20090423Comment.pdf

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2009 APR 20 ¡WI 8: 22
Steven L. Kauer
695 Nort 700 W
Blackfoot, Idao 83221
Idao Public Utilties Commssion
Dear Sir:
In ths months power bil from Idaho Power we reeived an inser that informed us that Idao
Power is sekig th new increases in power bils (copy enclosed). I would like to make
comments to the proposed new increases.
Increas one is stated for Effciency Progr Fundig. We have never been recipients of any
of the items in ths progr but have payed into it since Idao Power staed it. I do not support
ths progr nor an increas of the fudig for the simple fac it is socialistic in tht it is requied
to be paid by all and the benefits ar securd to the favored few. Idaho Power can maneuver the
benefits progr as it sees fit to the benefit of those it favors. I believe tht each power usr
should pay for their own effciency upgrade of its own facilties. The incree of ths fuding
only makes the burden on everyone greater to the benefit of the few at Idao Powers choice.
I am agait ths fuding and any increase in it.
Idao Power argues for an increas in Energy Effciency Progr Funding yet at the sae
tie Idao Power also wants an increase for the second item for Fixed Cost Adjustment based in
par due to the same thg it wants an incree in fuding to increas cusomer effciency.
Quote frm the insert back page fist parph, "Durg 2008 Idao Power's energy use per
customer decreasd in par due to increasd energy effciency," Ths is stted as a basis in par
for Idaho Power's reasonig for a Fixed cost Adjusent increae. Idao Power seeks an
increas in EE and then support its contention for FCA in par due to energy effciency. I am
against a fixed cost adjustment for ths reason.. I am one of probably many Idaho Power
customers tht have usd less power beause of the increased cost chaged by idáo Power due
to all of these progrs and I in the futu will seek to use other power sources for items I ca
like heat. I believe tht a decrease in power us is mostly due to the higher cost Idao power
seeks each year to the already high cost it charges.
Idao Power seeks and increase in customer rates for Advanced Meterg Inastrctue and
for the purose of reucing operating costs associated with meter reading, meter readng
accuracy, outae maement, and theft. The reduction in cost in all of these areas increass the
bottom line income to Idaho Power and the cost of the inftrctu should be payed for by the
fue savigs in these mangement aras and not by an increas in costuer rates. Idao Power
seeks to have our rates increased ( indetermately) so tht Idaho Powers income may be
increasd forever by ths fee increas. Idao Power should be requied to pay for Advanced
Metering Intrctu from the savings it will reaize in the futu decrease in the operating
costs. Clearly to have a customer increase in rates for Advanced Meterng Intrctu as
Idao Powers puts it is to really increase customer rates so income will be increas for Idao
Power. I am agait an increase for ths item beause it is only a disguse to increae futu
company inome
)
~IDA. PO.
An IDACORP company
Important Information
About Your Electricity Bil
Idaho Power is committed to dilgent execution of energy
efficiency initiatives, and in partnership with customers is
demonstrating its commitment to securing our energy future.
Meeting these commitments requires periodic filngs with the
Idaho Public Utilties Commission (lPUC) to adjust the prices
customers pay for electricity. Idaho Power filed three energy
efficiency-related requests with the IPUC in March which may
affect your rates. These rate actions complement our expanded
energy efficiency activities and underscore Idaho Power's
commitment to helping our customers increase their energy
efficiency, providing niore opportunity for them to control their
electric bilL.
Energy Efficiency (EE) Program Funding
Our energy efficiency programs provide cash incentives,
information and services to residential, general service, large
power and irrigation customers. As a result of continued
expansion of these programs Idaho Power is seeking approval
to adjust the amount collected through the existing Energy
Efficiency Services charge from 2.5 percent of monthly energy
bils to 4.75 percent. All of the funds collected by this charge
go directly to energy efficiency programs. None of the funding
goes to the earnings of the company. The filing proposes to
collect an additional $15.6 millon annually or an increase of
1.91 percent over the current annual Idaho revenue.
Energy efficiency programs help customers save energy and
money. They also help Idaho Power reduce the amount of
electricity it buys or generates. This ensures the company
meets its commitment to responsible planning for the growing
need of electricity. To learn more about Idaho Power's energy
efficiency programs or to enroll, visit www.idahopower.com/
eeprograms.
Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA)
The FCA is a pilot rate adjustment that trues up fixed cost
recovery as energy efficiency programs and other activities strive
to reduce usage per customer. Its purpose is to encourage the
company to invest in energy effciency programs and activities.
The FCA provides for an IPUC -determined amount of fixed costs
to be recovered from these customers. If, because of reduced
)electricity use during the year, the company under-collect the
authorized fixed cost amount, it can collect the difference through
a surcharge. If Idaho Power over-collect the authorized amount,
the company refunds the difference through a credit.
During 2008, Idaho Power's energy use per customer decreased,
in part due to increased energy efficiency, and the company
under-collected fixed costs from both residential and small-
general service customers. The filing proposes to collect an
additional $5.2 millon for one year. Therefore; these two
customer groups are proposed to receive a 0.0529 cents/kilowatt-
hour (kWh) charge beginning June 1.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
Responding to a changing technological environment and past
directives from the IPUC, Idaho Power is installng advanced
metering across its service area. Installation of AMI wil reduce
operating costs associated with meter reading and improve
meter reading accuracy, outage monitoring and management,
and electricity theft detection. It wil eventually allow customers
to monitor electric prices and become more energy efficient by
adjusting their usage to take ádvantage of lower price periods.
AMI will also allow more customers to participate in more
programs, such as our A1C Cool Credit air conditioner cycling
program. If approved, this action wil increase residential, small
business and irrigation customers' rates uniformly by an average
of 1.37 percent, and would produce an estimated $11.2 millon in
additional revenue. per year.
Overall Impact of These Actions
If approved, these requests collectively wil have differing impacts
on the rates paid by our customers. The table below shows the
average change:
For a typical residential customer using 1,050 kWh of electricity
each month, the monthly bil would increase by $3.99 per month
during June, July and August and by $3.89 during non-summermonths. .
Idaho Power's applications are proposals open to public review
and comment and subject to IPUC approval. They are available
on the company's Web page at ww.idahopower.com/
idahoratefilings. Copies also are available at Idaho Power offices
or at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission office in Boise.