20201027Comments(13).pdf

From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, October 26, 2020 11:00:03 AM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: John Brueck
Submission Time: Oct 26 2020 10:44AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 5450 N. Citadel Way
Boise, ID 83703
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "I am an Idaho Power Customer, who is enrolled in the Idaho Power Green Power Program and I want to submit a comment on this case to support Farmers and other Small
Businesses to have a fair an equitable option to provide solar energy on their farms and for their businesses for their energy needs and get fairly compensated for any energy they place
back into the grid also considering the fair costs of Idaho Power to maintain the power grid. This is similar to the homeowner net metering issue that has been reviewed in the past and I
believe is still being studied which I hope is completed soon so that all cases can be resolved in a positive way to encourage solar power investment. Also, in this case, to help investment, I
think the 100 kw/meter limit should be lifted and there should not be a proposed solar power grandfather deadline of Dec. 1, 2020.This date should be set after a fair solar value study is
completed. If such a grandfather date is needed, it should be for at least 25 years and not ten years so solar power investment costs can be recouped. Finally, rapidly growing solar powered
irrigation is a success of an Idaho PUC approved program that is helping Farmers meet their energy needs and assisting Idaho Power meet it's 2045 clean energy goal. Thank you for
considering my comments."
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From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Monday, October 26, 2020 5:00:04 PM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: dana Orzel
Submission Time: Oct 26 2020 4:36PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: PO Box 5888
HAILEY, ID 83333
Name of Utility Company: solar off grid
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "We talk about energy independence from foreign oil producers, & yet Idaho power wants to stifle the production of independent American power producers. We have a
gift of abundant sun in Idaho and to not use this gift is a crime. A crime against the planet, & a crime against the citizens of Idaho. Why waste a natural resource? What is Idaho powers
problem? They are dragging their boots about moving ahead with the future. The attitude of we have always done business this way and we are going to keep on doing business as we
always have, is blind and extremely short sighted. I have seen utilities in a number of states install their own solar farm with their customers partially owning a share of modules and it is a
win-win for both the utility & the customer. When a customer invests in a solar electric system they are only writing off a small share of what a utility can write off & the customer should
not be penalized for making an investment in the future. Preserve the future of solar in the great state of Idaho, please."
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From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:00:04 AM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Shannon Ansley
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 8:29AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 424 South 7th Avenue
Pocatello, ID 83201
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Dear PUC, Please allow Idaho farmers to protect their right to control their own power bills with home-grown energy. Solar in Idaho is not growing too fast, Idaho Power
refuses to keep pace and refuses to listen to its constituents. In this case, there must be an extended public comment period beyond the fall harvest season, when farmers can more
meaningfully engage in the process. Idaho Power continues to hamstring its customers who choose solar and we must not let this happen again, as it has with residential solar. Solar users
deserve fair treatment in the state of Idaho. Will you make that happen? Please. Best regards, Shannon "
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From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Paul Cooperrider <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Comment on Case IPC-E-20-26
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:06:43 AM
Idaho
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commission:
We are writing on behalf of the Idaho Chapter of the Clean Tech Alliance to offer comment on
Case IPC-E-20-26, which is currently before the commission for consideration. The Idaho Chapter of
the Clean Tech Alliance is comprised of Idaho businesses, institutions of higher learning, NGO’s,
Idaho National Labs, and Idaho citizens interested in growing Idaho’s economy through development
and deployment of clean tech businesses. Most of us are customers of Idaho Power.
We support Idaho Power’s efforts to drive towards 100% Clean Energy by 2045. We also
support the development of a compensation process for the Value of Solar that is fair, clear, reflects
market dynamics, and is in the best interest over the long term for ratepayers, energy generators
and Idaho Power shareholders. To that end, we encourage Idaho Power to maintain focus and
expedite the completion of the study to establish the Value of Solar, as was originally presented in
Case No. IPC-E-18-15. In that case, there were three remaining factors, 1) Avoided T&D Capacity, 2)
Integration Costs, and 3) Environmental Benefit that needed to have values assigned to them. We
urge Idaho Power to expedite the process to assign values to these factors, and offer any of our
assistance that can contribute to that process and accelerate the establishment of fair values for
those variables.
