20171124Comment.pdf

November 22,2017 RE CE VED
2 T NOV 24 9:08
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O.Box 83720 S COMM SSION
Boise,Idaho 83720-0074
Dear PUC commissioners and staff,
Regarding case No.IPC-E-17-11
IdalloPower states on page 89 of their 2017 IRP that the Levelized Cost of Energy for
Solar PV-Utility -Scale 1-Axis Tracking (30MW)is $74 per megawatt hour.
This feels too high to me for the followingreasons:
1)In Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis-Version 10.0 dated December 2016,
the range of Solar PV-crystalline Utility Scale is $49 to $61 per MWh and the range of
Solar PV-Thin Film Utility Scale is $46 to $56 per MWh.
2)For at least the past three years Power Purchase Agreements for utility-scalesolar PV
have been signed for less than $50 per MWh.For example:
-Austin Energy signed a PPA with Recurrent Energy for justbelow $50 per MWh
(reported in Greentech Media,May 16,2014)
-Nevada Energy signed a solar PV Power Purchase Agreement for $38.7 per
MWh (reported in EcoWatch,July 17,2015)
-Dubai Electricity and Water Authority signed a PPA for solar PV for $29.9 per
MWh (reported in Cleantechnica,December 5,2016)
-In Saudi Arabia a bid came in at $17.9 per MWh (reported in RenewEconomy
October 6,2017)
If Idaho Power's 2017 IRP is to have value it needs to reflect prices in the real world.
This IRP does not report accurate solar photovoltaic prices and this undermines the
believability of the entire IRP.
Please instruct Idaho Power to be accurate when they report levelized cost of energy
(LOCE).
Thank you.
Reed Burkholder [e-mail]
6105 Twin Springs Drive
Boise,Idaho 83709 [phone]