20140502Comment.pdf

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Idaho Power is at it again....On April 15,they applied to the PUC for yet another rate increase.
My power bill has gone up from a $64 monthly bill to currently $154 monthly bill over the past 11 years.
The rate per kilowatt hour has increased from .05 to the current .072355 with additional fees for Annual
Adjustment Mechanism,franchise fees,tier increases and energy efficient services.
I’ve added insulation to the attic,insulated my garage door,purchased a new energy efficient heating
and air conditioning unit and still the power bill keeps going up and up.When I installed the new
furnace the installer,Western Heating,helped me do some research to see about putting in gas,rather
than electric but the cost difference was so minimal that I would not live long enough to recoup the
difference.
I now live on a fixed income and Social Security increases are not coming close to keeping up with
inflation,let alone the utility bill.I called Idaho Power to get some help to reduce my bill.They told me
the units of kilowatt energy I was using has dropped over the past few years but the reason the bill has
increased is their rate increases.So I’m doing my part but they are sabotaging me with rate increases.
The CEO’s,officers and board of directors for Idaho Power are making more money than most Idahoans.
Let them turn some of their bonus money back to the company to make up the difference.
Stop Idaho Power from lobbying against other resources for power.Give wind and solar a chance in
Idaho to bring in a little healthy competition for our energy use.
Another way to cut residential rates would be for Idaho Power to increase the kilowatt hours for the
lowest tier of 800 to 1000 so the below average sized home can keep the usage below the increased
rate for tier 2.Right now we pay .784 for the first 800 kwh,then .958 for 801 to 2000 and tier 3 is .1152
for anything over 2000 kwh.And why do we pay a service charge on top of the kwh rate?With all these
rate increases,it should cover any service fees.
Bottom line,Idaho Power needs to find another way to make their expenses.We all do and they should,
also.I don’t think Idaho Power should get yet another approved rate increase.
Joan Wilkerson
3716 S Peoria Way
Meridian,Idaho 83642
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