20081209ICL Comments.pdf

Dec 08 2008 5: 05PM
/ ßv ~t'¡otl.~ /r1
Idaho Conservat i on League 208-3440344
y"~ A.V. /1: ~;Id ;, H
J
p. 1
RCf'FIVFr',.. ''' _. "'" ",'
2000 DEC -8 PM~: 59WWlVØI
Co I ea
PO Bo 84. Bo. D 88701208.45.89
IDAHO PUBliC
UTILITIES COMi\AlSS¡ON
Idaho Public Utilities Commssion
POBox 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
December 3, 2008
RE: Idaho Conservation League Comments on Idaho Power Advaß~ed Meter
Infrastructure Case No. IPC-E-08-16
Dear Commssioners:
Than you for the opportity to comment on Idaho Power's reuest to install Advanced
Meter Inrastructue (AMI) thoughout its servce terrtory over the next thee year. For
thirt~fouryear. the Idaho Conservation League has been Id~o's voice for clean water,
clean air, and wildemess-values tht are the foundation to Idahò's extrdina quaity
of life. The Idaho Conservation League works to protect these vaues thug citizen
actio~ public education, and professional advocacy. As Idaho's largest state-based
conservation organization we represent over 9,500 members, many of whom have a deep
personal interest in protecting our Clea ai, clean wate, and quality oflife.
The Idaho Consaton League (lCL) urges the Idao Public Utility Commssioner
(PUC) to grt Idao Power a Cerficate of Public Convenience and Necessity to inl
AMI technology. The deployment of AM technology is necessar to modernize our
aging electricity infrstcture and wil be immensely beneficial to Idao Powe,
ratepyers, and our environment.
AMI technology provides energ usage information to customers and utlities. which will
help realize greater effciencies in energy consumption on both ends of the electrcity
gnd. Ths will drtically improve the impact energy ha on our environment. Idao
Power wil be able to more closely lin cusmer pricing with market principles of supply
and demand; which wil allow for beter plan for additional energy resources.
Additionally, AMI educates consumers on their own energ use and pricing and will,
therefore, provide an incentive to become more energy effcient in order to reduce their
energ us. Improved planing by Ida Power and more effcient energy use by
consumers wil decrease the need for more power plants and trasmiion lines. In tum,
fewer power plants will reduce greenhous gas emissions, a major contrbutor to global
warming. According to the Energy Inormation AdministrtiolL the elecicity sectr
accounts for fort pecent of cabon dioxide emissions, which mean ths industry wil be
one of the most affected in combating global warming. The cheapest and quickest
method of reducing those emisions is thugh energy effciency, and AM technology is
a crucial step to becoming more energy effcient.
In addition to the environmental benefits, consumers and Idao Power wil benefit
Dec 08 2008 5: 05PM Idaho Conservat i on League 208-3440344 p.2
ficially frm reduced equipment and associated maintenance costs, reuced support
expenses, and improved inventory management. AMI wil improve network reliabilty
and system responsiveness by detecng outages earlier and enhcing the abilty to locate
where an outage has occurd. Deployment of AM technology also reduces costs
associate with tritional manual meter reaing and customer biling and improves the
accury of biling information due to reducing the number of estimed and eroneoUs
meter readings.
Than you for the opportty to comment on Idao Power's AMI application. Thisis an
opportunty to drastically improve effciency in our energy use, which will lead to a
cleaner environment and lower energy cost. Please grant Idaho Power a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity to instal AMI technology. If you have questions
about our interest in this matter, please contact me at 208-345-6933 ex. 12 or at
bbridge(gwildidaho.org.
Sincerely,B~ß~--.
Energy Effciency Associate