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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260608Exhibit B.pdf I 11 June 8, 2026 IDAHO PUBLIC Avista Corp. UTILITIES COMMISSION 1411 East Mission Ave., P.O. Box 3727 Spokane, WA 99220-0500 Telephone: 509-489-0500 Toll Free: 800-227-9187 June 8, 2026 State of Idaho Idaho Public Utilities Commission 11331 W. Chinden Blvd Bldg 8 Suite 201-A Boise, ID 83714 Attention: Commission Secretary—Case No. AVU-E-26-09 The Company submitted its Application requesting authorization to issue securities on June 5, 2026. It has since identified one attachment was inadvertently omitted from the original filing. Accordingly,the Company is submitting this supplemental filing to provide a draft order as Exhibit B for the Commission's consideration. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Carly Guillory at 509- 495-2708 or Krista Johnson at 509-495-8020. Sincerely, lal5" F"deed Shawn Bonfield Sr. Manager of Regulatory Policy & Strategy Office of the Secretary Service Date DATE BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION ) OF AVISTA CORPORATION FOR AN ) CASE NO. AVU-U-XX ORDER AUTHORIZING THE OFFERING, ) ISSUANCE AND SALE OF DEBT ) ORDER NO. XXXX SECURITIES NOT TO EXCEED $800,000,000 ) On JUNE 5, 2026, Avista Corporation ("Avista" or "Company") applied for authority to offer, issue,and sell up to $800,000,000 of secured or unsecured Debt Securities("Debt"). Having reviewed the record, the Commission enters this Order granting the Company's request. THE APPLICATION Avista is a Washington corporation qualified to do business in the State of Idaho. It is a public utility providing electric and natural gas service to customers in northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and central and southwest Oregon. The Company requests authority to offer, issue, and sell up to $800,000,000 of Debt. The requested authority is in addition to previous authorizations given by the Commission,of which$80,000,000 remains) The Debt's maturity will be established with each issuance and will not be less than one-year nor more than fifty years. The interest rate will be decided at the time of issuance. If the Company issues Debt with a floating rate, the interest rate will be reset periodically based on an index, generally SOFR, commercial paper, or Treasury Bills. If the Company issues Debt with a fixed rate it will be at a rate based upon the maturity period of that Debt as shown on the table below: Maximum Spread Over Benchmark Debt Maturity Period Treasury Yield Greater Less and or Secured Unsecured Than Equal to (bps) (bps) 1 Year 2 Year 95 115 2 Year 3 Year 100 120 3 Year 4 Year 105 125 4 Year 5 Year 110 130 5 Year 7 Year 115 135 7 Year 8 Year 120 140 8 Year 9 Year 125 142 'See Order No.36079. ORDER NO. XXX 1 9 Year 10 Year 130 150 10 Year 15 Year 155 175 15 Year 20 Year 130 150 20 Year 25 Year 140 160 25 Year 30 Year 140 160 30 Year Or More 150 170 COMMISSION STAFF REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION The Commission Staff("Staff')believed that the proposed debt met the requirement under Idaho Code §§ 61-901, et seq. and that the filing complied with the IDAPA 31.01.01.141. Consistent with standard reporting requirements established by prior orders, Staff recommended that Avista file the terms of the debt issuance(s) and subsequent changes to the terms with Staff. Staff recommended that this informational filing(s) be made as soon as possible. Staff also recommended that Avista file with the Commission the "Report or Securities Issued" and verified copies of any agreement entered into under this Order for these issuances as soon as they become available and update if any changes occur. Access to the debt markets is vital to capital intensive industries like Avista. Avista is rated Baa2 by Moody's and BBB by S&P Global ratings. Staff verified that prudent use of these proposed issuances would have minimal risk to changing the capital ratios significantly. Based on the foregoing, Staff recommended the Commission authorize the Company to issue an additional $800,000,000 of Debt. Additionally, Staff recommended that the authority granted by the Commission be continual—provided Avista maintains senior secured debt ratings that are investment grade (Baa3 for Moody's or BBB- for S&P) and that the all-in coupon rate does not exceed 8.0%without further Commission approval. COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION The Company is a Washington corporation qualified to do business in Idaho. It is a public utility engaged in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric energy and natural gas. See Idaho Code § 61-129. The Commission has jurisdiction over the Application under Idaho Code§§ 61-901,et seq. We find that the proposed issuance is in the public interest and a formal hearing on this matter is not required. We further find that the proposed issuance is for a lawful purpose and is within the Company's corporate powers, that the Application conforms to Rules 141 through 150 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01-141-150, and that the Company has paid all ORDER NO. XXX 2 fees due under Idaho Code § 61-905. We find that the Application should be approved, and the proposed financing should be allowed. The Commission's Order approving the proposed debt and the general purposes to which the proceeds may be put is not a determination that the Commission approves of the particular use to which these funds will be put. This Order also is not a Commission determination or approval of the type of financing or the related costs for ratemaking purposes. The Commission does not have before it for determination, and so does not determine, the effect of the proposed transaction on rates the Company will charge for public utility service. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company's Application to offer, issue, and sell up to $800,000,000 in additional Debt is granted. Such amount is in addition to$300,000,000 previously authorized by the Commission in Order No. 36079, under which $80,000,000 remains authorized but unissued. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the authority under this Order will continue during the authorized term provided the senior secured debt rating levels remain investment grade and the all-in coupon rate remains below 8.0%. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company must file the terms of the debt issuance(s)and subsequent changes to the terms with Staff. The informational filing must be made as soon as possible. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company must file with the Commission the "Report or Securities Issued" and verified copies of any agreement entered into under this Order as soon as they become available and update the Commission if any changes occur. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the foregoing authorization is without prejudice to the regulatory authority of the Commission regarding rates,utility capital structure, service accounts, valuation, estimates for determination of cost or any other matter which may come before this Commission under its jurisdiction and authority as provided by law. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that nothing in this Order and no provisions of Chapter 9,Title 61,Idaho Code,or any act or deed done or performed in connection therewith shall be construed to obligate the State of Idaho to pay or guarantee in any manner whatsoever any security authorized, issued, assumed, or guaranteed under Chapter 9, Title 61, Idaho Code. ORDER NO. XXX 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that issuance of this Order does not constitute acceptance of the Company's exhibits or other material accompanying the Application for any purpose other than issuing this Order. THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code § 61-626. DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this DAY day of MONTH 2O26. EDWARD LODGE, PRESIDENT JOHN R. HAMMOND, JR., COMMISSIONER DAYN HARDIE, COMMISSIONER ATTEST: Monica Barrios-Sanchez Commission Secretary ORDER NO. XXX 4