In this way, all stakeholders benefit, and the PUC meets its obligation to facilitate the delivery
of affordable, reliable and resilient energy to the state’s energy customers.
Respectfully,
Idaho Chapter Clean Tech Alliance 
To: PUC
case number IPC-E-20-26
State of Idaho
10/26/2020
Dear Sirs,
I am writing today to request that you take the following into consideration in your
deliberations on Idaho Power's proposal for the limitations on production, and the net
metering credit rate time span for purchasing power from farmers who either have, or
plan to install solar panels for the production of electricity.
1. Farmers in Blaine county average $30,000 in annual income on their primary crops
of alfalfa, cattle, sheep, wheat and barley annually. This is not an adequate income for a
family of 4, and most farm families in our county must take on jobs off their farm to stay
in business. Installing solar to offset irrigation pumping costs would help make these
farms more profitable. Farmers should have the opportunity to produce enough power to
meet their energy needs.

2. Every farm has patches of land that are too rocky to be utilized to grow crops or
graze animals which could be put to productive use with the installation of solar panels
for power production.
3. Idaho power is proposing a December 1, 2020 cut off date for the current net
metering program which would make the decision to install solar panels financially
impossible, since farmers would not have a net metering contract that would last for the
expected life of their solar panels. Solar panel installation is an expensive investment
and farmers need to have a contract price that will last for the life of the their panels,
which is 25 years. 10 years is not adequate.
4. Locally generated power reduces the need to import power from long distance power
line systems, and the need to construct and maintain additional redundant lines.
5. With the increased high wind weather events that have plagued the West this year,
Idaho's power lines are at increased risk to damage resulting in the catastrophic wild
fires and the same extensive power outages our neighboring western states have
experienced this year. Local production could reduce this risk.
To: PUC
case number IPC-E-20-26
State of Idaho
10/26/2020
Dear Sirs,
I am writing today to request that you take the following into consideration in your
deliberations on Idaho Power's proposal for the limitations on production, and the net
metering credit rate time span for purchasing power from farmers who either have, or
plan to install solar panels for the production of electricity.
1. Farmers in Blaine county average $30,000 in annual income on their primary crops
of alfalfa, cattle, sheep, wheat and barley annually. This is not an adequate income for a
family of 4, and most farm families in our county must take on jobs off their farm to stay
in business. Installing solar to offset irrigation pumping costs would help make these
farms more profitable. Farmers should have the opportunity to produce enough power to
meet their energy needs.

2. Every farm has patches of land that are too rocky to be utilized to grow crops or
graze animals which could be put to productive use with the installation of solar panels
for power production.
3. Idaho power is proposing a December 1, 2020 cut off date for the current net
metering program which would make the decision to install solar panels financially
impossible, since farmers would not have a net metering contract that would last for the
expected life of their solar panels. Solar panel installation is an expensive investment
and farmers need to have a contract price that will last for the life of the their panels,
which is 25 years. 10 years is not adequate.
4. Locally generated power reduces the need to import power from long distance power
line systems, and the need to construct and maintain additional redundant lines.
5. With the increased high wind weather events that have plagued the West this year,
Idaho's power lines are at increased risk to damage resulting in the catastrophic wild
fires and the same extensive power outages our neighboring western states have
experienced this year. Local production could reduce this risk.
6. Local solar power installation jobs are good paying jobs with good local businesses
that can improve the economic health of our local communities. Rate uncertainties
cause our local solar jobs to disappear.
I hope to install solar panels at my 10 acre organic farm 3 miles south of Bellevue, Idaho
in 2022 to help offset my monthly irrigation bills of roughly $600/month. I raise
chickens, pigs, vegetables and fruits. My farm could be profitable if I were able to
produce power. Currently I support my farm with landscaping work.
