs. Think about the customers for a change. That's why there
a "public" in Public Utilities Commission.
Respectfully submitted~C~
Don Campbell
215 Montgomery St.
Idaho City, Idaho 83631