The Courier

the Party continues in Gooding

This afternoon, the Main Street Parade will roll down the middle of Gooding beginning at 5:30 p.m. Line-up for the parade begins at 4:00 p.m. near the College of Southern Idaho Round Building (no charge to be in the parade).

Following the parade, the Carnival will open with their $1 ride night, and the exhibit halls will be open until 9:00 p.m. Family Night at the Andy James Arena will begin at 8:00 p.m. with PRCA Special Section (bareback, saddle bronc, breakaway & bull riding only).

The Gooding County Fair will continue through Saturday, August 19th, with PRCA Rodeo Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.

Most Have Heard of Fire Restrictions, But Few Know How They're Set

Many Idahoans have heard of fire restrictions during the summertime, but how decisions to implement restrictions are made, and who makes those calls, has always been a little mysterious. The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) hopes to make the fire restriction process more transparent.

The agency publishes Idaho's most current fire restriction information online via its Fire Restrictions Finder webpage. The page features a GIS-enabled map so you can know what restrictions are in place anywhere in the state before you head out for weekend adventures. You can find IDL's Fire Restriction finder online at www.idl.idaho.gov/restrictions. Knowing before you go can help prevent human caused wildfires.

The agency also makes the current year's Idaho Fire Restriction Plan, the source document fire managers use to make restriction decisions, available on its website. The proclamations that set restrictions in specific areas are now published online, too.

How Fire Restrictions Prevent Human-Caused Fires

Fire restrictions set reasonable limitations on the public and private landowners. The higher the fire risk, the higher the stage. With each stage, outdoor activities that could spark wildfires are increasingly limited. Restrictions reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during unusually high fire danger and/or burning conditions, and when other prevention efforts have been exhausted.

There are two levels of fire restrictions in Idaho, Stage 1 and Stage 2. Where do Fire Restrictions Apply continued on page 9...

Idaho is divided into eight fire restriction areas, each of which corresponds with a wildfire dispatch area and includes designated zones within the area.

Idaho Power Proposes Fee Changes For Home Generated Power

Idaho Public Utilities Commission staff will hold two public, online workshops to share information on an Idaho Power application seeking changes to the utility’s billing procedure regarding home generated power (small wind and solar systems).

"Idaho Power is asking the commission to allow real-time net billing with an avoided cost-based financial credit rate for exported energy, a methodology to determine annual updates to the export credit rate, a modified project eligibility cap for commercial, industrial and irrigation customers, related changes to the accounting for and transferability of excess net energy financial credits and updated tariff schedules needed to administer the modified on-site generation offering." IPU Press Release

Don't understand what that means? You're not alone.

If you are thinking about having solar panels installed on your roof or in the back yard (or you already have some), one of the selling points is the idea that you can save money or even make a little money by selling excess electricity back to the power company. In general, power companies have fought this because it is not as simple as running the electric meter backwards. There are costs involved and safety measures that need to be in place.

While Idaho Power's proposal would expand on-site generation for certain commercial, industrial, and irrigation projects, the net metering rate for residential solar customers would reduce the one-to-one credit for excess electricity (about 10 cents per kilowatt) to roughly 5 cents per kilowatt hour over the course of the next 10 years.

To answer questions regarding this proposal, IPU staff will hold online workshops on Wednesday, September 6th and 7th. The Sept. 6th workshop will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the Sept. 7th workshop will begin at 12:00 p.m.

You can participate online by visiting idahogov.webex.com.

For the Sept. 6th meeting, enter meeting number 2630 705 2269, when prompted (password: 0906Workshop). For the Sept. 7th meeting, enter meeting number 2631 951 3680 (password: 0907Workshop). You can also participate over the phone by calling 1-415-655-0001.

To make written comments visit www.puc.idaho.gov and click on the “Case Comment Form” case number IPC-E-23-14.

Notices of Upcoming Events & Meetings

Fairfield Museum Open for the Summer

The Fairfield Depot Museum will be open on Friday, August 14th & 15th and September 4th & 5th. Or... by appointment. Contact Patti Davis.