Thank you for considering my comments. I appreciate the opportunity to express my
interest in producing solar power, and my concerns about continued use of long distance
power production that must be transported over thousands of miles of above ground
power lines.
Sincerely,
Katherine Noble
86 Freedom Loop
Bellevue, Idaho 83313
[e-mail]
208-720-5975

6. Local solar power installation jobs are good paying jobs with good local businesses
that can improve the economic health of our local communities. Rate uncertainties
cause our local solar jobs to disappear.
I hope to install solar panels at my 10 acre organic farm 3 miles south of Bellevue, Idaho
in 2022 to help offset my monthly irrigation bills of roughly $600/month. I raise
chickens, pigs, vegetables and fruits. My farm could be profitable if I were able to
produce power. Currently I support my farm with landscaping work.
Thank you for considering my comments. I appreciate the opportunity to express my
interest in producing solar power, and my concerns about continued use of long distance
power production that must be transported over thousands of miles of above ground
power lines.
Sincerely,
Katherine Noble
86 Freedom Loop
Bellevue, Idaho 83313
[e-mail]
208-720-5975

From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Tuesday, October 27, 2020 11:00:04 AM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Amy Mattias
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 10:03AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: PO box 5371
Ketchum, ID 83340
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Dear Commissioners, In the matter of Idaho Power Company’s application for authority to modify Schedule 84’s metering requirement and to grandfather existing customers
with two meters the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience asks that the commissioners protect farmers’ rights to control their own power bills with home-grown energy. The approval of this
change will undermine a strategic opportunity for the state's economy, security and environment: energy resilience, and undermine individual choice and responsibility. By
developing Idaho's homegrown renewable energy resources, we can have more and higher wage jobs, a protected environment and a decentralized, diversified, more secure grid to make
Idaho more competitive and better able to attract growing industries seeking clean, secure power. We applauded IPC’s commitment to provide 100% clean energy by 2045 and ask the
commissioners to take a long-term look at the decisions being made today. Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our Idaho communities and we need to uplift the opportunities
available to provide economic prosperity to these food producers and land stewards. We ask Idaho Power to extend the public comment period beyond the fall harvest season, when
farmers can more meaningfully engage in the process and to establish new and fair export rates before closing the window on its current program. We ask Idaho Power to give farmers the
freedom to invest in a solar system that’s large enough to meet their energy needs while treating them fairly and valuing their investments into our solar grid and our community at
large. Thank you, Amy Mattias Program Director Sun Valley Institute for Resilience "
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From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Dennis Rockwood <[e-mail]>
Jan Noriyuki
Solar fairness for farmers and residences Tuesday, October 27,
2020 12:50:45 PM
Dear Idaho PUC
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID:IPC-E-20-26
Comment:
For a farmer or resident to invest in solar panels, they are
counting on a fair return from Idaho Power. They invested on
the promise that they would receive a kilowatt credit for a
kilowatt produced . We should be encouraging farmers and
residents to install more solar power, not discouraging them!
Idaho has the opportunity to be a national leader in both solar
and wind energy. Farmers in Idaho are looking to invest in
energy solutions that afford them long term control of their
costs in energy. Solar allows farmers to be a huge part of
moving to zero emissions.
