20040318Comments.pdf

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15 March 2004
Dear Public Utilities Commission
I would like to express my thoughts on the proposed Idaho Power rate
increase. I am a fourth generation farmer in Minidoka county. My great
grandfathers both farmed here, as did my grandparents and father. My farm was
purchased from my grandfather and I have been operating this farm for
approaching 25 years now. We have all loved this occupation. I am by no means
a large farmer and we have not made a great deal of money, but it is a great place
to live and raise a family.
That way of life is being threatened by the spiraling increase in our
production costs. My farm is on the north side of Rupert and we irrigate with
water pumped from a deep well. I have always thought that a big part of the
magic" of the Magic Valley was the water we enjoy for farming and recreation.
That water is now a precious commodity, perhaps even more than it was when the
desert bloomed with the first irrigation.
I am told that Idaho Power feels a need for an 11 % return on equity. There
are few places with that kind of return these days. I feel that for the present time
that rate is too high. If, and I stress "if', there is a need for some rate increase, I
would hope that it would be spread out equitably to as many rate payers as
possible so that no singe rate payer group has to shoulder the burden alone.
Irrigators are an easy target. Weare not a very united bunch. By nature farmers
are generally independent and too busy to fight for themselves as a group. They
are also, however, other than the elderly and poor, perhaps the least able to absorb
an increase in power rates. We are not able to pass on production cost increases to
those we sell our crops to. Prices we receive from crops have increased very little
if any, over the years. We have only been able to survive by being efficient and
careful. We are now at the point of shifting funds from one production cost to
another. That shift includes not replacing aging equipment, cutting living
expenses, and shorting other production inputs. Some call it a death spiral.
Conservation has been in our plans for years now. We have seen a 40% increase
in electric rates over the past five years. While many rate payers saw some relief
last year, irrigators did not. The proposed rate increase would raise our irrigation
costs another 20 - 25%. I have included some pages showing my power increases
over the past five years and what the proposed rate increase would do to my bills
next year. Please consider the farmers contributions to our communities and only
pass an increase that is absolutely needed, and then I ask that it be spread out as
equally and broadly as possible. Many of us are quickly becoming that other
group mentioned earlier who are not able to deal well with increased rates, the
elderly and poor.
Thank You /J ~. 6
N. Bruce Bagnall
501 N. Meridian
Rupert, ID
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THE AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY LLC IRRIGATION CLASS
IPCO GENERAL RATE CASE DATE: 10 MAR 2004
IMPACT TO GROWERS REV: 0
BilLING FORMULA: Customer Charge + Demand Charge X Billing + Energy Charge X Billing ~H + Conservation Funding
Current Rate
2003 Summer
roposed Rat
2004 Summer
Customer Charge:$10,07 IMonth Customer Charge:$25.00 IMonth
Demand Charge:$3,58 IKW Demand Charge:$5.40 IKW
Energy Charge:
Base: 2,8416~ IKWH
PCA: 1,3159~ IKWH
1575~ IKWH Energy Charge:
Base: 3,2634~ IKWH
PCA: 1,3159~ IKWH
5793~ IKWH
Conservation Funding:$15,00 IMonth Conservation Funding:$15,00 IMonth
Current Electric Bill
$10,07 + $3,58 (IWJ) + $0,041575 (KVVH) + $15
Proposed Electric Bill
$25,00 + $5.40 (KW) + $0,045793 (KWH) + $15
Notes: (1) Rates are from the proposed Idaho Power schedule 24 Tariff.
(2) PCA will change every year based on snow pack conditions,
(3) Spreadsheet formulated for monthly values and only for the four months of summer season rates,
PROPOSED RATE: CALCULATION WORKSHEET
Enter demand and energy values into highlighted boxes, These values are found in a 2003 summer month IPCO bill.
