20130426Comment.pdf

Jean Jewell
From: [e-mail]
Sent: Friday, April 26, 20136:14 AM
To: Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
Subject: PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Brian & Tiedji Baker follows:
Case Number: IPC-E-12-27
Name: Brian & Tiedji Baker
Address: 116 Willoway Dr
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Zip: 83705
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: belizards(msn.com
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
Hello,
My wife and I recently bought a piece of property and have begun designing a new home. With
the high cost of energy, both monitary and environmental, we will be building a home with
many green features. Although the plans are not complete, one of our first purchases was 22
PV solar panels.
We got a great deal on the panels. Much of the reason they were so cheap was the potential
change in net metering reduced demand for solar in our area. It got me thinking.
If Idaho Power needs more energy, they build a new gas power plant, charge their rate payers
for the cost and impact everyone's air quality whether they want it or not.
It seems odd, if a home owner puts a 'net zero' system on their roof, under the new system,
they would have to pay Idaho Power $250 dollars a year for nothing more than a meter and the
cost of monthly billing (Something I would have anyway at only $5 per month). Even if I added
power to the 'grid', Idaho Power would charge someone else for my power. Power for which I
incurred a cost to create, without reimbursement from rate payers. I would be subsidizing
Idaho Power.
Let alone the fact a solar system is demand specific, doesn't pollute, nor depletes natural
resources.
In a nut shell Idaho Power will make more money for doing less, and sell power they didn't
produce at full price. Worse yet, they would keep all unused power 'credits' at the end of
the year! If that were the case it would be worthwhile for a homeowner to heat their home
with electric space heaters in an effort to end up 'even' at the end of the year. At least I
would use less natural gas. Logical, but silly.
I would like to think Solar Power is part of our energy solution, not a burden. Although the
current system is not perfect, it works. Please do not approve the proposed changes to 'Net
Metering'.
Thank You for your time and consideration,
1
Brian & Tiedji Baker
116 Wifloway Dr.
Boise, ID 83705
The form submitted on http://www .puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuci/€€ipuc.html
IP address is 174.27.43.48