HomeMy WebLinkAbout20130108Comment.pdfRECEIVED
Case # IPCE-12-27 Steve Smith - 208-897-5148
IPUC 20(3 JAN -7 PM 134 P0 Box 2
IDAHO
Boise, ID ullirnEs COMMISSION
Swan Lake, ID 83281
d.
Dear Commissioners:
Thank you for this forum to comment on Idaho Powers Proposal and Request. This is a two edge sword
that is more like blackmail than a Proposal. The doubling of the Generating Capacity of Non Utility
Power is, in my opinion, a small contribution to the Public Good. A non competitive Public Power
Company should be doing this type of thing all along to keep their special status.
Net Metering in Idaho is just a window dressing to the PURPA law anyway and to interrupt this proposal
as a generous gift to customers is a fish hook for the request for more money for the Power Company
and another blow to Net Metering In Idaho.
What exactly are these "Potential Inequality" costs that a Net Metered Customer doesn't recover? How
is this going to help the Standard Service Customer (SSC) by adding 4 times the Service charge and a new
Basic Load Charge for only the Net Metering Customers? Here are 3 Real Inequalities that Net Metering
Customers do not get credit for:
1)Avoided Costs of Transmission from out of state Power Plants including Construction Costs.
2)Peak Power Rates that are not one KW for one KW.
3)Demand Side Management costs.
In summary: Power Companies that are not still in the Dark ages factor in Net Metered Power for future
demand and Distributed Generation. Our states neighbors have not only learned how to utilize diverse
power sources but are developing standards and technology to deal with some of the problems that
occur with putting consumer generated power in to the overall mix. Idaho Power is having a tough time
with non typical power sources but they are blaming all their problems on 2 or 3% of the total power
mix. The more one looks into the debate over the PURPA laws one only sees Partisan Politics as the
underlining issue.
This Request should be denied. Idaho Power may want to study how other Power Providers make Net
Metering work.
Steve Smith