20051118Comment.pdf

fy-i'v
I~ l'6IUc;
11v A.II 1 0 ~v,..
t. C:E\\/ED
': i
, , -
. Il)8: 09
November 11 , 2005
;u f'UC,L!C
; \ \LIT!ES Cm'H'iISSlm1
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P. O. Box 83720
Boise, ill 83720-0074
I am writing regarding an article in The Idaho Statesman on October 29, 2005 in which
Idaho Power has requested another increase this year for 7.8%. As stated in the article
Idaho Power already received a 6.3% increase in June. Also Intermountain Gas was
granted a 27% increase and United Water received an 8.08% increase.
How in the world can the IPUC grant these high increases. How do they think people
like myself who are retired and on fixed incomes and other low income working people
keep up. We certainly don t get any increases from Social Security such as 6.3% or 27%
or 8.08%. People working at minimum wage jobs haven t had an increase in minimum
wage for many years. How can the IPUC keep giving these monopolies increases
whenever they are requested. Why can t the shareholders pay for some of things they
want the consumers to pay. Since they are monopolies they have no competition so they
get what they want. Take a large chain like WalMart who have competition. If they
want to expand and locate in new areas they can only do so if they can afford to build the
new stores. They can t pass the costs on to the consumers else they won t be competitive
and will lose money. Why must the monopolies be given so much?
Elderly people like me are being hit with ever increasing property taxes and these huge
utilities increases also everything else -food, clothing, medications, etc., many will lose
their homes and have to go on welfare.
Please consider this last increase carefully. Put yourselves in our shoes. I doubt you get
that amount of raises yourselves. Please let the the monopolies pay for some of their own
expenses out of their huge profits.
Thank you for your consideration of this letter.
Sincerely,
f: ~~;ti/;9-.
Elizabeth F. Nelson
3644 E. Immigrant Pass Court
Boise, ill 83716-6906
Telephone: [phone]