20150812AVU to Staff 38.doc

AVISTA CORPORATION
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

JURISDICTION: IDAHO DATE PREPARED: 08/05/2015
CASE NO.: AVU-E-15-05/AVU-G-15-01 WITNESS: Bryan Cox
REQUESTER: IPUC RESPONDER: Warren Clark
TYPE: Production Request DEPARTMENT: Transmission Operations
REQUEST NO.: Staff - 038 TELEPHONE: [phone]

REQUEST:

Please provide a copy of the North Western Energy Colstrip transmission operation and maintenance plans (See Cox DI, pg. 5, line 9). Does the Company agree with the current approach to operating and maintaining of these lines? Does the Company plan to re-assess any ownership rights? Please explain.

RESPONSE:

Please see Avista's response 038C, which contains TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY or CONFIDENTIAL information and exempt from public view and is separately filed under IDAPA 31.01.01, Rule 067 and 233, and Section 9-340D, Idaho Code, and pursuant to the Protective Agreement between Avista and IPUC Staff dated June 4, 2015.

For operating planing purposes, NorthWestern Energy provides the Colstrip Transmission Committee a 5-year operating plan. Each year, NorthWestern Energy, the designated operator of the 500 kV Colstrip Transmission System, in consultation with the other joint owners (Avista Corporation, PacifiCorp, Portland General, and Puget Sound Energy) reviews the Colstrip Transmission operating plan items for the following calendar year. NorthWestern Energy presents the planned operating plan items to the Colstrip Transmission Committee and the committee members discuss the planned operating plan items and then approve a final operating plan for the next calendar year. Staff_PR_038C Confidential Attachment A is the O&M Expense 5-year operating plan estimates spreadsheet provided by NorthWestern Energy. The 2016 operating plan has not yet been finalized. The operating plan is usually finalized in the 4th quarter of the calendar year. In consultation with the other joint owners of the 500 kV Colstrip Transmission System, Avista agrees to the operation and maintenance plans for the following year by approving the final operating plan.

The requirements shares (ownership shares) for the two segments (Colstrip-Broadview and Broadview-Townsend) of the Colstrip Transmission System are defined in the Colstrip Project Transmission Agreement. Avista has no plans at this time to re-assess ownership rights with the other owners. Any change in requirements shares would require the Colstrip Project Transmission Agreement to be filed with FERC and could require a FERC 201 filing for change of assets.

Page 1 of 1