20100126Comment.pdf

I~ At,;ii'rJean Jewell
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
bruceg1113~yahoo.com
Friday, January 22,20108:08 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Bruce Garner follows:
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Case Number: 3c-~.o?-/o
Name: Bruce Garner
Address: 6931 Beatrice Dr
City: Fruitland
State: ID
Zip: 83619
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: brucegll13~ahoo.com
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Add to Mailing List:
Please describe your comment briefly:
My comment is directed both toward Idaho Power and also the commissioners who make up the
Public Utili ties Commission. I am sure you have heard a lot of people complaining about high
electric bills lately. My power bill jumped 144% for the month of December which was up over
$100 from the year before for the same time period. When I called Idaho Power, during the
conversation I was told the company had taken up to a 17% rate increase this last year. Oil
is not over $100 a drum and supposedly new reserves of natural gas were discovered, according
to news reports I heard on the radio. Where in the world does Idaho Power get off getting a
17% rate increase when everyone else all across this state are getting laid off, taking pay
reductions, etc. and businesses losing money. I know my own income has taken a huge hit this
last year. Why don i t they have to tighten their belts like everyone else? And more
importantly, why would the commissioners grant such a rate hike at a time like this? If I
had another option to paying Idaho Power, I would take it, but I don' t. That is precisely
why the Public Utilities Commission was created, to monitor these granted monopolies,
supposedly because that would be better for the consumer than allowing competition. Energy
conservation will only go so far. At some point, regulation has to take place. Either that,
or allow open competition so people have other options. I cannot pay over $300 a month for a
power bill and keep everything else in balance too. As a . public i commission, sup~osedly
working for the interests of the public, I wonder whose side you are really!on.
Thank you for your consideration.
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 96.18.182.208
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