20090622Vol II Coeur d'Alene.pdf

ORIGINAL
e BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF AVISTA CORPORATION FOR THE
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES
AND CHARGES FOR ELECTRIC AND
NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO ELECTRIC
AND NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS IN THE
STATE OF IDAHO.
CASE NOS.
AVU-E-09-01
AVU-G-09-01
PUBLIC HEARING
HEARING BEFORE
C?C:m
COMMISSIONER MACK A. REDFORD (Presiding)
COMMISSIONER MARSHA H. SMITH
COMMISSIONER JIM D.KEMPTON
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PLACE:Molstead Library Todd Lecture Hall
Campus of North Idaho College
1000 West Garden Avenue
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
DATE:June 17, 2009
VOLUME II - Pages 17 - 21
i-'lL* ii-T iai-POST OFFICE BOX 578
BOISE,IDAHO 83701
208-336-9208
e HEDRICK
COÙRT REPORTING
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2 For the Staff:
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5 For Avista:
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APPEARANCESe
KRISTINE A. SASSER, Esq.
Deputy Attorney General
472 West Washington
Boise, Idaho 83702
DAVID J. MEYER, Esq.
Vice President and Chief Counsel
of Regulatory and GovernmentalAffairs
AVISTA CORPORATION
Post Office Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220
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HEDRICK COURT REPORTING
P. O. BOX 578, BOISE, ID 83701
APPEARANCES
e 1 COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17,2009,6:58 P.M.
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4 COMMISSIONER REDFORD:Ladies and gentlemen, if
5 we could get started. First of all, we don't have a speaker
6 system, so when -- if you're going to testify we'd ask you to
7 speak up because that doesn't do anything.
8 This is the Idaho Public Utilities Commission,
9 and seated on my left is Marsha Smith, one of the
10 Commissioners, and seated on my right is Jim Kempton, the
11 President and Commission member.
12 This will be a public hearing in the matter of
e 13 the Application of Avista Corporation for the authority to
14 increase its rates and charges for electric and natural gas
15 service to electric and natural gas customers in the state of
16 Idaho. The case numbers are AVU-E-09-01 and Case No.
17 AVU-G-09-01.
18 This is a public hearing and we have legal
19 representation here. I'd ask the -- to take the appearances of
20 the -- of Counsel. Mr. Meyer.
21 MR. MEYER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. David Meyer
22 for Avista.
23 MS. SASSER: Kristine Sasser, attorney for Staff.
24 COMMISSIONER REDFORD: Everything that's said in
e 25 this hearing tonight will be taken down by the court reporter
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HEDRICK COURT REPORTING
P. O. BOX 578, BOISE, ID 83701
COLLOQUY
e 1 and made an official part of the record in this case.
2 Just a little -- few little ground rules before
3 we start: This, unfortunately or fortunately for -- depends on
4 how you feel about it, is for public comment. There is no
5 exchange between the Commission and the people that are wanting
6 to testify. But I would suggest to you that we do have some
7 knowledgeable Company employees here and also a representative
8 from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, and they will be
9 generally happy to answer any of your questions after the
10 hearing.
11 When you come down and testify, we'll ask
12 Commissioner Smith to take an oath from you. And after that,
e 13 we will ask you what your full name is and your present
14 address.
15 I would also like to say that there has been
16 filed with the Commission a tentative Stipulation for an
17 Agreement between the Company and all the Intervenors. The
18 Intervenors are as -- are some of the other companies,
19 customers, and also the public interests, in addition to the
20 Commission Staff and Commissioners. There is Idaho Action
21 Network and CAPAI.
22 MR. MEYER: Community Action Partnership.
23 COMMISSIONER REDFORD: Community Action
24 Partnership.
e 25 So this tentative Settlement has been signed by
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HEDRICK COURT REPORTING
P. O. BOX 578, BOISE, ID 83701
COLLOQUY
e 1 all those parties, but I'd like to inform you that just because
2 we have a Stipulation and an Agreement to resolve this case, it
3 still has to be approved by the Commission members, we three.
4 And we will have a hearing on the Stipulation and Agreement,
5 and if we feel that the Agreement fairly states the position of
6 the parties and if it is fair, just, and reasonable not only to
7 the public but also to the Company, we mayor we may not
8 approve the Settlement. In the event the Settlement is not
9 approved and after further negotiation if a Settlement isn't
10 possible, then we'll have a full evidentiary hearing .on the
11 entirety of the rate case.
12 Generally, the rate case is -- involves the
e 13 filing of an Application by Avista, and after that, a
14 notification to the public to request -- to ask if anyone wants
15 to intervene in the case. Sometimes large customers are the
16 intervenors, and, of course, the community action networks.
17 So, having said that, I will now invite people
18 who have signed up to testify to come forward, and I understand
19 from Gene Fadness, our public relations person, that no one has
20 signed up to testify. So it is kind of a last call for like an
21 auction of, you know, going once, twice, three times.
22 And hearing no obj ection, or hearing no one that
23 wants to volunteer to come down and give us their thoughts,
24 why, we will stand adj ourned. This is a first.
e 25 But, again, if you feel that you have some
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HEDRICK COURT REPORTING
P. O. BOX 578, BOISE, ID 83701
COLLOQUY
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1 questions and you felt a little reticent in testifying, our
2 folks will be here to answer any questions.
3 And it's nice to be in Coeur d' Alene.
4 Thank you. We'll stand adj ourned.
5 (The hearing adjourned at 7: 04 p.m.)
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HEDRICK COURT REPORTING
P. O. BOX 578, BOISE, ID 83701
COLLOQUY
e 1 AUTHENTICATION
4 This is to certify that the foregoing is a
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5 true and correct transcript to the best of my ability of the
6 proceedings held in the matter of the Application of Avista
7 Corporation for the authority to increase its rates and charges
8 for electric and natural gas service to electric and natural
9 gas customers in the state of Idaho, Case Nos. AVU-E-09-01 and
10 AVU-G-09-01, commencing on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at the
11 Todd Lecture Hall of the Molstead Library on the Campus of
12 North Idaho College, 1000 West Garden Avenue, Coeur d' Alene,
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13 Idaho, and the original thereof for the file of the Commission.
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WENDY MURRAY, N ta y Public
in and for the t e of Idaho,
residing at Meridian, Idaho.
My Commission expires 2-5-2014.
Idaho CSR No. 475
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HEDRICK COURT REPORTING
P. O. BOX 578, BOISE, ID 83701
AUTHENTICATION