20201016Comments(7).pdf

From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Wednesday, October 14, 2020 7:00:13 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Lisa Hecht
Submission Time: Oct 13 2020 6:12PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 4920 E. Sagewood Drive
Boise, ID 83716
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Dear PUC Commissioners, Regarding Idaho Power's petition IPC-E-20-26: ThePUC should apply the same grandfathering policy to all Idahoans - 25 years - because that is
fair, just, and reasonable (the legal standard for rates and programs). The growth of customer-owned solar is not causing problems for Idaho Power or other customers. The utility is
meeting all revenues needs, investors are happy, the grid is stable. Changing the net meteringprogram harms participants with no meaningful benefit for others. So instead of assuming the
need to change, let’s study the issue first. Idaho Power should be helping farmers control theiroperating costs to ensure Idaho’s large and important agricultural sector can recover
economically from the disastrous effects of both tariff wars and COVID-19. Placing barriers tocustomer owned solar is not helpful, nor is it fair to farmers who have invested their hard-
earned capital to minimize future costs and risks. Farming is risky enough without introducingthis potential added harm and uncertainty. I hope that in your role as PUC Commissioners you
will provide this thoughtful protection. Sincerely, Lisa Hecht "
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From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Wednesday, October 14, 2020 2:00:04 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Isaac Santos
Submission Time: Oct 14 2020 1:50PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 4004 E King Rd
Kuna, ID 83634
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "As a customer of Idaho Power, I feel a need to comment on your recent decisionto reduce your support of solar power installation by farmers. Where I live, in rural Kuna, I
drive past countless farms on my commute into Boise. I am confronted daily with the plots ofland and the individuals who provide food for our community and beyond. And I understand
that the general trend over the last century has been unequivocal: it is getting harder for mostfarmers to make a living. Farmers are the foundation of our society, and they deserve our
utmost respect and support. We should be making it easier, not more difficult, for farmers toraise future generations of land stewards, and to put food on their own tables. The current solar
energy program is an incredible example of helping farmers. All customers, especiallyfarmers, should have a right to increase their capacity to harness sustainable energy. Idaho
Power is hoping to achieve “100% clean energy by 2045.” By limiting the ability of yourcustomers, and in this case, customers who also have a stake in producing food for our region
and beyond, you are not only harming their ability to make wise financial decisions. You areharming your own goals toward sustainability, and therein taking an active step against the
positive clean energy development that is needed as soon as possible in order to reduce theimpacts of global climate change. The increase in solar-powered irrigation should be
welcomed as a sign that Idaho Power is helping farmers meet energy needs while supporting amuch-needed shift in our society toward renewable energy sources. Idaho Public Utilities
Commission requested that you complete a thorough study on the value of customer solarenergy usage before reducing net metering credits. Your decision to do this on December 1,
2020, violates this request. Furthermore, your decision to end the comment period while manyfarmers are exceedingly busy harvesting is an unfair and undemocratic use of a tool that is
meant to gauge the authentic, widespread community response to a proposed policy. In light ofthese realities, I ask as a customer of Idaho Power, a consumer of Idaho crops, and a global
citizen concerned about the potential consequences of climate change, that you reconsider thislatest policy. I ask that you: 1. Wait to ‘grandfather’ those already receiving the current rate of
net metering benefits until after you complete a fair solar value study. 2. ‘Grandfather’ for 25years, "
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[Open in the PUC Intranet application]
From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Thursday, October 15, 2020 10:00:03 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Narda Pitkethly
Submission Time: Oct 15 2020 9:22AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: PO Box 6049
Ketchum, ID 83340
Name of Utility Company: ID Public Utilities Commission
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Please uphold the previous decision and once again reject Idaho Power's proposedmodifications to its net-metering compensation program. Thank you!"
