20070717AVU to Staff 1-3.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission PO Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220-3727
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
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July 16, 2007
Jean Jewell, Secretary
State of Idaho
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Statehouse
Boise, ID 83720
Re: Avista s Case No. A VU-07-
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Pursuant to IDAP A 31.01.01.228, enclosed for filing are an original and three (3) copies
of A vista s response to "First Production Request of the Commission Staff to A vista
Corporation" dated June 27, 2007.
Any questions regarding this filing should be directed to Clint Kalich at [phone].
Sincerely,
q~~
LInda Gervais
Regulatory Compliance
State and Federal Regulation
A vista Utilities
509-495-4975
linda. gervaisC2V,avistacoro. com
cc: Rick Sterling
VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.
Idaho
A VU-07-
IPUC
Data Request
Staff-
DATE PREPARED:
WITNES S
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
07-13-2007
Clint Kalich
Energy Resources
[phone]
REQUEST:
Please provide an estimate of the cost to purchase state-of-the-art wind forecasting services as
referenced in the Company s Petition. Please provide a detailed description of how each QF'
share of the on-going cost of the wind forecasting services will be determined. For what length
oftime would QF's be required to make a contribution for the cost of forecasting services? How
would costs be allocated amongst QFs that are built at different points in time?
RESPONSE:
A vista does not presently purchase a wind forecasting service and does not have an estimate for
such. We understand that wind forecasting services greatly enhance the predictability of the wind
estimate, and that it has become an industry standard practice to procure such services.
Irrespective of the cost, A vista would expect a wind QF to fund a forecast over the term of the
contract. The cost of wind forecasting would be allocated on a prorate basis (including wind
procured outside of Idaho PURP A).
VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.
Idaho
A VU-07-
IPUC
Data Request
Staff-
DATE PREPARED:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
07-13-2007
Clint Kalich
Energy Resources
[phone]
REQUEST:
Among other things, the Company s Petition seeks a Commission Order "Clarifying that the cap
on entitlement to published avoided cost rates shall be raised to 10 aMW only until Avista s total
wind portfolio from all sources totals 400 MW." Please clarify whether the Company s proposal
as stated in its Petition is intended to mean that the Company will recomputed its wind
integration cost when its total wind portfolio from all sources total 400 MW or whether it is
intended to mean that a new cap on entitlement to published avoided cost rates would be restored
at that time.
RESPONSE:
Based on the information available to the Company at this time we do not see a barrier to wind
installations exceeding 400 MW, only that we expect our integration cost to rise based on
studies. The Company is only proposing that the integration cost be recomputed to reflect a
higher wind penetration level.
VISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JURISDICTION:
CASE NO:
REQUESTER:
TYPE:
REQUEST NO.
Idaho
AVU-07-
IPUC
Data Request
Staff-
DATE PREPARED:
WITNESS:
RESPONDER:
DEP ARTMENT:
TELEPHONE:
07 -13-2007
Clint Kalich
Energy Resources
[phone]
REQUEST:
Please explain how the proposed "mechanical availability guarantee" will be computed during
periods of time when there is not enough wind blowing for wind turbines to generate.
RESPONSE:
The computation would not take into account those hours in which there is not be enough wind
blowing for the wind turbines to generate. Instead the mechanical availability guarantee would
be based on the hours in which there was adequate wind available to generate power. In other
words, the calculation would be applied only during times where the wind speed fell between
cut-in and cut-out ratings.