20110131Comments.pdf

Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
secretary
Friday, January 28, 2011 8:07 AM
Barb Barrows; Jean Jewell
FW: Rocky Mountain Power Dispatchable Irrigation Load Contro Program
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From: jreedsearle~gmail. com(SMTP: JREEDSEARLE~MAIL . COM)
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 8: 07: 19 AM
To: secretary
Subject: Rocky Mountain Power Dispatchable Irrigation Load Contro Program Auto forwarded by a
Rule
J Reed Searle
526 E. ii00 N.
Shelley, ID 83274-5018
January 28, 2011
Public Utilities Commissioners
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Dear Public Utilities Commissioners:
I would like make you aware of the dire need to keep the Rocky Mountain Power Dispatchable
Irrigation Load Control Program as a viable option for the farming industry. We are having
all of our imputs rising at an alarming rate and having our power bill increase too will be
devastating to us. If the program is weakened in any way, costs for all will rise and
efficiencies will diminish. Please keep this program intact that all may benefit!!!!
Sincerely,
J. Reed Searle
208-357-3739
1
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
secretary
Saturday, January 29, 2011 4:03 PM
Barb Barrows; Jean Jewell
FW: PAC-E-11-06
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From: rcchh~juno. com(SMTP: RCCHH~JUNO.COM)
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 4:01:20 PM
To: secretary
Subject: PAC-E-11-06
Auto forwarded by a Rule
Dear PUC,
My sister and I began running our family farm about five years ago. We have 63 acres under
sprinkler irrigation and have participated in Rocky Mountain Power's irrigator shut off
incentive. This program has really helped us keep our farm going, and though we are just at
a break-even point with the power bill and the profit of our hay operation, without the shut-
off incentive, we would be hard pressed to meet the power bill each month for the irrigating.
I realize that we aren' t big producers, but we have invested a lot of time and effort and the
little money we receive from our teacher salaries to upgrade the system and utilize the shut-
off incentive program. We were under the impression this was going to be a long-term
program, and hope to be able to utilize the savings to pay for the upgrades we have done.
Though we don i t have thousands of acres, and our $500+ a month power bill isn i t much to a big
producer, it is a substantial price for us to pay. Without the shut off incentive we might
not be able to afford the pumping price and might have to go back to the ditches--which isn "t
efficient.
Please continue the irrigator shut off incentive program. If the family farm is supposed to
be the backbone of Idaho i s farm economy, then this incentive program is something essential
to keep this family farm running.
Sincerely,
Esther Henry
rcchh~j uno. com
271 N. 3900 E.
Rigby, 10 83442
1
Jean Jewell
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
secretary
Monday, January 31, 2011 9:48 AM
Barb Barrows; Jean Jewell
FW: Power useage incentive
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From: rpoe~idahofb. org (SMTP : RPOE~IDAHOFB . ORG)
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 9:47:47 AM
To: secretary
Subject: Power useage incentive
Auto forwarded by a Rule
Ray Poe
P.O. Box 4848
Pocatello, ID 83205-4848
January 31, 2011
Public Utilities Commissioners
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Dear Public Utilities Commissioners:
Idaho Power. and Rocky Mountain Power have been operating programs to provide incentives for
irrigators to allow the power companies to shut down their pumps when the power companies
need to reduce the electrical load at peak times during the summer. These programs have been
successful in allowing the power companies to better manage their peak loads and to avoid
having to build additional generation and transmission. The programs have also been cost
effective allowing the companies to avoid up to $3 of additional costs for each $1 spent on
the program.
Recently, both Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power have filed cases with the Idaho Public
Utilities Commission asking to modify the programs by reducing the incentive paid to
irrigators , limiting participation and reducing program usage.
The Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association (IIPA) is concerned that the proposed incentives are
too low to entice enough participants into the program and the program will be jeopardized,
thus causing pumpers to loose a beneficial opportunity, and causing the power companies to
construct additional power generation and transmission that they otherwise would not have to
build. This in turn will cause rates to increase to absorb the extra capital expenditures.
Please help this cost effective program continue by keeping the incentives paid to farmers at
the current levels.
Sincerely,
Ray Poe
208-236-4325