20111004Comment.pdf

Jean Jewell
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bbaxter44~gmail.com
Tuesday, October 04,2011 4:16 AM
Jean Jewell; Beverly Barker; Gene Fadness
PUC Comment Form
A Comment from Bruce Baxter follows:
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Case Number: PAC-E-11-12
Name: Bruce Baxter
Address: 7 N 3192 E
Ci ty: Idaho Falls
State: ID
Zip: 83491
Daytime Telephone: [phone]
Contact E-Mail: bbaxter4~gmail.com
Name of Utility Company: Pacific Corp. dba. Rocky Mountain Power
Acknowledge: acknowledge
Please describe your comment briefly:
Title: Keeping it small and under control because we know what's best for you
On today's Neal Larson Show, KID 599AM, Brent Hill, Senate Pro-tem was the guest and he was
confronted by a caller regarding the lack of scheduled work shops or public hearings. Sorry,
the heavily advertised and promoted informational meetings by Rocky Mountain Power don i t
count. Pure and simple, those were · sales jobs'.
Senator Hill promised eastern Idaho that the process will be public, not behind closed doors.
Considering the recent negotiated settlement with Avista that apparently was i negotiated
behind closed doors' but included interest groups that had formally filed for intervenor
status, this may very well be happening again. It is doubtful that residential consumers
will be formally represented since we have not formally intervened as as class. It is the
residential consumer that received the brunt of the January 1st rate hike. Probably lawful,
it is none the less scandalous. The solution to such injustice is legislation leveling the
playing field. Anyone other than me notice the lack of interest on the part of your elected
representati ves?
Senator Hill was reminded that residential customers have lots more votes than the special
interests that have intervened.
Rocky Mountain Power brags about being in the top third price wise for Idaho. Neighboring
Idaho Falls Power is approximately 49% less than RMP. The new rate hike proposal, if
approved would drastically alter that, Idaho Falls Power would be over 59% cheaper. Can
anyone think of a better way to kill jobs in the areas serviced by RMP?
If you are a no-growther, RMP i S aggressive rate hike strategy will ensure that the area they
service has a business climate that discourages economic development. If you or your kids
have to leave the area for work, well just sorry about that!
What is it about RMP power that makes it so much better than other regulated and non-
regulated utilities? Okay, maybe that isn't funny but may I offer that they may employ
superior accountants, analysts, lawyers, lobbyists, etc?
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Some of RMP' s advertising has been blatantly false, IPUC staff knows it, but there has been
no demand on their part for a retraction??? How do you negotiate with another party that
engages in such tactics? Also, RMP comparing our electric rates to other areas, especially
China and Europe is absurd and misleading. Our rates are to be based upon local conditions
and costs, not phony equivalents. The question becomes, should RMP marketing have anything to
do with rate hikes? Nope, nor should their influence with the legislature via lobbyists or
campaign contributions have anything to do with this continuing nightmare.
Who pays for these lobbyists, campaign contributions, energy efficiency programs,
advertising, schools and other charities, and RMP conducted workshops? You do. How so? They
are guaranteed a profit of approximately 19%. Hard to believe that they now want 19.5%.
How are you doing on your investments?
National Averages:
Passbook Savings .28%
Money Market Fund .25
1 year CD .59
Stock Market YTD -2.9 and dropping quick(Dow Jones Industrial 39)
Mortgage Interest 3.83 (39 year)
ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER 9.98%
A scandal? You be the judge.
The form submitted on http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html
IP address is 173.198.172.15- ------ ----- - -- - - ---- - - - ---- - - - -- ---
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