20090518SRA Comments.pdf

May 18,2008 1:1 ¡.: l' .1¡¡ , ;"...
TO: Jean Jewell
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Secretar
4 72 West Washington
Boise, il 83702
2009H!IY 18 pr1 4: 32
FROM: Ken Miler
Snake River Allance
Box 1731
Boise,ID 83701
Ph: [phone]
RE DOCKET IPC-E-09-07: IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S APPLICATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES DUE TO THE INCLUSION OF ADVANCED
METERING INFRASTRUCTURE ("AMI") INVESTMENT IN RATE BASE
COMMENTS FROM THE SNAKE RIVER ALLIANCE
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Please accept the following comments on behalf of the Snake River Alliance (SRA) relative to
the Commission's docket, IPC-E-09-07.
The Snake River Allance is an Idaho-based non-profit organization established in 1979 to
address Idahoans' concerns about nuclear safety issues. In early 2007, the Allance expanded the
scope ofits mission by launching its Clean Energy Program. The Allance's energy initiative
includes advocacy for renewable energy resources in Idaho; expanded conseration and
effciency programs offered by Idaho utilities and the Bonnevile Power Administration; and
local, state, regional, and national policies and initiatives that advance sustainable and affordable
energy policies. The Allance pursues these programs on behalf of its members, many of whom
are customers of Idaho Power Company.
The Allance supports Idaho Power's request to include the Advance Meterng Infrastrcture
("AMI") investment in the rate base. While we appreciate that the benefits to be realized from
the AMI technology wil not be realized until well after the meters are deployed across Idaho
Power's service tertory, we agree with Idaho Power and the Commission that installation of the
new meters must be a priority.
We remain concerned that the number and cost of capital projects in front of Idaho Power could
possibly delay the timely AMI deployment, and urge the Commission to guard against schedule
creep that could drag the process out beyond the Company's timeline.
And while the Allance is keenly sensitive to the impacts rate basing AMI wil have on Idaho
Power customers, we view this investment as sound and believe the eventual benefits wil lead to
,
real energy savings that wil benefit all customer both through reduced energy bils and a
reduced need for additional investments in new generation and transmission infrastrcture.
Finally and on a related note: The Allance commends Idaho Power for its attempts to convey to
customers the merts of the AMI program. However, we believe the Company can do more to
help its customers better understand how to interret the data on the face of their new meters.
While this is a small issue, we have heard from our member asking how to read the digital data
flashing on their meters. The old meters were not the easiest to read for the typical customer, but
at a minimum they had some feedback by observing the pace at which the dial moved. The new
meters are somewhat more diffcult to decipher - at least in ways that are readily understandable
to the typical consumer. Any efforts by Idaho Power to enable its customer to better
comprehend the data presented on the meters wil be welcome.
The Alliance once again appreciates the attention the Commission has given this matter, and the
efforts the Company have made to comply with the Commission's call for a swift
implementation of AMI in its service tertory. We look forward to the time when AMI wil
allow for more meaningful consumption and price signals to be conveyed to Idaho Power
consumers.
If you have questions about these comments, please do not hesitate to contact me or the Allance
at [phone].
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Miler
Clean Energy Program Director
Snake River Allance
Box 1731
Boise,ID 83701
kmill er(fsnakeri verallan ceo org
cc via e-mail: Donovan E. Walker and Baron L. Kline, Idaho Power Company
Courney Waites and Greg Said, Idaho Power Company