20180821Comment.pdf

TO:COMMISSIONERKJELLANDER
COMMISSIONERRAPER
COMÑIISSIONERANDERSON
COMMISSIONSECRETARY
COMMISSlON STAFF
FROM LANCE PETERSON
Customer and Resident at 3202 Merlin Drive,Idaho Falls,Idaho
DATE:AUGUST 15,2018
CASE NO.PAC-E-IS-04
SUBJECT:ROCKY MOUNTAINPOWER'S APPLICATION FOR APPROVALOF THE ASSETPURCHASEAGREEMENTWITHTHECITYOFIDAHOFALLS(NINA,CHARLA,ANDMERLINDRIVE)
On August 2,2018 the Idaho Public Utilities Commission issued a Notice of TelephonicPublicHearing.The purpose of the public hearingis to take testimony from customers and otherinterestedmembersofthepublic.Testimonywill be made part of the Commission's formal record.
As a member ofthe effected community (Nina,Charla,and Merlin Drives)I have been activelyinvolvedoverthepasttwoyearsinsomeoftheactivitiesrelatedtotransitionofutilityservice forresidentsonNina,Charla,and Merlin Drives.The process has been lengthybut interesting andeducational.
In order to better understandthe process for electric utility transfer,I have spoken withrepresentativesofRockyMountainPower,Idaho Falls Power,City of Idaho Falls officials,IdahoPublicUtilitiesCommissionstaff,and PUC Attorney Brandon Karpen.I have also reviewedappropriatesectionsoftheIdahoCode(61-328 to 61-333C,and 7-711).I have reviewed all theCASENO.PAC-E-18-04 documents on file at the PUC website as well.
This experience gives me a reasonably good understandingof challenges faced when two electricutilitymonopoliesworktogetherunderESSAtoaffectatransferofcustomers.The Asset PurchaseAgreementdefinesthecompensationpaidbythebuyertotheseller,it does not address advantagesordisadvantagestothecustomerwhenchangingelectricalutilitysupplier.
From my individual perspective this Asset Purchase Agreement complements the recent City ofIdahoFallsannexationofthe23residentsonNina,Charla and Merlin Drives.As new residents oftheCityitjustmakessensethatwejointhesameelectricalserviceprovidedtootherresidents.It isagiventhatIdahomunicipalitieswillgrowanditisagreatservicetothepublictohaveaprocessinplacethatgovernscustomerexchangebetweenutilities.
I support PlJC approval of the Asset Purchase Agreement between Rocky Mountain Power and TheCityofIdahoFalls(Nina,Charla,and Merlin Drive).
Sincerely
Lance Peterson
3202 Merlin Drive
Idaho Falls,Idaho 83404