20211210Avista to Staff 12-18.pdf

AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Rendall Farley REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Rendall Farley TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: EVSE REQUEST NO.: Staff-12 TELEPHONE: [phone]
REQUEST:
Please describe how the Company will request and utilize funds, if any, from the National Electric
Vehicle Formula Program in the Congressional Bill, H.R. 3684 – Infrastructure and Jobs Acts, to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Company’s Idaho service territory. Please provide a timeline of potential electric vehicle infrastructure projects from the funds provided from the Congressional Bill H.R. 3684.
RESPONSE:
We are currently evaluating funding opportunities from H.R. 3684 and will consider applying for and/or partnering with others to support funding applications. However, more details are needed to
develop viable plans and timelines. We recognize that funding opportunities may be a one-time opportunity in 2022 and other funding will be spread out from 2022 through 2026. Avista will prioritize grant applications accordingly over that time frame. Corridor DCFC, electric school buses and transit buses all look like potential areas of focus.
RECEIVED
2021 DEC 10 PM 1:54

IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Rendall Farley REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Rendall Farley TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: EVSE
REQUEST NO.: Staff-13 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
Please provide the rationale for the proposed charging infrastructure breakdown of 20 workplace, 5 fleet, and 5 rural access charging infrastructure per year. In the explanation, please include the following: a. Why doesn’t the Company install more rural access or fleet charging stations?
b. What are the benefits of having significantly more workplace chargers than fleet and
rural access charging?
c. Any other rationale(s)?
RESPONSE: The rationale for the proposed charging infrastructure breakdown is primarily based on an estimate of likely customer participation levels. A significantly higher number of workplace charging
opportunities are expected, compared to fleet and rural access charging. In addition, the
demonstrated benefits of workplace charging are compelling, both as a catalyst for greater adoption at workplaces, providing charging availability for those individuals unable to charge at home, and as a net benefit to the grid. Commuting employees that are able to charge at work during off-peak times of the day, reduce the amount of charging on-peak after returning home in the late
afternoon and evenings. The proposed breakdowns are intended as initial targets, that may be flexibly adjusted according to actual opportunities and participation levels experienced during the program.
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Rendall Farley REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Rendall Farley TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: EVSE
REQUEST NO.: Staff-14 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
In the Company’s responses to Production Requests No. 7-9, the Company indicated that the “integrated charging, on-site renewable, and battery storage research” will be completed by the end of third quarter of 2023. Please confirm that this area of focus will expire in 2023 and no expenses will occur in 2024. If the project or expenses extend into 2024, please explain which
expenses and why they will be incurred. RESPONSE: That is correct, the research study on this topic will conclude in 2023 and no expenses for it will
occur in 2024. Based on the results of the research, the Company may propose a follow-up project
to test and validate findings, for example to construct and monitor a charging site with integrated renewable power and energy storage. However, until the study results are available it is premature to make such a proposal.
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Rendall Farley REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Rendall Farley TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: EVSE
REQUEST NO.: Staff-15 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
What is the Company’s intended pilot length of the workplace, fleet, and rural access charging infrastructure program? RESPONSE:

Avista proposes a three-year pilot length for the workplace, fleet, and rural access charging infrastructure program, beginning in 2022 and concluding in 2024. Following this we would anticipate proposing longer term programs, based on lessons learned from the pilot, demonstrated customer benefits, and other ongoing developments in the industry.

AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Rendall Farley REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Rendall Farley TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: EVSE
REQUEST NO.: Staff-16 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
What is the Company’s intended pilot length for the entire electric transportation programs proposed in the Application? RESPONSE:

Avista proposes a three-year pilot length for the entire electric transportation programs proposed in the Application, beginning in 2022 and concluding in 2024. Following this we would anticipate proposing longer term programs, based on lessons learned from the pilot, demonstrated customer benefits, and other ongoing developments in the industry.
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Shawn Bonfield REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Ryan Finesilver TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: Energy Efficiency
REQUEST NO.: Staff-17 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
Of the $300,000 of Research and Development funds allocated for 2021, how much of the funds have been used to date and does the Company expect to carry over any unused funds into 2022? RESPONSE:

Of the $300,000 of Research and Development (R&D) funds allocated in 2021, $186,306.80 has been used to date. As stated in Staff-PR-18, the R&D projects already in progress for 2021 have all been completed, therefore, this is the final amount expected to be spent from these R&D funds. The Company does not expect to carry over any unused funds into 2022.
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 12/10/2021 CASE NO: AVU-E-21-13 WITNESS: Shawn Bonfield REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Randy Gnaedinger TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: Transmission Services
REQUEST NO.: Staff-18 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
In the Company’s Reply Comments on AVU-E-20-13, the Company stated, “that it is appropriate that it be allowed to continue with any R&D work already in progress, especially for projects already contracted.” Please provide additional details about existing contracts including, but not limited to, completion dates, and expenses that will carry beyond 2021.
RESPONSE: All three R&D projects – 1) Gamification of Energy Use, 2) Automating Predictive Maintenance for Energy Efficiency via Machine Learning and IoT Sensors, and 3) Real-Time Demand
Response within an Enhanced Avista Energy Trading Platform Prototype – have concluded their
research agreements for 2021. The Company does not plan on carrying any R&D expenses beyond 2021.