2111 KW - Demand Required
68520 I KWH - Energy Consumed 5f1 \ 03
The following boxes show calculated values from above entered information,
Current Electric
Power Bill
Proposed Electric
Power Bill
Net Dollar
Change
Percent
Change
Impact Not
Including P
25.4%1I $3 6291 1 $4 317 I I 19,0%1
C:\Documents and SettingslBruce BagnallIMy Documentslgrowerimpact.xls
IRRIGATION CLASSTHE AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY LLC
IPCO GENERAL RATE CASE DATE: 10 MAR 2004
IMPACT TO GROWERS REV: 0
BILLING FORMULA: Customer Charge + Demand Charge X Billing tWV + Energy Charge X Billing tWVH + Conservation Funding
Current Rate
2003 Summer
Proposed Rate
2004 Summer
Customer Charge:$10,07 IMonth Customer Charge:$25,00 IMonth
Demand Charge:$3,58 IKW Demand Charge:$5.40 IKW
Energy Charge:
Base: 2,84161t IKWH
PCA: 1,31591t IKWH
15751t IKWH Energy Charge:
Base: 3,26341t IKWH
PCA: 1,31591t IKWH
57931t IKWH
Conservation Funding:$15,00 IMonth Conservation Funding:$15,00 IMonth
Current Electric Bill
$10,07 + $3,58 (KW) + $0,041575 (KVVH) + $15
Proposed Electric Bill
$25,00 + $5.40 (KW) + $0,045793 (KWh) + $15
Notes: (1) Rates are from the proposed Idaho Power schedule 24 Tariff.
(2) PCA will change every year based on snow pack conditions,
(3) Spreadsheet formulated for monthly values and only for the four months of summer season rates,
PROPOSED RATE: CALCULATION WORKSHEET
Enter demand and energy values into highlighted boxes, These values are found in a 2003 summer month IPca bill.
211 KW - Demand Required
117920l KWH - Energy Consumed
The following boxes show calculated values from above entered information,
Current Electric
Power Bill
Proposed Electric
Power Bill
Net Dollar
Change
Percent
Change
Impact Not
Including PCA
$6,579 $8961 15,8%1 21,9%1
C:\Oocuments and SettingslBruce BagnallIMy Documents\growerimpact.xls
Jean Jewell
~lf~/1v /1u
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ed Howell
Wednesday, March 17, 2004 1:37 PM
Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark
Comment acknowledgement
WWW Form Submission:
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
1: 36: 32
Case: IPC-E-03-13,
Name: Syl & Carolyn MenichettiStreetAddress: 2488 Lappin Lane
City: Council
State: 10
ZIP: 83612
Home Telephone: [phone]
E-Mail: sckranch0ruralnetwork. net
Company: Idaho Power .mailing list yes no :,yes.../
Comment descriptIon: -wE desire to voice our obj ection to Idaho Power s desire for rate
increase. For the last several years, by the mere fact of the new people moving into
Idaho, who necessarily use power!! - Idaho Power should have sufficient funds already with
which to continue to upgrade its necessary equipment, etc. Isn t that, after all, the
name of the game?? If those funds are not sufficient for their needs, perhaps they could
learn to pay their administrators a bit less; could learn to live with less than the very
newest automotive vehicles for their personnei to travel in, and in general , be a bit morefrugal with "Our " money.
Thank you for your consideration of this objection.
Transaction 10: 3171336.
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User Hostname: 66.232.95.137
Jean Jewell
~q""
,J 1,/
~v'Ifv
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ed Howell
Tuesday, March 16, 2004 8:29 PM
Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tanya Clark
Comment acknowledgement
WWW Form Submission:
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
8:29:18 PM
Case: IPC-E-03-13
Name: David W. and Debora S. Crockett
Street Address: 2678 Rock Creek Road
City: Hansen
State: Idaho
ZIP: 83334
Home Telephone: [phone]
E-Mail: ddavycro~aol. com
Company: Idaho Power
mailing list yes no~~~
Comment - descriptIon~ase do not allow another rate hike. We feel the hikemonthlyfees a few years ago was excessive. We feel Idaho Power will need to
(including their executives) just like the rest of us have had to.
