20230816Comments_1.pdf

1

The following comment was submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Andrew Johnson
Submission Time: Aug 15 2023 4:00PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 22395 Hoskins Rd
Caldwell, ID 83607

Name of U�lity Company: Idaho Power

Case ID: IPC-E-23-11

Comment: "IPC-E-23-11 proposes to change the Service Charge for each meter from $5 to $35 in 2026,
and to offset this increase by reducing the charge per kWh. While this may appear to only slightly
increase the total cost for each customer by an acceptable amount, it increases many Schedule 6
customer bills by 700% (seven hundred percent).

Schedule 6 customers, who generate enough electricity to have a net-zero meter balance, will go from
$60 per year to $420 per year. This significant increase in cost will affect their return on investment for
purchasing solar.

Many customers who invested in solar did so to protect themselves against infla�on in the cost per kWh.
This includes the elderly and those planning for re�rement. By inves�ng in solar now, these folks are able
to forecast their monthly expenses in years to come. However, by changing the way the electricity is
being billed, shi�ing the cost away from per/kWh and weighing more heavily on Service Charges, these
plans for managing a fixed income are being circumvented.

I believe that increasing Service Charges by 700%, is a targeted move against Schedule 6 customers,
which will have a nega�ve impact on the elderly, and those on a fixed income who are trying to hedge
against infla�on.

By shi�ing the fee structure from power consump�on to Service Charges, a specific por�on of the
customer base is being singled out, targeted, and nega�vely affected by the proposed change.

I strongly recommend to the Commission that Service Charge for Schedule 6 customers remain $5 per
meter in order to avoid a sudden 700% infla�on jump in the Service Charges to customers.

As an alterna�ve sugges�on, I recommend that the Service Charge per meter be indexed for infla�on, to
keep pace with the na�onal average, and rounded down to the nearest dollar. Such moderate increase
would allow the u�lity company to keep pace with infla�on, charge a similar fee to what has been
charged historically, and not dras�cally impact those who have invested to hedge against infla�on in the
elderly years."
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