20231129Comments_7.pdf

Case:IPC-E-23-11
Dear Idaho Public Utilities Commission,
The proposed rate increase of 12.25%,added to a $10 increase in the monthly service fee,plus the proposed
tiered rate system adjustments,creates a further hardship on every subscriber within Idaho Power service
area.Electricity is barely affordable now,and will be even less affordable with the increases.The tiered rate
structure is already set up to profit Idaho Power.How many homes can actually stay within the 800 kWh limit
of the first tier,especially during peak periods?This is not even taking into account the automatic seasonal
increase that occurs every summer.I do not want to face an electric bill next summer that will be $100 more
expensive than what I sacrificed to pay this past summer.If Idaho Power has increased costs because of
more demand for increased electrical infrastructure,one must wonder why these costs have not been covered
by the developers and the ever increasing development.
Residents already in the unwilling position of having to tighten their belts because of the ever increasing cost of
living,will have to further cinch it in if Idaho Power is granted what they wish.Some residents will be put into
the position of not being able to afford to run their air conditioners in the summer or their space heaters in the
winter.It may seem a simple thing for Idaho Power to go back to their subscribers wanting more money,
however,subscribers have their own budgets that they would have to reallocate to cover what Idaho Power
wants.It is not Idaho Power who will have to make that tough decision to cut back on other necessities so
they can keep the lights on.
I respectfully request the Idaho Public Utilities Commission does not approve Idaho Power’s request for a
12.25%rate increase,an 85%monthly service fee increase,and/or tiered rate adjustments that seek to
maximize profit.
Thank you,
Suzanne Knorr
Rate Case:IPC-E-23-11 11/28/23 Testimony
My name is Don Kemper,I am an Idaho Power customer at 1821 Edgecliff in Boise.
I'm here to share my thanks for the work of the PUC staff and for the role that you play
in governing our public utilities.
First,I'd like to thank Adam Rush for his August 15,workshopdescribing Idaho Power's
Applicationfor a rate increase.
His slides highlightedtwo things for me:
First,the monthlyservice fee would go up 600%over 3 years.
2nd,the conservation discount on the first 800 kwh would go away
Taken together,those two proposed changes would have placed a hugely unfair share of
the increase on those families using the least amount of power.
A low-income or energy conservingfamily using only 800 kwh per month would have
seen an increase of over 40%.While a high-use familyusing five times as much power
would have seen their bills decrease.
What was Idaho Power thinking?It seemed to me like Robin Hood in reverse.Take from
the poor to give to the rich.
But then,stepped in the PUC staff (and the interveners)to bring reason and fairness to
the application.
In the proposed settlement,as I understand it,the conservation discount will remain.
The service fee will still triple over two years,but the rate increase will now be shared
more equitablyamong all users.For that I am thankful.
Public utilities have a right to reasonable profits.At times,that means rate increases.It
seems to me,the settlement provides for a very generous increase of over $54 million
per year.
So now I have to wonder.Did the Companyintentionallyskew the burden of the initially
proposed increase to the poor as a clever smokescreen--to take the focus away from
the size of the rate increase?
If so,perhaps they did it to ensure they would have enough to fund a speeded-up
transition away from coal and natural gas for the benefit of our Idaho climate.
Oh,how I wish that might be true.Either way,they should not need another rate
increase for a long,long time.
Thank yOU.339 words
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The following comments were submited via PUCWeb:

Name: Emilia Anders
Submission Time: Nov 28 2023 6:08PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 3398 W Forsythia Drive
Boise, ID 83703

Name of U�lity Company: Idaho Power

Case ID: IPC-E-23-11

Comment: "My name is Emilia Anders and I am a senior at Boise High. Your job is to keep u�lity bills fair
for everyone, and this fixed rate increase will dispropor�onately affect low-energy users and solar
customers. High-energy users should pay more for the system costs rather than having a flat fee. It's
well-known that u�lity companies exaggerate how much of their costs are fixed vs variable so they can
make more profit. It is important that you keep u�lity bills fair for everyone, and this will
dispropor�onately affect low-income residents, highly energy-efficient homes, and solar users. I am
asking you not to rubber stamp Idaho Power’s plans to increase fixed charges on our power bills–now or
in the future. Keep u�lity bills fair for all residents."
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Name: Nicholas Thomas
Submission Time: Nov 28 2023 6:57PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2103 North 34th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Name of U�lity Company: Idaho Power

