20120104Comment.pdf

Jean Jewell
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Sent:
To:
Subject:
mevans(§jhkelly.com
Wednesday, January 04,20128:54 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Mason Evans, President of JH Kelly LLC follows:
Case Number: :¡¿-tf - i l-- ~$l
Name: Mason Evans, President of JH Kelly L LC
Address: 821 3rd Ave
City: Longview
State: WA
Zip: 98632
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: mevans~jhkelly.com
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power Company
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
We have been following the recent news concerning Idaho Power's decision to discontinue power
service to the Hoku facility. We obviously are not privy to all of the details surrounding
their contractual relationship with Hoku, and we certainly regret any payment issues they are
currently encountering. We, too, have patiently and diligently worked through payment issues
with current and former Hoku management, and we thought it might be worthwhile to pass on
some background information that we hope will be considered in your future dealings with
Hoku.
(1) We have been working with Hoku for many years on the construction of their
Pocatello facility. While we have encountered delays and complexities in payments on several
occasions, we have been able to reach successful resolution of billing matters to date.
(2) The construction of the Hoku facility has resulted in hundreds and hundreds of
construction jobs and holds the promise of significant family-wage jobs going forward. We
want Hoku to succeed, and we are impressed with the financial investment they've already made
in the community.
(3) As we have done in the past as a precautionary measure, we currently have liens on
the Hoku facility to secure amounts due us. We understand that Idaho Power has security
deposits in place to serve comparable purposes.
We are concerned that denying power to the facility could have very detrimental impacts on
the continuation of the project - and the millions of dollars of physical improvements
already in place. This latter concern certainly stems from our knowledge and pride in the
construction already completed, but also as creditor concerned about the preservation of our
collateral - and the mitigation of any potential damage to it by a third party.
We ask that you continue to approach this matter in a cautious and prudent manner. We hope
that Idaho Power will be able to resolve the issues with Hoku so that they can be amply
protected while still providing Hoku with opportunities for success. Thanks in advance for
your consideration. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
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Mason Evans, President
JH Kelly, LLC
The form submitted on http://www . puc. idaho. gov Iforms/ipuc1/ipuc. html
IP address is 209.34.134.2
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