20130424Comment.pdf

Jean Jewell
From: [e-mail]
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 10:23 AM
To: Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
Subject: PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Kevin Weigel follows:
Case Number: IPC-E-12-27
Name: Kevin Weigel
Address: 4163 E Arborvitae Ct.
City: Boise
State: ID
Zip: 83716
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: kevinweigel (@yahoo.com
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
Idaho Power's idea to use credits as a replacement for paying net meter customers when they
generate more power than they use is not only bad, it is unfair. My own personal research on
this has not produced a solid viable way for the idea of credits to work.
My home has been a net power producer over the course of a year since it was installed in
2009. As stated in my previous comments, the system was originally sized based on actual use
the previous number of years to be net zero with respect to our power bill. We continued to
improve our energy efficiency both on our own, and through the encouragement and support of
Idaho Power through the use of programs like the insulation rebate. This has resulted in us
using less and thus we now carry a small balance on our account.
If a credit system is implemented, what happens to these credits if we never increase our
power use? Say we move 10 years from now, will we be paid for this surplus? My family
invested money in a power generating system much like Idaho Power does in any of its
facilities. Idaho Power then produces power and receives payment for it from customers. My
system is producing power and building up credits in an account instead of being directly
paid for its generation. If these credits are wiped out at any time, by either an expiration
or move or any reason, we have now generated this power and not been paid for it. This is
stealing.
The FERC states that it is a federal felony to steal power from a utility. An individual
cannot receive power from a utility and not pay them for it or face federal prosecution. It
seems completely unfair for the utility to do the same to any individual who produces power.
The PUC is very concerned that utilities fairly charge its customers on use rates. It follows
that we should be concerned that Idaho Power fairly pays the generators in its service area.
The current system of paying net producers the same as they would otherwise charge them is a
fair system. In the case of solar systems, the current method allows Idaho Power to receive
extra power at a known fixed rate. The bulk of net producers' generation comes during the
heat of the summer. It would be interesting to see how this known fixed cost, compares to
their generation costs, and to their costs of purchasing this on the market. This kind of
analysis is noticeable missing from the original filing, and it seems that our individual
home owners' rate would compare favorably.
Please do not allow an unfair credit system for excess power generation to be implemented.
This system would punish net meter customers by allowing the utility to steal from them.
Thank you.
The form submitted on httD://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/juc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 173.227.230.13