20200714_mh1.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1

DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL

FROM: MATT HUNTER
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

DATE: JULY 10, 2020

SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA UTILITIES’ APPLICATION FOR AN
ORDER APPROVING A CHANGE IN NATURAL GAS RATES AND
CHARGES (PGA); CASE NO. AVU-G-20-04

On June 30, 2020, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities filed its annual Purchased
Gas Cost Adjustment (PGA) Application, asking to increase its annual revenues by about $0.4
million (0.7%). Application at 1.1 The Company says its proposal will increase rates for an
average residential or small commercial customer by $0.31 per month (0.6%). Id. at 4. The
Company states it will send a customer notice to each of its customers during the month of July .
Id. at 2. The Company has issued a press release to interested media outlets. Id. The Company
asks that its Application be processed by Modified Procedure, and that the new rates take effect
November 1, 2020. Id. at 5.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the case be processed through Modified Procedure, with
comments due by October 6, 2020 and reply comments due October 13, 2020. Additionally, Staff
recommends the Commission set an intervention deadline for persons who wish to intervene as a
party in this case. Staff recommends an August 7, 2020 intervention deadline.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to:

1 The PGA mechanism is used to adjust rates to reflect annual changes in the Company’s costs for the purchase of
natural gas from suppliers – including transportation, storage, and other related costs.
DECISION MEMORANDUM 2

1. Process this case through Modified Procedure, with comments due by October 6,
2020 and reply comments due October 13, 2020?
2. Require persons who wish to intervene in this case to file a Petition to Intervene by
August 7, 2020?

Matt Hunter
Deputy Attorney General

I:\Legal\GAS\AVU-G-20-04\Memos\AVUG2004_mh.docx