20150812AVU to Staff 40.docx

AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONJURISDICTION:IDAHODATE PREPARED:08/04/2015CASE NO.:AVU-E-15-05/AVU-G-15-01WITNESS:Bryan CoxREQUESTER:IPUCRESPONDER:Kenneth DillonTYPE:Production RequestDEPARTMENT:Transmission ServicesREQUEST NO.:Staff-040TELEPHONE:[phone]
REQUEST:
Please provide a copy of the current ColumbiaGrid Planning and Expansion Functional Agreement (PEFA) contract and explain what is causing the expense increases. (See Cox DI, pg. 6, line 22)RESPONSE:
Please see Staff_PR_040 Attachment A for the agreement.
The expense increases in the PEFA are as proposed by the independent ColumbiaGrid CEO and staff. The operatin plan includes increases in annual operating costs, such as leases, equipment, office space, software expenses, travel, and positions to be filled which were vacant in the CY 2014 test year due to retirements.