20070521AARP Comments.pdf

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BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMIS~J91Ni'fJ\iJq(,J(
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IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT CASE NO. IPC-07-
APPLICATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION
PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION OF IDAHO
INC AND IDAHO POWER COMPANY FOR
AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE THE PRESENT)
FUNDING LEVEL FOR WEATHERIZATION)
ASSISTANCE AS AUTHORIZED BY ORDER NO. 29505
NOTICE OF JOINT
APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 30310
COMMENTS OF AARP IDAHO IN SUPPORT OF THE JOINT APPLICATION
TO CONTINUE THE PRESENT FUNDING LEVEL FOR WEATHERIZATION
ASSISTANCE AS AUTHORIZED BY ORDER NO. 29505
Pursuant to Order No. 30310, AARP Idaho submits the following comments in
support ofthe Joint Application of Community Action Partnership Association ofIdaho
Inc, and Idaho Power Company for Authority to Continue the Present Funding Level for
Weatherization Assistance as Authorized by Order No. 29505. AARP is a non-profit
membership organization for people aged 50 and over. AARP has nearly 177 000
members in the State of Idaho.
AARP Idaho was a joint intervener with the Community Action Partnership of
Idaho, Inc, (CAP AI) in Case No. IPC-03-, the Idaho Power Company rate case in
which the Commission initially ordered the company to fund weatherization assistance at
$1.2 million per year for three years. In our joint post-hearing brief in that docket
AARP and CAP AI called on the Commission to "implement specific measures that
pertain to the consumption and pricing of electricity in a manner that will assist Idaho
Power s low-income customers.l Increased funding for weatherization assistance is one
such specific measure.
AARP Idaho supports extending the program because there is a clear need for
weatherization programs, which help reduce energy usage, and thus energy bills, for
qualified households. Data from the 2000 Census show that more than 21 000 Idaho
households live with incomes ofless than 50% ofthe poverty rate, and recent research
based on 2006 energy prices estimates these Idaho households pay a whopping 39.4% of
1 Before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, In the Mater of the Application of Idaho Power Company
for Authority to Increase its Interim and Base Rates and Charges for Electric Service, Case. No. IPC-03-
, Post-Hearing Brief of Community Action Partnership Association and AARP, April 26, 2004, at p. 2.
their income on energy bills.2 Another 33 000 Idaho households live with incomes ofless
than 100% of the federal poverty guidelines and pay between 11 % and 15% of their
income for home energy bills. Existing sources of energy assistance are not sufficient to
meet all ofthe needs in Idaho. For example, the federal Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) allocation for Idaho falls far short of serving the eligible
households in our state.
Not only is the need great, but by Idaho Power s own reports, the program has
been a great success. The program, Weatherization Assistance for Qualified Customers
(or W AQC), has funded nearly 1400 weatherization projects over the past three years
saving more than 7 million kWh, at a savings-to-investment ratio far in excess ofthe
standard set by the Commission in the rate case.
For the reasons stated above, AARP Idaho supports the Joint Application of
Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho and Idaho Power Company for
authority to continue the present level of funding for the W AQC program.
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State Director
AARP Idaho
208-855-4005
cc: Commission Secretary
Barton L. Kline
Monica B. Moen
Ric Gale
Brad M. Prdy
http:! /www.homeenergyaffordabilitygap.comldownloads/2006 Released Apr07/States/ldaho.pdf