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Home My WebLink About28662.mod.docBEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF AVISTA CORPORATION DBA AVISTA UTILITIES, FOR AN ORDER APPROVING AN ELECTRIC ENERGY BUY-BACK PROGRAM FOR PUMPING SCHEDULES 31 AND 32 CUSTOMERS ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. AVU-E-01-4 NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 28662 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on February 28, 2001, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities (“Avista”) filed an Application requesting Commission approval of its Tariff 70-R. This Tariff would provide Avista’s irrigation customers, who take service under Schedules 31 and 32, the option to sell power back to Avista by reducing their electric consumption. Avista requests expedited processing of its Application and seeks a Commission Order making the Program effective from March 15, 2001. Avista states that the market price of electricity is expected to remain high for the 2001 irrigation season because of low snowpack and projected low streamflows. Under these conditions the Company believes this Program has the potential to reduce its power supply expense during this period of time. Avista will make this Program available to irrigation customers who have historically used at least 100,000 kWh while taking service from Schedules 31 and 32. Avista estimates that it has thirty (30) customers that meet the minimum eligibility requirements for participation in this Program and who consumed approximately 22,000 megawatt hours from May to September 2000. Avista states that it will notify these customers by phone and mail to describe how this Program will operate. To participate, eligible irrigators must agree to reduce their energy consumption by a minimum of 100,000 kWh from May to September 2001. Avista states that those customers who wish to participate must notify the Company prior to April 15, 2001. Avista states that it will pay participants who reduce energy usage by more than 100,000 kWh ten (10¢) cents for each kWh saved. Avista proposes to record payments to customers as a power supply expense in Account 555, as these payments will be made in lieu of purchasing power on the wholesale market. The Commission Staff recognizing the time sensitive nature of Avista’s Application recommended that it be processed in an expedited manner because irrigators must make decisions regarding the 2001 growing season in the coming weeks. Staff also recommended the use of Modified Procedure and suspension of the proposed effective date beyond March 15, 2001 to allow a shortened period of time for interested persons and parties to comment. The Commission finds these recommendations appropriate for the processing of this Application. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application together with supporting workpapers and exhibits, have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held pursuant to the Commission's jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code and that the Commission may enter any final Order consistent with its authority under Title 61. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filings of record in Case No. AVU-E-01-4. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented and that the issues raised by the Application may be processed under Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission may not hold a hearing in this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.203. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within ten (10) days from the date of this Notice. The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the deadline, the Commission will consider the matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and in its discretion may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning Case No. AVU-E-01-4 should be mailed to the Commission and the Company at the addresses reflected below: COMMISSION SECRETARY THOMAS D. DUKICH IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION DIRECTOR RATES AND REGULATION PO BOX 83720 AVISTA CORPORATION BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074 1411 E. MISSION AVE. PO BOX 3727 Street Address for Express Mail: SPOKANE, WA 99220-3727 472 W WASHINGTON ST DAVID J. MEYER BOISE, IDAHO 83702-5983 SR. VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL AVISTA CORPORATION 1411 E. MISSION AVE. PO BOX 3727 SPOKANE, WA 99220-3727 All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application in Case No. AVU-E-01-4 can be reviewed at the Commission’s office and Avista’s offices during regular business hours. O R D E R IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and the Commission does hereby suspend the proposed effective date for the proposed Program in Case No. AVU-E-01-4 from March 15, 2001 to March 30, 2001. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the time sensitive nature of Avista’s Buy-Back Program dictates that its Application be processed in an expedited manner. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this case shall be processed by Modified Procedure in accordance with the Commission Rules of Procedure. See, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any person desiring to state a position on Avista’s Application may file a written comment in support of or in opposition to the Company’s request. These comments must be filed within ten (10) days of the filing of this Notice. The written comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this day of March 2001. DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER ATTEST: Jean D. Jewell Commission Secretary O:avue0104_jh NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 28662 -1- Office of the Secretary Service Date March 7, 2001