20260804Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER LODGE
COMMISSIONER HAMMOND
COMMISSIONER HARDIE
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: KELSEA E. ROSS
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: AUGUST 4, 2026
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER AVISTA CORPORATION'S APPLICATION FOR AN
ORDER AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ITS NATURAL
GAS DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS; CASE NO. AVU-G-
26-01.
On June 12, 2026, Avista Corporation, doing business as Avista Utilities, ("Company")
applied to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission") requesting an order permitting
the Company's proposed revisions to its Schedule 190,"Natural Gas Efficiency Programs,"which
if approved, would temporarily suspend the Company's natural gas demand-side management
programs effective September 1, 2026 ("Application"). Application at 1.
On July 21, 2026, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure establishing written comment deadlines. Order No. 37105. Also on July 21, 2026, the
Company filed a revised application ("Revised Application"), correcting and modifying the
expiration date of Community Action Partnership contracts. Revised Application at 9.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Upon further consideration of the procedural schedule, the Revised Application, and the
Company's responses in discovery, Commission Staff("Staff')recommends that the Commission
vacate the comment deadlines set in Order No. 37105 and issue an Amended Notice of Application
and Notice of Modified Procedure establishing a 21 day,public comment deadline, followed by a
7 day, reply comment deadline, from the service date of the Commission's order. Staff also
recommends that the Commission issue a Notice of Suspension suspending the Company's
proposed effective date until October 1, 2026, or until the Commission enters an order accepting,
DECISION MEMORANDUM 1

rejecting, or modifying the proposed revisions to the Company's Schedule 190,whichever comes
first.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to vacate the comment deadlines set in Order No. 37105 and
issue an Amended Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure establishing a 21 day,
public comment deadline, followed by a 7 day, reply comment deadline, from the service date of
the Commission's order, and issue a Notice of Suspension suspending the Company's proposed
effective date until October 1, 2026, or until the Commission enters an order accepting, rejecting,
or modifying the proposed revisions to the Company's Schedule 190, whichever comes first?
Kelsea E. Ross
Deputy Attorney General
I:\Legal\GAS\AWG2601_Suspend DSM\memos\AVUG2601_dec2_kr.docx
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2