HomeMy WebLinkAbout20110912_3450.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: WELDON STUTZMAN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
SUBJECT: CASE NOS. AVU-E-11-02 AND AVU-G-11-03
AVISTA CORPORATION’S APPLICATION TO DECREASE ITS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RIDER SCHEDULES 91 AND 191
On June 13, 2011, Avista Corporation filed an Application requesting authorization to
decrease its Energy Efficiency Rider Schedule 91 (electric) and 191 (natural gas). The Company
proposed to decrease the revenue it collected under the electric Schedule 91 by 0.3% of billed
rates, or approximately $750,000. Revenue collected under the natural gas Schedule 191 would
decrease by $2.9 million, or 4.2% of billed retail rates. On June 28, 2011, the Commission
issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure to process Avista’s
Application. On July 14, 2011, Avista filed a Motion to extend the comment period for an
unspecified period of time, and on July 20, 2011, the Commission issued Order No. 32295
approving Avista’s Motion.
On August 26, 2011, Avista and Staff filed a Motion for Approval of Stipulation and
Settlement in the Company’s rate case. As part of the settlement, Avista agreed to withdraw its
request for a decrease in the electric Schedule 91, but the settlement anticipated that the
requested decrease in Schedule 191 for the gas rider would go into effect on October 1, 2011.
On August 30, 2011, Avista filed a Motion to Withdraw its Application regarding Schedule 91,
and requesting Commission approval of the decrease in Schedule 191 effective October 1, 2011.
Staff recommends the Commission issue an Order (1) allowing the Company to
withdraw its Application to decrease the electric Rider, and (2) establishing a comment period on
Avista’s request to make its proposed decrease in Schedule 191 effective October 1, 2011. Staff
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
recommends the Commission issue an Order establishing a comment period through September
22, 2011. This schedule would enable the Commission to accept written comments and render a
decision regarding Avista’s Motion prior to October 1, 2011.
COMMISSION DECISION
Should the Commission issue an Order (1) allowing the Company to withdraw its
Application to decrease the electric Rider and (2) establishing a comment period on Avista’s
request to make its proposed decrease in Schedule 191 effective October 1, 2011?
Weldon B. Stutzman
Deputy Attorney General
bls/M:AVU-E-11-02_AVU-G-11-03_ws2