20180126Avista to Staff ICNU_DR_043.DOCX

AVISTA CORP.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONJURISDICTION:WashingtonDATE PREPARED:10/31/2017CASE NO.:U-170970WITNESS:Mark T. ThiesREQUESTER:ICNURESPONDER:Jennifer S. SmithTYPE:Data RequestDEPT:State & Federal RegulationREQUEST NO.:ICNU – 043(AVA)TELEPHONE:[phone]EMAIL:[e-mail]:
Refer to Thies, Exh. MTT-1T at 27:2-3:
a. Why does this commitment not include Hydro One?
b. Does Hydro One not pledge to ensure Avista’s pension fund will be adequately funded in accordance with sound actuarial practice? RESPONSE:Commitment No. 37 states: “Pension Funding: Avista will maintain its pension funding policy in accordance with sound actuarial practice.” This commitment does not include Hydro One because Avista will continue as the operating utility and in this regard will continue to conduct business as usual. That fact that Hydro One is not named in the commitment simply means that it is Avista’s obligation, as the operating utility, to ensure the Company maintains its pension funding policy in accordance with sound actuarial practice.