20231018AVU to Staff 1-4.pdf

AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 10/18/2023 CASE NO: AVU-E-23-13 WITNESS: N/A REQUESTER: Staff RESPONDER: James Gall TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: Energy Resources
REQUEST NO.: Staff-001 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
Page 2 of the Application states that the proposed load is the Company's most recent peak and energy forecast, which was developed in the summer of 2022 and presented at the electric Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP") Technical Advisory Committee meeting held on October 11, 2022. However, this proposed load is the same as the load used in last year's annual update case
(Case No. AVU-E-22-15). Please respond to the following:
a. Has the Company developed a new load forecast as of the date that the Company responded to this request and if not, when will a new load forecast be developed?
b. If a new load forecast has been developed, please provide the new load forecast;
c. If a new load forecast has been developed, please compare the new load forecast with the proposed load forecast and explain the causes of the difference; and
d. If a new load forecast has not been developed, please explain why the Company has not developed a new load forecast since the load forecast was developed for case No. AVU-E-22-15. RESPONSE:

a. Avista is in the process of developing a new method for long-term load forecasting for resource planning. This new method will use 5 years of econometric forecasting and the remaining periods would be completed using an end use model. Avista plans to have a draft of this load forecast in November 2023 and will update in the spring 2024 for the 2025 IRP.
b. Not Applicable. c. Not Applicable.
d. Please see response to part a above.

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2023 OCTOBER 18, 2023 1:57PM
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 10/18/2023 CASE NO: AVU-E-23-13 WITNESS: N/A REQUESTER: Staff RESPONDER: James Gall TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: Energy Resources
REQUEST NO.: Staff-002 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST: Page 3 of the Application states that the proposed gas forecast is the Company's most recent
natural gas Forward Price Curve developed for the 2023 Natural Gas IRP. However, this proposed gas forecast is the same as the gas forecast used in last year's annual update case (Case No. AVU-E-22-15). Please respond to the following:
a. Has the Company developed a new gas forecast as of the date that the Company responded to
this request and if not, when will a new gas forecast be developed? b. If a new gas forecast has been developed, please provide the new gas forecast;
c. If a new load forecast has been developed, please compare the new gas forecast with the
proposed gas forecast and explain the causes of the differences; and d. If a new load forecast has not been developed, please explain why the Company has not developed a new gas forecast since the forecast was developed for Case No. AVU-E-22-15. RESPONSE: a. Avista has not created a new long-term gas price forecast curve. The next curve will be
developed in December 2023 for the 2025 IRP.
b. Not applicable. c. Not applicable.
d. Avista did not have a need to develop a forecast prior to preparing for the 2025 IRP. December 2023 begins the modeling process for the 2025 IRP.
AVISTA CORPORATION RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 10/18/2023 CASE NO: AVU-E-23-13 WITNESS: N/A REQUESTER: Staff RESPONDER: James Gall TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: Energy Resources
REQUEST NO.: Staff-003 TELEPHONE: [phone] REQUEST:
Page 4 of the Application states that two PURPA contracts are scheduled to conclude at the end of 2023, but they are currently being negotiated for extensions. Please describe the extension status of each project.
RESPONSE:
A new contract with Clearwater Paper was signed on October 2, 2023, covering the period from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026. Stimson Lumber signed an amendment on September 21, 2023 which extends their contract two years starting from January 1, 2023 through
December 31, 2025.