20030627Comments.pdf

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UTILIT IES COrlrilSSION
June 21 , 2003
Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC)
O. Box 83720
Boise, 1083720-0074
Subject: Natural Gas Price Increase as suggested by Mr. Glynn, President
Intermountain Gas Company.
Dear Sir or Madam:
This letter concerns the alleged increase in the price of Natural Gas in Idaho. We are
natural gas users in Eastern Idaho, residing in Rexburg, Idaho. We have been grateful
in the past for the benevolence of the Gas Company, and other utilities, especially as
they have been regulated by a wise IPUC. However, it seems times have changed, as
exampled by the phone company prices going through the roof after having been
deregulated, and now these multiple gas company price increases.
We do feel that in the past, natural gas was a better value than electricity, on that we
agree. However, such seems not the case now. Our electricity bill is now much less
than our gas bill, even in the summer. Therefore, as Mr. Glynn mentioned implicitly
the laws of supply and demand causing gas prices to go up, we would like to look at
other sources of heat in the future: solar, thermal , wind, propane, wood fired stoves
and heaters, and better types of insulation. But , we can t afford the start-up price of
these other sources. We do, however, already use jackets and sweaters.
We feel his justification for this price increase is suspect, untrue, or downright bogus.
He said his capital costs have remained the same for the last 20 years. But, has he
had any executive raises in the last 20 years? We suspect some things have
changed. We wish we could get a raise in our income to cover utility increases.
He said . . . we have just experienced the warmest winter on record in the past 30
years. . .' However, this past winter was not the warmest, but a very cold, dry winter.
We suggest when Idaho winters are dry, they are still very cold. And, he failed to
mention that along with a dry and cold winter, we also just had a record natural gas
price increase, just this past winter. Truly, this (now) latest price increase is cold, but it
is getting us hot!
We know that he or you will not pay attention to what we say, because we don t have
any leverage over you, and we are small , unimportant, and disabled senior citizens,
struggling to exist without seeking government help with our utilities. Never-the-Iess,
we disagree, object to, and refute these claims as to the validity of this most recent
natural gas price increase.
We don t have the time, health or means to appear at public hearings, relative to these
price increases or other matters. We are trying to save enough money to retire before
we die, save enough money to afford to get medical help, and rest up enough to have
the 'energy' and time to write this letter.
We try to conserve gas, not because he or others have suggested it, but because we
don t believe in wasting, and we can t afford to do otherwise. Even if we were in a
position to squander our resources, we wouldn t, because such behavior is not in the
disposition of our characters. Yet, our gas bill just keeps going up and up.
We are too old to get new jobs to afford these price increases, and too disabled to
bring in additional income. We do not squander our natural gas, or other resources.
We use it as little as possible by turning down our hot water temperature, using hot
water frugally, and only using our heater during cold months. We don t over-eat either
or lay around on a bear skin rug in front of a fireplace sipping hot chocolate, and we
keep our lights turned off when not needed. But, getting assistance funds for help with
our gas bill is not the point, either. Our gas bill keeps going up.
We believe one solution is to obtain more natural gas, perhaps from the contended
Arctic regions. By increasing the supply, theoretically, the price should go down.
It is a shame that not everyone in our world has integrity. As evidenced by recent
events, such as Enron, etc, it seems that some in charge have no respect for those
they are supposed to serve. Historically, this is not so unusual. We suspect that many
of those in charge have sought, and will seek to increase the price, not justifiably, but
just to increase their own income. And, then, our bills will continue to increase. We
hope this is not the case with the IPUC, or with the Intermountain Gas Company. We
don t want our gas bill to go up.
Sincerely,w.~~
Ronald and Oeanne Lindsay
70 South 3rd East
Rexburg, 10 83440
[phone]
rwl
c: Mr. William C Glynn, President, Intermountain Gas Company
Jean JewellFrom:Sent:To:Subject:Marilyn ParkerWednesday, June 25 2003 3:10Jean JewellComment on IGC Case: INT-03-Jean:On Wednesday, June 25 , 2003 I received a phone call from Kaye Bean of Nampa. She said she had had a stroke andwas unable to write but wanted to comment on the Intermountain Gas case. I did pass on to her that the comment periodhad closed but that I would take her information down and give it to the Commissioners.************************************************Name: Kaye Bean219 PleasantonNampa, Idaho 83686208-466-3377Kay stated: "This is going to be disastrous next winter. I cannot believe that not many people have commented.Customers probably won t take notice until next winter when the high bills start arriving. I am disabled , had a stroke andam only 56 years old. I am on very limited income although I fortunately own my house. I have exhorbitant medicalcosts; my one side was affected by the stroke and I must have heat on in my home. I just don t know what people onsocial security and disability budgets are going to do.***********************************************Let me know if you need anything else with this. I wasn t sure what the procedure was in a case of someone calling in toplace comments.Thanks
Marilyn Parker
334-0376
800-432-0369
mpar ker~p uc .state. d. us