20150326Comment.pdf

ECE iVED
BOISE COUNTY 8:30
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P 0 Boxl300 IM -Idaho City,Idaho 83631
[phone]
FAX [phone]
Roger B.Jackson Alan D.Ward Vicki L.Wilkins Mary T.Prisco
District I Commissioner District II Commissioner District III Chair Clerk to the Board
March 23,2015
Idaho Public Utility Commission
P.O.Box 83720
Boise,ID 83720-0074
To The Idaho Public Utility Commission:
As a public entity,Idaho employer and Idaho Power customer,the Boise County Board
of County Commissioners,supports Idaho Power’s request to shorten the length of
guaranteed contracts for large solar and wind generation projects.We believe Idaho
Power’s request is in the best interests of Idaho Power business customers because it
will help keep power rates low.
Low power costs are one of Idaho’s top attractions for industrial recruitment,retention
and expansion and associated good paying jobs.Having access to reliable electricity at
a fair price is essential to good job creation in Idaho and is essential to the financial
health of our citizens.
The Boise County Board of Commissioners appreciates and respects the clean
environment that’s essential to our way of life in Idaho and the Northwest.All of us
want clean energy and we are glad to know that a majority of our electricity comes
from the region’s clean,renewable hydro resources.
Our state cannot sacrifice power reliability and affordability to exchange our current
clean energy for another form.The Boise County Board of Commissioners believes
Idaho Power recognizes and understands this,and works hard to strike a good balance
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and also recognizes the company’s efforts to keep power costs in line with current
market rates,which will benefit Idaho companies and create jobs for its citizens.
We don’t believe Idaho Power should be required to buy electricity it does not need,
especially from sources that decrease the reliability of its service while pushing costs
up.
If Idaho Power continues to be required to make such purchases,we agree that
contracts should be limited to two years,as the company has requested,or less,rather
than locking in prices for 20 years.
The Boise County Board of Commissioners support Idaho Power’s environmentally
responsible and balanced service and its tradition of providing quality,reliable service at
a low cost.We ask that you grant Idaho Power’s petition to modify the terms and
conditions of future PURPA energy sales agreements (IPC-E-15-01).
ROGER B.Commissioner VICKI L.WILKINS,Chair ALAN D.Commissioner