20070517ICAN Comments.pdf

MAY-17-2007 THU 12:32 PM NWFCO
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1311 West Jefferson Street ~ Bolst:.!D 83702 - 008) 3B5-9146 - F'Ix (208) 336~6'~97
1151 O;jklcy - Burley, ID 63516 ~ (208) 678,.1708 - F"x (208) 67B-4313 "'
May 17 2007
The Idaho Community Action Network (lCAN) supports Idaho Power and CAPAI's application
to continue Idaho Power s Weatheriz~\tjon Assistance Program, Case No. IPC-07-09.
In Case No. IPC-04~ 15, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) approved a decoupling
pilot program that allows Idaho Power to implement a Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA). Tn that
decision, the IPUC said that in exchange for the FCA, Idaho Power "i9 expected to demonstrate
an enhanced commitment to energy efficiency and DSM." The Commissioners also invited
ICAN to participate in future opportunities to comment on the implementation of the program.
ICAN members consider Idaho Power s Weatheri7.ation Assistance Program an ideal platfonn
for Idaho Power s increased commitment to energy etilciency. The FCA will have the greatest
impact on low-income customers, so tailoring this program to mitigate the impact of the FCA on
these customers is an excellent idea.
Idaho s low-income households rely on Weatherization Assistance Programs, which are
critically underfunded. Idaho received $2 million in federal funding for weath~ization programs
through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in 2005.' During that
year, 1,460 Idaho households received weatherization benefits .'! Applicants wait an average of
two ye~\rs, but wait times vary by region. Some CAP agencies, which distribute the benefit, keep
ongoing waiting lists, but others begin new lists each year.
Idaho Power proposes spending an additional $1 million each year on weatherization, the same
amount that the pue authorized in 2004. ICAN suggests that Idaho Power should demonstrate
its enhanced commitment to energy efficiency by increasing its contribution to $2 milHon, half
above the line and half below the line. Idaho Power s proposal would have the rate payers
shoulder the entire cost of the program. The shareholders who will benefit from the FCA should
join the ratepayers in funding this program.
Tn context, $2 million is not a great deal of money for Idaho Power to contribute to the program.
Last year, J. LaMont Keen, IDACORP'~ CEO and President, earned $lA20 655.iii In 2005
then-President and CEO Jan Packwood eamed $2 305 592.iv And IDACORP enjoyed net
income of $ J 07 million in 2006. v
Increasing Ute funding available would allow Idaho Power to clear the backlog of applicants
waiting for assistance, and to open the program to more people who need it. Weatherization
MAY-17-2007 THU 12:32 PM NWFCO 2065685444 P. 03
assistance is only available to families at or below 150 percent of FPL. This leaves many low-income families out in the cold. And the Ln-lEAP program in Idaho is closed to many immigrant
families. Idaho Power should implement eligibility standards that include more Idahoans who
need weatherization assistance.
Idaho Power s Decoupling Pilot Program wil1 have an impact on low-income consumers. There
is a critical lack of timding for low-income weatherization. The Idaho Public Utilities
Commission has charged Idaho Power with demonstrating an increased commitment to energy
efficiency in exchange for the FCA. An ideal way for Idaho Power to demonstrate this
commitment would be to increase the funding tor the Weatherization Assistance Program, with
half oftrus funding from above the line and halfbejow the line, and to open the program to more
of the Idaho Power customers who will be most heavily impacted by the FCA.
JL #fi
LeeArm Hall
Executive Director
Idaho Community Action Network
i "Federal WeMhcr1zation Allocations - FY 2006 " UHEAP Clearinghouse, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, available at http://www.1ibeup.ncat.orgitablesIFY2006/WAV06.htm.ii Community Action Partnership Association ofIdtilio.
iii Officer Profile, Reutcnu:om.
;v The Seattle Times, NW 100, CEO P~y.v IDACORP Amlual Report 2006, page I.