20121211Comments.pdf

From: James W. Thomas [mailto:thomasjw©cableone.net ]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 6:15 PM _L P_
To: Gene Fadness
Cc: Reed Burkholder
Subject: Residential solar power net metering
Hi, Gene,
Please share with the Commission.
I'm Jim Thomas, Boise, and, as a hobby, I had 24 solar panels and a 5kw inverter
installed at my house and Idaho Power changed my meter to a net metering system.
I was told, in fact, that Idaho power liked us "solar guys" because we're generating big
time during hot summer days reducing the purchase of expense spot market power.
The deal was that if there's an excess generated, it turned my meter backwards and at
night forward.
If I built up a significant credit, Idaho Power would send me a check; certainly not
enough to make the solar panels a financially sound project.
Now, do I understand correctly that Idaho power doesn't want to even send a small check
occasionally IF there is a surplus generated?
We look at Germany. Well, I'm sure you know their feed in tariff program where all rate
payers chip in a couple of bucks a month to help "solar guys" recoup their solar
expenditure and reduce the country's demand for nuclear-generated energy.
I realize, that would not be popular with a majority of Boise rate payers. However,
IPCo's desire to not even send us a few bucks a year IF there is a surplus is
disappointing. On the contrary, how about IPCo paying us spot market price vs. just the
nominal 7 cent rate?
After all, at our expense we're helping all rate payers by providing the energy when Idaho
really needs it during hot summer days.
Respectfully,
Jim Thomas
668 S. Whisperwood Way
Boise 83709
By the way, you can check our performance of my panels: http://www.suntrol-
portaI.com/en/paetjwtO.1/day
Jean Jewell
From: solar©keithleyfamily.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 4:54 AM
To: Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
Subject: PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Doug Keithley follows:
Case Number: ipc .ZPC-E-i;'---7
Name: Doug Keithley
Address:
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83713
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: solar(keithleyfamily.com Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
This concern is in regard to a letter I received from Idaho Power about 'Modification of Net
Metering Service' which upon further investigation indicates that they have requested changes
that would discourage and punish home owners that would like to help out by putting up
renewable energy source generation equipment such as electrical solar panels on there homes.
Increasing the amount of available net metering service is great, but the additional changes
are very discouraging.
Small residential producers - about 3KW arrays or lower - may actually end up with higher
Idaho Power bills each month than before they installed the equipment based on the proposed
fixed fees (Service charge more than four times the current charge and a new "Basic Charge"
fee per KW) and lowered Energy Charge credit rate per generated Kwh. A 2KW array would not
be able to produce enough electricity to pay for the proposed monthly fees of $23.88 =
(20.92 + (2 x 1.48)).
I have a 3.8KW array installed on my house. The new fees would be a 431% increase over the
current fees I currently pay and the lowered rate would mean that in the summer months I
would probably still have a slightly lower electric bill, but in the winter months I would
probably have a higher electric bill than if I hadn't invested the thousands of dollars in my
solar array.
Larger arrays may enable residential customers to generate more than they consume on average
and the proposal to only give credits that expire at the end of the year would be very
discouraging to them.
Residential investment in renewable energy source production in Idaho is not primarily
motivated by a great financial return, but significantly reducing or even charging
residential customers for the privilege of being producers will significantly discourage
future investment in this worthwhile technology.
The form submitted on httr://www.nuc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 184.99.118.178
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