Transaction 10: 3162029.
Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc, state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dIll ipuc
User Address: 198.81.26.
User Hostname: 198.81.26,
in our
cut corners
Jean Jewell
~ ::;
3/1'1/ Ii 14-,1cJ
l-f
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ed Howell
Tuesday, March 16 , 2004 8:00 AM
Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tanya Clark
Comment acknowledgement
WWW Form Submission:
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
7:59:34 AM
Case:
Name: Randy Hardy
Street Address: 1818 South 500 West
Ci ty: Oakley
State: Idaho
ZIP: 83346
Home Telephone: [phone]
E-Mail: hardy10pmt. org
Company: Idaho Power
mailing list yes no:
Comment descriptIon: I am owner and manager of a 2000 acre farm in Oakley, located in
Cassia County. I am deeply concerned about the proposed Idaho Power rate increase toirrigators. I have already helped fund the ' power buyout' debacle, which did me no goodwhatsoever, but I got to help pay for it. Now we are being told that Idaho Power wants usto help fund their expansion. Meanwhile, Ida-corp shareholders continue to reap profits
from their investments. This proposed increase, and even the commission I s proposed 15%
increase to irrigators is not fair and will destroy the Idaho farm economy, If
agriculture is such a high priced liability, then have Idaho Power sell the rural areas to
existing nearby cooperatives, such as United Electric Coop in Burley, They seem to be
doing fine financially, and those farmers ' rates are far less than our current ones.
During the past 20 years we have seen Idaho Power 's quality of service decline as rates
have continually moved up, whether they want to call it ' base rate I or 'annual rateadjustment'The investors continue to reap the rewards and we slowly get siphoned off.Thanks
Randy L. Hardy, President
Hardy Farms, Inc.
Transaction 10: 316759.
Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc. state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dIll ipuc
User Address: 216.83.65.
User Hostname: 216.83.65.
Jean Jewell
I~~%IO~
./.
//(J
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ed Howell
Monday, March 15 , 2004 3:24 PM
Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tonya Clark
Comment acknowledgement
WWW Form Submission:
Monday, March 15, 2004
3: 23: 32
Case: Idaho Power Request for Rate Increase
Name: Peter LipovacStreetAddress: Rt. 3, Box 282
City: Blackfoot
State: Idaho
ZIP: 83221
Home Telephone: [phone]E-Mail: pa10srv. net
Company: Idaho Power
mailing list yes no:
Comment=descriptIon: I am against any rate increase
structure increase presented by Idaho Power.
and I am especially against the rate
The monthly minimum access fee should stay exactly where it is. Raising it to $10 would be
a great hardship to me and people like me who are on a very limited income and this action
does absolutely nothing to encourage conservation.
If there must be an increase, it should be only for those who use more than 1000
kilowats/mo.., at that level , a tiered increase should be considered.
Again , I am against any increase at all and the IPUC ought to do more to encourage
conservation and
Transaction 10: 3151523.
Referred by: http: / /www.puc. state. id. us/ scripts/polyform. dll/ipucUser Address: 67.72.98.
User Hostname: 67.72.98.
Jean Jewell
3/,g/b Y 11o
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ed Howell
Tuesday, March 16 200410:10 AM
Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tanya Clark
Comment acknowledgement
WWW Form Submission:
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
10:10:11 AM
Case: IPC-E-03-13
Name: Mindy Earl
Street Address: 2530 Big Canyon Road
City: Rockland
State: Idaho
ZIP: 83271
Home Telephone: [phone]
E-Mail: mindy&dallypost. com
Company: Idaho Powermailinglistyesno:
Comment description: I feel that the rate increase Idaho Power is requesting is
outrageous! I know prices and needs increase but I do not believe that Idaho has grown to
the extent that Idaho Power is stating. If power companies would take care of their own
first and then if there was excess power, then sell it, My appreciatin for farmers and
ranchers has grown tremendously since I moved to Idaho in 1997. They are extremely hard
workers but don t get the support they need from their home states or the nation, We
should rely on them for our needs, not other countries. The rate increase for irrigation
that is proposed would harm our ranchers and farmers greatly. Don t do it!
