20110210Comments.pdf

Idaho Public Utilties Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074 :IfC. £' -/0 -'1(,
R&RFarms
Raymond Matsuura
275 W200N
Blackfoot,ID 83221
[phone]
Februar 8, 2011
RE: Idaho Power's Peak Rewards Program
Dear Public Utilities Commission:
My brother Richard and I far 2500 acres north of Blackfoot since 1986. We grow
potatoes and wheat and all of our acres are watered by pumps powered by electrcity
provided by Idaho Power. A few of our pumps pull water our of canals, but a majority of
them are deep water wells and the deepest of those are in the 350 - 400 foot range. The
costs of production are ever increasing (seed, fuel, chemicals and fertilzers, and power.)
We enthusiastically participated in the Peak Rewards Program when it was introduced-
We saw it as a way to reduce the cost of power and at the same time help ease the
demand for power at critical times during the day (4:00 - 8:00pm) when peak loads are at
the highest. All of the pumps watering grain were signed up and we even had over half
of the watered potato acres on the program this last year. The credits helped our
operation stay in the black. With the increase in costs projected by the U of I economists,
our cost are even greater this year (seed costs up 25 - 35%, fertilzer and machinery coats
uncluding fuel, oil, lubicants and repair up 8-12%.) To grow an acre of potatoes, it will
be close to $3000/acre and at the state yeild average of around 375 cwt.lacre, we would
need to sell our crop at close to $7.20/cwt to break even and so a $9.00 market is what we
are seeking for this growing season. Additional costs, or weaker incentives does hur the
bottom line.
It has recently been brought to my attention that Idaho Power has proposed changes to its
Peak Rewards Program. After reviewing the proposed changes, I feel that this would not
be in the best interest for my faring operation. Bringing the estimated incentive down
from $32/kW to $ 13-14/kW with a varable credit does not make the program as
attactive and it wil reduce the use of the program which seems to be the intention of
Idaho Power. Even with the varable incentive in place, if a hot sumer were to occur,
we would probably opt-out more often thus reducing the our credit even more. The
proposed changes seem excessive and I would encourage you to please reject the
proposed changes as it wil have a negitive effect on my operation and many others.
Than you for your consideration in this matter. If you have questions please contact me.
Raymond Matsuura, Parner in R&R Fars
02/09/2011 06: 12 2088343505 WOLFE BROTHERS INC PAGE 02/03
February 8, 2011
.:L -£-/o-l.(,
To whom it may concern:
Idaho power started this program in the year that the water levels where low. The first year was
a great success and the 2nd year was also a great success and more people got into the program.
Now we have more water and people have budgeted this program and Idaho power choose to
play this game and they made the rules and now they are trying to change the rules in the middle.
It was a 80-20 and now Idaho power would like to change it to a 60-40 my opinion maybe a 75-
25. Who is going to pay the extra labor for turning the water back on at 8:30. Tt:is is a cost that we are
not budgeted for.
t!"11#~
Willam £Oïfe
02/09/2011 06: 12 2088343505 WOLFE BROTHERS INC PAGE 03/03
February 8, 2011
P¿-£-IO -4&
To whom it may concern:
Idaho power started this program in the year that the water levels where low. The first year was
a great success and the 2nd year was also a great success and more people got into the program.
Now we have more water and people have budgeted this program and Idaho power choose to
change the program this is not a good idea in my eyes. The cost for turning the water back on at a
different time is not budget this year. I think the change is not a good idea for Idaho power why change
something when it work good like it is.
~/~v;sW:IfJ
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
DSnarr (dx2snarr~gmail.comJ
Wednesday, February 09, 2011 4:22 PM
Jean Jewell
Fwd: Load Management ;:¿-£ -IO-t¡(,
Dean Snar & Son has been using the load management that is curently in place and we have find that the
saving that are eared are very helpfu. If changes are put in place as proposed by PUC it would place an
additional burden on irrigators and the program would no longer be viable. The $13 or $14 proposed changes
would make it almost impossible to alter our pumping schedules. Their are costs that have to be taen into
account when we sta and stop pumps.
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Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
blincoefarms~qwestoffice. net
Thursday, February 10, 2011 3:48 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Richard Blincoe follows:
Case Number: :rfc.-~-'O -'f~
Name: Richard Blincoe
Address: 211 S 700 W
Ci ty: Heyburn
State: Idaho
Zip: 83336
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: blincoefarms~gwestoffice.net Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
We at Blincoe Farms, Inc. started with the Peak Rewards Program from the very beginning.
Blincoe Farms, Inc. objects to any substantial changes, (like those being proposed).
Thank you, Blincoe Farms, Inc.
Richard L Blincoe (owner)
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 174.27.53.250
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