20180126Avista to Staff_DR_003.docx

AVISTA CORP.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONJURISDICTION:WASHINGTONDATE PREPARED:11/20/2017CASE NO.:U-170970WITNESS:Scott L. MorrisREQUESTER:UTC StaffRESPONDER:Ed SchlectTYPE:Data RequestDEPT:Corporate StrategyREQUEST NO.:Staff –003(AVA)TELEPHONE:[phone]EMAIL:[e-mail]:Please provide support for the claim on page 9 of Mr. Morris’s prefiled direct testimony that “the number of investor-owned electric and/or natural gas utilities in North America has decreased significantly over the years through consolidation.”What does Avista believe is driving this phenomenon?RESPONSE:
For support for the claim please refer to slides 7 and 8 on sheets 12 and 13 of ICNU_DR_082(HC)(AVA)Highly Confidential Attachment A.pdf.

Each transaction will vary based upon its unique circumstance but a common driver is the benefit of added scale to the cost of delivering service to customers.