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[Open in the PUC Intranet application]
From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Thursday, October 15, 2020 12:00:04 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Kim Mazik
Submission Time: Oct 15 2020 11:54AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 105 Cottonwood Circle
Hailey, ID 83333
Name of Utility Company: ID Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "I am not a farmer but have friends who are and understand that power costs areamong the most expensive inputs to farms with irrigation pumps. To control costs and be more
self-reliant, farmers across Idaho are choosing to install solar panels. Why though is IdahoPower trying to end the current net metering program before creating any replacement
program.? Removing this dual-meter requirement for new systems starting lays thefoundationfor lowering the net metering credit rate, which would have a big impact on the investments of
current and future solar owners. Shouldn't their efforts to reduce environmental impact berewarded? Let's continue to support our farmers "
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[Open in the PUC Intranet application]
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Bruce Smithhammer <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Solar for Idaho Farmers
Friday, October 16, 2020 10:21:44 AM
Dear Commissioner,
I am taking the time to write today to voice my opposition to Idaho Power's latest attempt to
de-incentivize net-metered power generation in our state.
I live in a rural, agricultural community, as many of us in Idaho do, and these proposed changes represent a negative impact on our community and the ability of our farmers and
business owners to make independent decisions that benefit their businesses, as well as the power grid in general.
Idaho Power asserts that irrigators will add about 16 megawatts of solar systems, while its
overall system can serve more than 3,600 megawatts (graph). This means that individual solar systems are important for individual farmers but have no meaningful impact on Idaho Power’s
total system. Net metering is for individuals who want to invest their own money in their own farm.
Idaho Power is proposing a cutoff date of December 1, 2020 for solar-owners to lock-in the
current net metering program, so anyone who wants to go solar after that date will essentially be asked to “wait and see” as the utility goes through the process of developing a new program
with different export credits. By creating uncertainty in the marketplace, Idaho Power makes it nearly impossible for any farmer to make the financial decision to invest in solar, and drives
solar jobs and businesses out of the state, like we’ve seen with the residential program.
While Idaho Power does not propose to change what they pay for customers’ excess solar energy now, they are laying a foundation to try and slash that rate in the future, as we saw with
their residential program. This local power is extra valuable because it supports your neighbors and community instead of relying on long-distance power lines and far-flung power
plants.
It's also worth pointing out that this proposed change and the public comment period are happening during fall harvest.
Idaho Power proposes to move existing systems under the current net metering program into a
legacy treatment for 10 years. But the Idaho Public Utilities Commission just told Idaho Power to use legacy treatment of residential net-metering for 25 years, which is a much more
reasonable timeline given that solar is a 25+ year investment
Idaho stands for resiliency, independence and limited government intervention. Let's support those core values in our approach to power as well.
Sincerely,
Bruce Smithhammer
Victor, Idaho
Bruce Smithhammer
Technical Sales Manager - Teton Valley, ID | Creative
Energies Solar [e-mail]
Ph 208.428.7101
CEsolar.com | Utah • Wyoming • Idaho
From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Friday, October 16, 2020 12:00:04 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Mike Sullivan
Submission Time: Oct 16 2020 11:21AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1025 W. Fremont st.
Pocatello, ID 83204
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-18-15
Comment: " Dear PUC, I would like to comment on your proposal to reduce the compensationof individuals who produce solar power for your grid. •The individuals who have invested in
solar energy, to help reduce their energy costs and help improve the world we live in need tohave a stable idea of what costs they will incur over time, in order to live within their means.
•When rates shift around, the consumer base is destabilized and your intent of moving towardsclean energy is undermined. Those who have invested should have the rate they entered with.
This will improve the confidence in the program and encourage them to speak well of it. Thiswill help attract more consumers into the solar market, and increase your base of clean energy
production. This increase will more than offset the cost of continuing the current rates byreducing your costs of producing energy. •New customers coming into the market may need to
pay more than those that already exist, but chances are that their solar equipment will also costthem less. •Going back on your word is like a teacher changing their grading system in
midstream, and being a teacher, I know how bad that would work. •A system that is Fair –Firm – Consistent will serve you well! Thanks for taking this into consideration Mike
Sullivan"
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