20220721Comments (4)_4.pdf

0711912022
Case Numbe r : lP C-E-22-22
Utility Company: ldaho Power
Dear IPUC,
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I am writing to express my concern with ldaho Powe/s proposed changes to the compensation stJucture
for on-site generation customers. I have a rooftop solar power system and participate in the on-site
generation program with ldaho Power.
The proposed changes from ldaho Power dramatically reduce the cost benefits of customer power
generation which has undesirable side effects:
1. lt discourages new installation of customer generation due to less efficient economics at a time
when our country and world desperately need more zero carbon power generation. Demand for
electricity will continue to accelerate in the coming years with greater adoption of electric
appliances (HVAC, hot water) and electric vehicles. With ballooning costs of fossil fuels and
unpredictable snowpack impacting hydro production, we need allof the low<ost, renewable
energy we can get. Now is not the time to discourage consumers from installing rooftop solar or
other on-site generation systems. Further, decreasing demand for solar will eliminate jobs for
installers and electricians.
2. lt penalizes consumers who already invested in solar generation with expectations of a certain
return over time and a decreased electric bill. Existing customers should be protected from any
compensation structure changes. Anyone installing solar up until a published date for a
compensation structure change should qualifu.
3. Low-cost electricity encourages conversion to low-carbon, high-efficiency systems: heat pumps,
heat pump water heaters, electric induction cooktops, and electric mobility (cars, bikes, etc.).
Supporting customers with economical on-site generation gives them more resources to invest
in efficiency upgrades that benefit all of us. The current plan from ldaho Power has a
complicated compensation structure which will make it more difficult for potential solar
installers to calculate the return on their solar investment and will cool the market for new
installations. lt is also unclear how future power price increases will translate to on-site
generators. Will the price paid to generators track with what ratepayers are charged?
The proposed plan appears to be tilted to the benefit of ldaho Power at the expense of on-site
Senerators and I am uncomfortable with its structure for compensation today and its ambiguity on
future price increases.
I welcome more future-looking mutually beneficial relationships between ldaho Power and on-site
generators such as Virtual Power Plant technology that encourages on-site storage to help ldaho Power
deal with expensive peak demand and leverage its customers as a partner to help build a more resilient,
cost-efficient, and lower carbon electricity infrastructure. The currently proposed plan moves us in the
opposite direction.
Thank you for your consideration.
Chad Gray
[e-mail]
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Ftom:
To:
Subject:
Date!
PUCWeb Notification
lan Noriyuki
Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Thurday, July 2L,2022 3:00:07 PM
The following comment was submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Evan Gill
Submission Time: Jul 21 2022 2:47PM
Email : [e-mail]
Telephone : [phone]
Address:4882 S. Caden Creek Way
Boise, ID 83709
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-22-22
Comment: "ldaho power is considering changes to the way solar generation customers
(including schedule 6, which includes me) are credited for the power they generate, vs. the
current I : I credit for each kWh generated. Their reasoning, according to the notice, is that
they have to pay to build and maintain the grid infrasffucture and customer support network.
This is illogical, and perhaps a bit dishonest. Each ldaho Power invoice already includes
'service fees'which cover these things. If the service fees are inadequate to cover these things,
then that's the piece that should be adjusted, not the generation credit rate. Power is power,
infrastructure is infrastructure, and customer support is customer support, and it makes no
sense to change the cost of one to fund the others. Allow them to raise fees if you must, but the
generation credit should stay where it is. Thank you for your consideration."
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
PUCWeb Notification
lan Noriyuki
Notice: A @mment was submitted to PUCWeb
Thursday, )uly 21, 2022 7:00:08 AM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Courtney Linker
Submission Time: Jul 20 2022 9:47PM
Email : clinker0T 1 4@gmai l.com
Telephone: [phone] I 00
Address: 514 Fair Ln
Nampa, ID 83686
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-22-22
Comment: "Members of the Idaho Public Utility Commission, I am writing to ask that you
instruct Idaho Power to maintain their current rate structure for on-site solar power customers.
The current rate structure is fair, and it incentivizes customers to invest in clean energy. Idaho
Power states that they have a goal to provide 100% clean energy by 2045.1 admire and respect
that goal. It is a goal that is necessary to the sustainability of our future. It appears that over
12,300Idaho Power customers currently contribute clean power to the Idaho Power grid. How
amazing is that! My family would like to become apart of this movement by purchasing solar
panels and connecting to Idaho Power's grid. We would like to do our part to produce clean
energy. And whatever clean energy we produce but do not use, we would like for Idaho Power
to be able to use it as needed, especially during peak hours. As I understand it, Idaho Power is
able to sell extra energy to other power companies who may be in need. From my perspective,
that means if my home produces energy that we do not use, Idaho Power will be able to
benefit financially from that added production. It is a financial burden to invest in solar,
whether one finances or pays cash up front. Residents and small businesses will not see the
financial benefits for years to come. I suspect that we choose to make this decision for the
greater good and for the benefit of future generations. But if Idaho Power is able to adjust the
rate structure from monthly to hourly or real-time, the incentive for going solar will be
eliminated and it will take customers far longer to reap the financial rewards of going solar.
We should all do what is right as long as we have the means to do so. I would like to see Idaho
Power find a different solution to their problem, if one exists, one that will not negatively
impact those who share in their mission to produce 100%o clean energy."
Name: Carl Fetterman
Submission Time: Jul20 20227:47PM
Email : [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 7421E Grey Lag Dr.
Nampa, ID 83687
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-22-22
Comment: "To the Idaho PUC REF. Residential solar systems I recently received a letter from
Idaho Power Corp. concerning changes in the billing practices relative to renewable energy. I
read the study they provided and understood most of it. I understand that solar power is not
necessarily going to work out to be advantageous to Idaho Power in all cases. However, as
proposed, the new billing regime would make most renewable energy uneconomic. I believe
that was the intent. I recently contracted with a solar installer to have a system installed on my
home. I can not back out without financial loss. I believed when I signed the contract that a
residential solar system was both a financially sound investment and would, at least to some
extent, be environmentally sound as well. I urge the commission to grandfather any existing or
under contract renewable energy systems out of fairness if for no other reason. Car Fetterman"