20211206Comments(2)_2.pdf

IPUC
Re. IPC-E-21-25
As a resident of Blaine County, I am against the surcharge to pay for the undergrounding of the lines
outside the scope of Idaho Power’s original request. I feel the southern and eastern Blaine County
residents should not have to help pay for this un-necessary expense. I can see no benefit to us at all. If
the few people that are concerned about the view being spoiled, they should focus on stopping the
construction of the unsightly homes being built within the view all along the highway south and north of
Ketchum. Ketchum used to try to keep some sensible rules to protect the views, however now it is
getting to be like driving through a canyon on main street in Ketchum and getting worse.
The break down on the surcharge is very discriminatory. Large commercial and industrial customers can
pass the expense on to their customers as a cost of doing business, while the people in agriculture can
only get what the market is for their products. Their costs keep going up i.e. Fuel, repairs, labor, and
taxes. For example, I have five irrigation pumps I pay the power on, take that times $14.36 equals
$71.80 per month, twelve months equals $861.60 per year. I am a little guy, many farmers or ranchers
have twenty or more pumps that they would need to pay this extortion on. A commercial busness such
as Silver Creek Auto only has one meter to pay for, so they only pay $14.36 per month and have a larger
profit margin. Most farmers and ranchers keep their pumps connected all year to save the expense of a
connect/disconnect fee and the extra wasted resourses envolved connecting and disconnecting. If I
want to put in a development or bury a power line in front of my property, I would have to pay for it
myself, I am sure the County Commisioners would not help me pay for it. They would probably add on
additional requirements at my expense. If the County Commissioners would put it to a legal vote, and
truly explain what is going on, I am confident the full-time citizens would vote against it.
I really feel the people that want this portion of power line buried should pay for it themselves instead
of getting others to pay for their wants to make their property more valuable.
William Bobbitt
116 Glendale Road
Bellevue ID. 83313