HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240212Reconsideration_Order_No_36082.pdfORDER NO. 36082 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
February 12, 2024
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF IDAHO POWER
COMPANY’S APPLICATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES
TO THE COMPENSATION STRUCTURE
APPLICABLE TO CUSTOMER ON-SITE
GENERATION UNDER SCHEDULES 6, 8,
AND 84 AND TO ESTABLISH AN EXPORT
CREDIT RATE
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CASE NO. IPC-E-23-14
ORDER NO. 36082
On May 1, 2023, Idaho Power Company (“Company”), filed an application
(“Application”) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) proposing changes
to the Company’s on-site and self-generation tariffs. On December 29, 2023, the Commission
issued Final Order No. 36048 approving the Company’s Application as modified by the
Company’s revised proposal and the provisions of the Order.
On January 9, 2024, the Commission received two public comment letters (“Petitions”).
Attachments A and B. The first letter, from Jacob Klimes, stated in part: “I beg you to please
reconsider the case and take into consideration that every person who spoke up about it was against
it.” Klimes Letter at 2. The second letter, from Tony Klein, stated in part: “If there is a way to
reconsider, rescind and modify your ruling and ORDER to amend it to affect new applications,
starting on a date in the future to determined bu [sic] you, to clarify to everyone the rules.”
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
The Commission has jurisdiction over the Company’s Application and the issues in this
case under Title 61 of the Idaho Code including Idaho Code §§ 61-301 through 303. The
Commission is empowered to investigate rates, charges, rules, regulations, practices, and contracts
of all public utilities and to determine whether they are just, reasonable, preferential,
discriminatory, or in violation of any provisions of law, and to fix the same by order. Idaho Code
§§ 61-501 through 503.
Reconsideration affords parties an opportunity to bring to the Commission’s attention any
matter previously determined and provides the Commission an opportunity to rectify any mistake
before the matter is appealed to the Supreme Court. Washington Water Power Co. v. Idaho Public
Utilities Comm’n, 1980, 101 Idaho 567, 617 P.2d 1242. Any person or public utility has the right
to petition for reconsideration in respect to any matter determined in a Commission order. Idaho
ORDER NO. 36082 2
Code § 61-626(1). “Within twenty-eight (28) days after the filing of a petition for reconsideration
the commission shall determine whether or not it will grant such reconsideration, and make and
enter its order accordingly.” Idaho Code § 61-626(2).
Commission Rule of Procedure 332 provides that the “Commission may grant
reconsideration upon petition of any interested person or upon its own motion.” IDAPA
31.01.01.332. “Petitions for reconsideration must specify (a) why the order or any issue decided
in it is unreasonable, unlawful, erroneous or not in conformity with the law, and (b) the nature and
quantity of evidence or argument the petitioner will offer if reconsideration is granted.” IDAPA
31.01.01.331.01. “Grounds for, or issues on reconsideration not supported by specific explanation
may be dismissed.” IDAPA 31.01.01.332.
Having reviewed the Petitions and the arguments therein, the Commission cannot find that
the Petitions comply with the requirements of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Rules of
Procedure for Petitions for Reconsideration. The Petitions do not clearly explain why Order No.
36048, or any issue decided therein, is unreasonable, unlawful, erroneous or not in conformity
with the law. Similarly, the Petitions do not explain why or how Order No. 36048 should be
reconsidered, nor do the Petitions specify the nature and quantity of evidence or argument that will
be offered if reconsideration is granted. Thus, the Commission finds that the Petitions should be
dismissed.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Petitions are dismissed.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER DENYING RECONSIDERATION. Any party aggrieved by
this Order may appeal to the Supreme Court of Idaho within forty-two (42) days pursuant to the
Public Utilities Law and the Idaho Appellate Rules. Idaho Code § 61-627; I.A.R. 14.
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ORDER NO. 36082 3
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 12th day of
February 2024.
__________________________________________
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
__________________________________________
JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
__________________________________________
EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Monica Barrios-Sanchez
Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\IPC-E-23-14\orders\IPCE2314_FO_Recon_cb.docx
RECEIVED
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 12:33:28 PM
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
EXHIBIT A Case No. IPC-E-23-14 Order No. 36082
24 cents per kw back to myself and to my neighbors. That means I will have to produce over 10
hours to use one hour. There aren't enough solar hours in a day to compete with that! That means
during the day, while I am at work, my solar panels will be producing power that my home won't
immediately need. That power will then be sold to my neighbors and their hard-earned money
will go to Idaho Power, even though they aren't producing that power. It doesn't matter to my
neighbors where the power comes from, so it isn't costing them any extra. In fact, Idaho power
charges one cent more for their "Clean energy" so that means they are making even more money
off the power I produce. That money should go to me in the form of kwh 's that I can use when I
need them. I understand and agree a service charge of $5 as Idaho power is supplying the
infrastructure to make this transaction happen, but I don't understand what gives them any right
or ability to sell the power I produce, and only give me an ounce of that profit. I'm not even
looking for a profit, I just want to break even! This means Idaho power will make a profit off me,
and I will have a power bill again, even though I am producing more power than I am using.
