20010821Order No 28823.pdf

Office of the SecretaryService DateAugust 21 , 200 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONIN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OFPOTLATCH CORPORATION FOR 0 RD ER DE TERMININ G THE TERMSAND CONDITIONS FOR POTLATCH'PURCHASE OF ELECTRICTY FROMAVIS T A UTILI TIE S.CASE NO. AVU-OI-ORDER NO. 28823On March 23 , 200 1 , Potlatch Corporation (Potlatch) filed a Petition with the IdahoPublic Utilities Commission (Commission) for an Order determining the terms and conditions ofelectric service from A vista Corporation dba A vista Utilities-Washington Water PowerDivision (Idaho) to Potlatch's Lewiston , Idaho facility. Pursuant to notice issued July 13 , 200 1a public hearing in Case No. A VU-OI-05 is scheduled for August 21 , 2001 , in LewistonIdaho.On August 17 , 200 1 , Potlatch and A vista filed a Joint Motion for an Order vacatingthe hearing scheduled for August 21 , 200 1. In support of this Motion , A vista and Potlatch state
as follows:
1. In testimony filed by Potlatch witness Dennis E. Peseau????, Potlatch stated that
it was requesting A vista "to provide Potlatch with 100 MW of energy and associated capacity at
Schedule 25 rates.
2. Since A vista filed its direct testimony in this case on June 18 , wholesale market
prices have decreased. This decrease in wholesale market prices has reduced the net cost to
A vista to serve the total load requirement at the Lewiston facility as proposed by Potlatch.
A vista s analysis , based on current conditions, shows that there would essentially be no increase
or decrease to A vista s other Idaho customers in 2002.
3. Subject to the approval of this Commission , Potlatch and Avista have agreed that
at the December 31 200 1 expiration of the existing agreement between Potlatch and A vista
A vista shall serve Potlatch as a needed load retail customer and shall provide the Potlatch-
Lewiston facility with finn electric service for its full electricity requirements up to 100 annual
average megawatts of energy and associated demand. A vista s firm electric service shall be
priced at Schedule 25 rates , as the same may be modified or amended from time- to- time by the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission. The parties intend to enter into a written contract that will
establish the tenns and conditions of service at the Schedule 25 rates.
ORDER NO. 28823
4. Avista s offer and Potlatch's acceptance at Schedule 25 rates is for settlementpurposes only, and nothing shall prejudice any party's right to propose , or the Commission toorder, in the next general rate case filed by A vista that Potlatch's service should be priced at ratesother than Schedule 25 rates.5. The parties hereby request that the Commission vacate its hearings in this casenow scheduled to commence on August 21 , 2001. The parties further request that theCommission not , however , dismiss this proceeding until the parties have advised theCommission that all issues raised by the parties in this proceeding have been resolved.6. A vista and Potlatch seek the requested relief on fewer than fourteen (14) daysnotice. Pursuant to Commission Rule of Procedure 256., the parties have notified arepresentative of each party by telephone.COMMISSION FINDINGSThe Commission has reviewed the filings of record in Case No. A VU - E-O 1-05 andthe Joint Motion of A vista and Potlatch to vacate the hearing scheduled for August 21 , 2001.The Commission finds that the parties have presented good cause to vacate the hearing.ORDIn consideration of the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and the Commission
does hereby vacate the hearing scheduled for August 21 (22),2001 , in Case No. A VU-OI-05.
ORDER NO. 28823
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise Idaho thisday of August 2001.PAUL KJELLAND ER, PRESIDENTMARSHA H. SMITH , COMMISSIONERDENNIS S. HANSEN , COMMISSIONERATTEST:
Jean D. Jewell
Commission Secretary
vld/O:A VU-OI-O5 sw5
ORDER NO. 28823