Dennis & Sharon Rockwood
4539 E Flores Ct
Boise, ID 83716
From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Tuesday, October 27, 2020 1:00:04 PM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Emily Williams
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 12:14PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: PO Box 2353
Ketchum, ID 83340
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Dear Commissioners, I'm writing to express my concern about the proposed changes to the solar net metering program for businesses and farmers. Existing net-metering
opportunities benefit Idaho farmers by providing a cost-efficient, self-resilient solution to their high-cost and demanding power needs. I support farmers who are invested in creating a
cleaner energy future for Idaho. Please show your support for our hard working farmers by providing them the opportunity to invest in solar systems that are large enough to meet their
demand, and value the investments that some farmers have already made. Thank you for your consideration, Emily"
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Name: Clarence Stark
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 12:07PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1203 County Rd 70
Weiser, ID 83672
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power Company
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Idaho Power has stated its desire to become a "cleaner" producer of electricity for its service area. This can only be accomplished by creating a balanced approach to the
production and distribution of electricity. Idaho Power needs to make it easier, not harder for all its customers to generate solar power. I encourage you to reject the current proposal and
ask Idaho Power to revamp their program to give a more balanced program that will benefit both its customers and the company. Respectfully yours, Clarence Stark"
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Name: John Reuter
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 12:18PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 102 S 4th Avenue
Hailey, ID 83333
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "The energy demands from commercial agriculture are massive. Installing solar panels in the unused corners left by single-pivot irrigation makes perfect sense. Farmers
should be allowed to net-meter as many kWs as is suitable for their property - there should be no cap at 100 kW, and there should be a suitable export rate for their surplus power. Idaho
Power can not claim that they promote 100% renewable energy without giving the public an opportunity to participate individually. Please stand up for commercial and agricultural solar,
as you have for the residential sector. Thank you."
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From:PUC Consumer Comments
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Tuesday, October 27, 2020 12:00:05 PM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Alex McKinley
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 11:18AMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1407 E. Jefferson
Boise, ID 83712
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Regarding Idaho Power's current request to change net metering rules, I think the commission should again order IPC to conduct a legitimate cost benefit analysis of solar as
was done in the residential case last year. Idaho Power continues to refuse to participate in a collaborative study that takes into account the full value of solar to the system, and this should
be a minimum requirement to any changes to rate structures that impact customers with solar. If the commission sides with Idaho Power a grandfathering period of no less than 25 years
should be applied. The continued audacity of Idaho Power to spend money advertising their commitment to a clean energy portfolio while at the same time trying to undercut investments
made by producers of distributed clean energy is extremely frustrating to people in their service area that have no ability to choose a utility company that treats them fairly."
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Name: John O'Connor
Submission Time: Oct 27 2020 11:38AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: P O Box 170479
Boise, ID 83717
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "I am strongly in favor of Idaho Power finding ways to keep the option open for
farmers to use solar power to help run irrigation systems. "
Name: Michael EngleSubmission Time: Oct 27 2020 1:12PM
Email: [e-mail]: 208-284-3825
Address: 340 S 11th AvePOCATELLO, ID 83201
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-20-26
Comment: "Hello, I am writing to oppose the Idaho Power petition to modify the metering
requirement under Schedule 84, Customer Energy Production Net Metering Service("schedule 84"). I am opposed to this action at this time primarily because Idaho Power has
not completed a valuation study of customer generated power and has no replacement proposal nor is there a timeline for such a alternative. Without this study (as directed by the IPUC in the
residential net metering case), Idaho Power can not give the details of an alternate net metering policy. This creates an unfair situation for farmers, ranchers and commercial businesses
considering significant investments in solar energy. I strongly urge the PUC to deny Idaho Power's petition and have Idaho Power complete it's valuation study of distributed energy
generation and propose a replacement policy the next time Idaho Power petitions to discontinue the current net metering policy. Further, since Idaho Power is the only option for
most of their Ag and commercial customers, they (like Idaho Power's residential customers) deserve fair, reasonable, and transparent rules so they have the option of choosing energy
independence for their operations while fixing their energy cost budget. Idaho Power limits commercial and Ag operations to 100 kW maximum of net metering. This is an arbitrary
limitation and should be removed. When the net metering policy is changed, as with residential solar customers, existing Ag and commercial solar customers should receive legacy
treatment and the legacy period should be 25 years. Idaho Power is an industry leader in committing to 100% renewable energy by 2045. As the energy landscape continues to evolve,
it is important that Idaho Power partner with their Residential, Commercial, and Ag customers to achieve these clean energy goals. Sincerely, Mike Engle Chair, Portneuf Resource Council
Pocatello, Idaho [e-mail] 208 284 3825 "
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