Transaction 10: 3161010.
Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc. state. id. usl scripts/polyform, dIll ipucUser Address: 12.160.225.
User Hostname: 12.160.225.
Jean Jewell
~/6 11cJ
, H
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Ed Howell
Tuesday, March 16, 2004 8:02 AM
Jean Jewell; Ed Howell; Gene Fadness; Tanya Clark
Comment acknowledgement
WWW Form Submission:
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
8:02:22 AM
Case: IPC-E-03-
Name: Tim Lynard
Street Address: 4319 N. 2450
City: Filer
State: 10
ZIP: 83328
Home Telephone: [phone]E-Mail: tlynard0northrim. net
Company: Idaho Power
mailing list yes no: noComment=descriptlon: ~ow come IP is always asking for rate increases. The last big jump a
couple of years ago went up about 25%. Then all the employees got a 10% bonus. Their
employees are already well paid for as it is, I know many of their emplyees and none of
them seem to complain about the wage structure. I agree with cost of living adjustments
but a 10% bonus and then raising rate constantly and asking us to pay for club memberships
and other perks is ridiculous.
Transaction 10: 316802.Referred by: http: I Iwww. puc. state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dIll ipucUser Address: 56.84.111
User Hostname: 56.84.111
Jean Jewell
I~
::*1/0'/v1q
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Front
Tuesday, March 16, 20048:15 AM
Jean Jewell
FW: Complaint acknowledgement
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Howell
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 5:30 PM
To: Front; Beverly Barker; Ed Howell;
Subj ect: Complaint acknowledgement
Tonya Clark
WWW Form Submission:
Monday, March 15, 2004
5:29:39 PM
Name: Marlene Terry
Street Address: 2630 N. Shoveler Way
City: Meridian
State: ID
ZIP: 83642
Home Telephone: [phone]
Work Telephone: [phone]
E-Mail: mterry~idahopress. com
Home Business: Home
Business Name:
Business Street Address:
Business Phone:
Complaint Company: Idaho Power
Local Provider:
Contacted utility:
Complaint description: I strongly obj ect to the consideration of the Idaho Public Utility
Commission to approve a
rate increase for Idaho Power in order that they will be able to pass along to customersthe
cost of such things as $322,000, in legal expenses to defend an energy trading case
before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commisson, $24 490, to join Chambers of
Commerce across Idaho, $7,200, for memberships to the exclusive Arid Club for four
executive officers at Idaho Power, $3,967 , for memberships to various Rotary clubs,
$1,689, for memberships to Kiwanis clubs and $246, 048, for dues to the Edison ElectricInsti tute in Wash, D, C., which lobbies on behalf of utili ties.
That Idaho Power would take advantage of the customers whom they serve in such a
manner is appalling, to say the least!
Transaction ID: 3151729,
Referred by: http: I Iwww.puc, state. id. usl scripts/polyform. dill cons
User Address: 207.173.155.105User Hostname: 207.173.155.105
DON~T LET IDAHO POWER
PUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE!
Low-income families in Idaho struggle to
make ends meet every month. Now
Idaho Power wants to pump up its rates
with both an interim increase and a 19.
permanent hike for residential customers
-- including quadrupling monthly servicecharges!
These changes will mean real pain for
low-income families in Idaho. The IPUC
should act in the public interest and deny
the hikes.
IPUC: PULL THE PLUG ON
THE RATE INCREASE!
Signaturell~J ~t-LI L7 ~-rL.-
Idaho Community
Action Network
3450 Hill Road
Boise, Idaho 83703
Phone: [phone]
Toll-free: 866.385.9146