Case ID: IPC-E-23-11

Comment: "I think that it is important that we ask ourselves, why is Idaho Power proposing this change?
Who stands to benefit and at whose expense? I think that it is prety obvious that the only person, or
group of people, who will benefit from this change is Idaho Power themselves. But who is going to
suffer? Low income and low energy using households will. All of us pay the fixed service charge fee no
mater how much energy we use, which is why it would hurt these people the most. I don’t think that it
is right for us to give more money to a mul�-million dollar company at the expense of those in our
community who financially struggle the most.
Now, Idaho Power might say that they need to make these changes because of an increasing
energy demand or because climate change makes it harder to produce electricity, but this is really just so
Idaho Power can make more profits. Don’t just take my word for it - Idaho Power literally proves it
themselves. Let’s take a step back to see this. Last summer, Idaho Power submited a proposal to
decrease the solar compensa�on rates. One of the reasons behind this move was that solar increases
energy bills for those who don’t have solar.. Now, Idaho Power is trying to increase the amount of money
all of us pay, regardless of energy use or income level. It just doesn’t make sense, does it? Idaho Power’s
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own logic undermines their proposal. They cannot decrease solar compensa�on rates AND increase fixed
service charge fees at the same �me. At least, not if they are telling the truth about being “sensi�ve to
the impacts rate increases have on their customers” ”,and I mean clearly they aren’t. They’re just trying
to rip us off and make as much money as possible..
Your job is to prevent these companies from ripping us off like this. When you come to a decision
on this proposal, it’s important that you think about the precedent that it will set. I men�oned this in my
tes�mony last month, and I’ll men�on it again. This case is about the PUC. Do they really fight for
Idahoans rights, or do they let big companies like Idaho Power run all over us? "
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Name: Nikita Thomas
Submission Time: Nov 28 2023 9:11PM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 2103 N 34th St
Boise, ID 83703

Name of U�lity Company: Idaho Power

Case ID: IPC-E-23-11

Comment: "My name is Nikita Thomas and I am a student at Boise High School. I have been a member
of the Climate Jus�ce League for almost two and a half years.
Our country has a history of crea�ng policies that exasperate racial inequality, from segrega�on
to redlining. Despite changes in these policies, racial inequality s�ll lurks within our country. African
Americans face higher incarcera�on rates. Minority groups earn less than whites in the same careers.
And Idaho Power is planning to contribute to this trend of racial inequality.
Idaho Power’s plan to triple the fixed service charge fees within the next two years, will hurt low-
income families the most. Many low-income families are people that come from these same minority
groups. According to the Popula�on Reference Bureau, minority families make up 58% of the low-
income families in the U.S., despite being included as 40% of working families in the U.S. This directly
shows that minority communi�es will be dispropor�onately affected by the plan to increase fixed service
charge fees
As the Public U�li�es Commission you have the power to determine whether Idaho Power will
exacerbate racial inequality in our community. For this reason I urge you to reject Idaho Power’s
proposal."
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The following comment was submited via PUCWeb:

Name: David Jones
Submission Time: Nov 29 2023 7:53AM
Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]
Address: 5 Keller Place
Boise, ID 83716

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Name of U�lity Company: Idaho Power

Case ID: IPC-E-23-11

Comment: "The proposal to increase the residen�al service charge is just another way to get the original
rate increase amount of $111 million. . An addi�onal $5 service charge on 620,000 customers is $31
million then add the next year increase and you get $62 million dollars.
Idaho power has an es�mated 620,000 customers of which 2%( 2100) are solar. Why not have all the
new arrivals pay for the extra costs since they are the ones pu�ng the increased demand on Idaho
Power. Solar generators are helping the grind keep up with power and should not have a service charge
at all. We have invested in power genera�on and are genera�ng power that Idaho power is selling back
to its customers. This increase is only going to hurt the people that can least afford it. Keep the current
service charge and charge customers for the power they use. "
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