20130530press release.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Case No. IPC-E-12-27, Order No. 32794
May 30, 2013
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone], 890-2712

Public and technical hearings are June 11 in net metering case

Idaho Power Company customers will be able to testify or phone-in testimony during a
public hearing June 11 on the company’s application to modify its net metering tariff.

The public hearing begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, in the commission hearing room
at 472 W. Washington St. For those who cannot attend, the commissioners will also take
testimony over the telephone. (Phone-in instructions are included below.) Customers
who have submitted written comment do not need to testify again at a public hearing
because their written comments are already included in the official record for the case.
However, anyone wishing to testify may do so.

Idaho Power is proposing to double the capacity limit on the amount of energy that can
be generated from its net metering customers from 2.9 MW to 5.8 MW. The utility also
proposes to adjust the amount net metering customers are paid. That’s needed, Idaho
Power claims, because of increasing costs to serve a growing number of net metering
customers, costs the company says are being passed on to other ratepayers.

Net metering customers offset their electrical use by connecting their own generating
resources (such as solar panels or wind turbines) to Idaho Power’s transmission grid.

The case has already generated hundreds of comments to the PUC, many claiming the
changes proposed by Idaho Power will make it difficult, if not impossible, for net
metering customers to recoup their investment in solar panels.

Parties to the case, including commission staff, have submitted their comments. They
can be found at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the electric icon, then on “Open Electric
Cases,” and scroll down to Case No. IPC-E-12-27. Idaho Power is scheduled to file its
rebuttal comments on Friday.

Earlier on June 11, the commission will conduct a technical hearing, which begins at 9:30
a.m., also in the commission hearing room. At this hearing, formal parties to the case
will be subject to cross examination from other parties. The hearing is open to the
public, but public testimony is not taken. Parties to the case include commission staff,
Idaho Power Company, the City of Boise, Idaho Clean Energy Association, Idaho
Conservation League, Pioneer Power LLC, Powerworks LLC and Snake River Alliance.

Customers who are not able to attend the 7 p.m. public hearing can listen and/or testify
by calling 1-800-920-7487 and entering the participant code 76373262.
All participants will be able to hear the proceeding. A participant’s phone is
automatically muted except when testifying. Those who would like to testify, press *1
(star one) on the phone key pad at any time to be placed in a line of those wanting to
testify. When it is your turn to testify, an electronic prompt will say, “Ask your
question.” At that time, the person testifying will be asked to state his/her name and
address, be sworn in and then offered the opportunity to testify. When the testimony is
completed, the telephone is automatically muted allowing the caller to listen to the rest
of the hearing. Those who have pressed *1 to testify and then decide not to testify, can
push the pound key to be taken out of the line to testify.
Anyone having questions about testifying is encouraged to call the commission at 334-
0339 or 1-800-432-0369.
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