20040614ICAN Comments.pdf

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3450 HIli Road. Boise, 1083703. [phone]. fax [phone]
1151 Oakley. Burley, 10 83318 . [phone] . fax [phone]
Friday, June II , 2004
, Idaho:Fhablic Utilities Commission
, P B6~ 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
Re: lntennountain Gas Application for Authority to Increase its Rates for Service, Case No.
INT -O4- 2
Dear Commissioners:
W~wO1.l1d like to comment, for ourselves and for other members of Idaho Community Action
N~twotk (JCAN) and Intennountain Gas low-income customers, on Intermountain Gas
Pl.lrchased Cost Adjustment Application.
We oppose the PGA increase Intermountain Gas has requested. Their request would increase the
average,residential bill by 10 percent. An average customer using gas for space heating and
water heating would pay $6.02 extra each month. That's too much for low-income families to
absorb. While higher-income families may not notice the increase in their bills, low-income
families are struggling to pay the power bills as it is. lntennountain Gas" s records show that
many of its customers are having trouble paying their power bills. During the 2002-03 winter
heating,season, 6 207 households that were customers oflntennountain Gas received LlHEAP
assistance, 2 592 declared moratorium eligibility, and 728 were disconnected in Marc~ April
andNt~y of2003 tor non-payment. Raising the rates by 10 percent would make it even harder
forthe~e families to keep their heat on this winter.
We also ask that the PUC hold public hearings before deciding on this application. A 10 percent
rate increase will have a big effect on consumers, and public hearings are the best way to get
consumer input about decisions like this. Many people are not comfortable writing their
opinions, but can speak about them easily. Having a big public meeting lets people hear other
people:s opinions and have a conversation about it. People have more confidence in the process
if they can be a part of a public conversation about it, and they learn more. We understand that
theCornmission is very busy this year with rate cases and other issues, but we believe that public
hearings are a very important part of the process.
Finally, we ask that you delay deciding on the PGA increase until the fall. There are two reasons
why deciding in the fall makes more sense. First, people would be more interested in the fall
because they will be starting to wotry about how to make it through the winter, so more people
would ,participate. Second, the PUC can make a more informed decision in the fall about winter
rates. As Intermountain Gas says in its application, the price of gas in the future is not entirely
pr~iclable. Intermountain Gas has committed to file an amendment if prices fall lower than its
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preqictions, but it makes more sense to wait and make the decision later, when there is moreiI)fo'rma~ion available, rather than guessing now.
e;are lCAN members who are also lntennountain Gas customers, and we represent hundredsof-otHer low-incoille customers.
SiIi(;erely,
07OJ1dl!JlCt
ConJIie ~mdPhilip Chandnoit
21SE.44th
Gard~n City, ID
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Ba-rb,ie Campbell
19.49E. Spring Meadow Lane
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