Please explain to me and the rest of the country how that adds up. I say country because other
states are looking at your handy work and taking note.
Next, let's look at Depression and suicidal rates in Idaho. Idaho has some of the highest
depression and suicide rates in the country. I'm going to copy a report from east Idaho news.
They say the average Idahoan makes $56,368 per year, but it takes $58,634 to live in Idaho. It's
no wonder so many Idahoans are killing themselves. Prices go up every day, yet incomes are not.
Credit card balances and interest rates continue to increase with no hope in sight. One way to
help was to install solar panels. My monthly solar panel bill was less than my monthly power bill
was. That really helps considering the current state of our economy. Now that you have agreed to
Idaho Powers' changes, there is a high likelihood that not only will I have that power bill again,
but now they can even charge me more for just being hooked up to the grid. I can't disconnect
from the grid because I have minors in the house. That means my $30,000 investment has
become obsolete, and it's your fault. I will now have a solar bill, power bill, and an increased
connectivity bill. I wonder how many millions of dollars Idahoans have invested to just be
disregarded by you three. This disservice to Idaho is not going unnoticed. If you look, you will
see that you have made both state and national news. So, congrats on that publicity.
I beg you to please reconsider the case and take into consideration that every person who
spoke up about it was against it. Look at how much bad and harm will and has come from it.
Please look at the financial strain this will put on Idahoans. Please look at Australia and how 1/3
of their population has solar, and how well it is working for both their economy and their
environment. Please look at California and Tennessee and how badly it's affecting everyone.
Please look at Oregon and how they denied Idaho Power's requests. How humiliating it is that
Oregon, a state that people are trying to leave and come to ours, makes better decisions regarding
their utilities. Please try to remember what it's like to be of the working class, going paycheck to
paycheck just trying to pay for health insurance and groceries. And lastly, please remember that
it's the Idaho People that you serve, not Idaho Power. hl�
EXHIBIT A Case No. IPC-E-23-14 Order No. 36082
TONY KLEIN INSURANCE 1301 N. OREGON AVENUE FRUITLAND, IDAHO 83619-2245
Idaho Public Utilitiel Commi66ion
P1te6ident Enic Anden6on Jarwany 6, '20'24 John R. Hammond Jn. Edwand Lodge
OFFICE 208 • 452-5573 FAX 208 -452-5572 l-OLL FREE 809 722=8,r:3
I would not oject to Idaho Powen, a publicly tnaded Utility, wanted tocha;1ge the bifling method and app1toved by you., to aJ6ec..t NEW application6 6on 6olaJt genenation. 1·hat6 not what happed. In my oplnlon,about 8000 6olan p1todu.ce1t6 ane a66ected by the method 06 bllllng u6. That l6 not a nate change oft lncnea6e but nathen a matenlal change ln the bllllng calculatlon6. Thl6 l6 a huge dl66enence.
I6 6omeone ln6tall6 a 6olan geneJtatlon 6y6tem unden one let 06 �ule6 and told my blll would be about $5.'20 pelt month.
Now, Idaho powen Company, thlnk6 that we lhould all u.nde1t6tand that thl6 l6 Okay, and that we 6hould 6hane ln all 06 thene ex.penl el.
No, It'6 NOT OKAY!
When one panty want6 to change thein monetany calculatlon6 that l6 BATE AND SWITCH, and you ju.6t appnoved lt.
Aften 1teadlng you ORDER NO.36048 a couple 06 tlme6 I 6elt compelled to wnlte and lay I OBJECT. By appnovlng thl6 change ln bllllng mode you ane condoning all that lt 6ay6.
A6 a 6olan pnodu.cen why do I have to 6hane ln theln LINE LOSS, Avolded Envlnonmental colt, Fuel Colt Ri6k, and otheh6? I'm a pnoducen and u6eJt 06 my own genenatlon.
About 8000 cu.6tomeJt6. WOW!
In thene il a way to 1tecon6lde1t, necind and modl6y youn nullng and ORDER to ammend lt to a�6ect new aµpllcatlon6, 6ta1ttlng on a date ln the 6u.tuJte to detenmlned bu you, to clanl6y to evenyone the Jtule6.
By the way dld any 06 you accually lee theln mathmatlcal tlme di66e1tentlal 6omula? I6 you have not, why not? I thlnk that l6 a mateJtal 6act ln a 601tmula to lee how that wlll a66ect my monthly blll.
Thank you 6on Jteadlng thl6 and con6lde1tlng u6 and them.
SinceJtly, Tony Klel;1 1301 ;\Jail.th Ottegon Ave. Fnuitland, Id. 83619
��EXHIBIT B Case No. IPC-E-23-14 Order No. 36082