20241029News Release.pdf

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Idaho Public Utilities Commission BradLjtde,Governor
P.O. Boot 83720. Boise. ID 83720-007d En(Anderson, President
Jolr R.Hammor4 Jr, Commissioner
Edward Lodge,Commissioner
Case No. AVU-E-24-12
Order No. 36371
Contact: Adam Rush
Office: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
NEWS RELEASE: Commission approves petition granting temporary waiver of master metering
prohibition.
BOISE (Oct. 29, 2024)—The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved a petition that
spells out how a northern Idaho electric utility will provide service during the sale of the
Clearwater Paper Corporation's consumer products division to another company.
In late September, Clearwater Paper, Avista Utilities and Sofidel America Corp. filed a joint
petition with the commission asking that it approve a contract between Sofidel and Clearwater,
and provide a temporary waiver of Avista's tariff that prohibited master-metering of electric
services.
The companies said Clearwater Paper entered into an agreement to sell its consumer products
division(a tissue plant)to Sofidel, and said each company would separately contract with Avista
to receive electric service and energy pursuant to Avista's approved tariffs. However,because
Avista's current electrical infrastructure was designed and built to serve an integrated single
entity, it was not possible for Avista to separately meter and serve the tissue plant as an
individual customer. The companies also said it may take up to three years for Avista to build the
required infrastructure to provide separate metering to the companies.
In its decision to approve the temporary waiver, the commission found it was fair,just and
reasonable to do so. The commission is requiring Avista to submit infrastructure project status
reports beginning on May 31, 2025, and every six months thereafter. The waiver will be in effect
until Avista is able to provide separate metering to the companies.
Additional information is available at: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7419.