20060301Annual ARE Report.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission PO Box3727
Spokane, Washington. 99220-3727
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
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February 28, 2006
Jean D. Jewell, Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Statehouse Mail
W. 472 Washington Street
Boise, Idaho 83720
RE:Avista s 2005 Annual Report on Optional Alternative Renewable Energy
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Pursuant to Order No. 28948 in Case No. A VU-01-, Avista Utilities provides this report on
the Company s alternative energy resources offered as options to customers in 2005 under
Schedule 95-0ptional Wind Power Rate. Avista Utilities' voluntary program , marketed as the
Buck-Block" program, for wind resources was initiated on February 1 , 2002.
A vista Utilities offers an alternative renewable energy rate in the form of a wind power option to
residential and commercial electric customers in both Washington and Idaho. The program offers
blocks of 300 kWh for $1.00 each, paid in addition to their regular rates. Customers may
purchase as many blocks as they would like. Customers subscribe on a monthly basis and can
cancel and re-subscribe at anytime by either phone, internet, or bill inserts. A vista Utilities
purchases the power and associated environmental benefits from PPM Energy and the Stateline
Energy Center, located along the Washington-Oregon border to supply the program. The
Company marketed the program through billing inserts, earned media, local public radio
selected fairs, and print media.
Two attachments are included. These show the rate of customer participation, the amount of
qualified alternative energy resources purchased by customers, and the amount of utility
investments in qualified alternative energy resources, plus other program information.
Please direct questions on this matter to me at [phone] or Chris Drake at [phone].
Sincerely,
Bruce Folsom
Manager, Regulatory Compliance
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Utility Green Power Program Questionnaire (2005 Data)
Instructions - Please fill out a different form for each green power program offered. Please enter data for calendar year 2005,
Confidentiality - Individual utility responses to this survey regarding customers, sales, and marketing information will be
held confidential. Data are used to prepare NREL's list of top ten utility green power programs and to provide aggregate
industry data to the u.s. DOE and the general public,
1. P
- --- ---- --- - ----- - ---- -- ----------
a. Utility Name Avista Utilities
b. Name of Green Power Program Buck-Block
c. Name of Respondent Chris Drake
d. Phone and e-mail of Respondent [phone] chris,drake0J.avistacorp,com
e, Year Program Launched 2002
f. States in which Program is Offered Washington and Idaho
g. Name of Third-party Marketer, if any N/a
h, Certifying Organization, if Certified Certified in 2002 by Renew 2000, Currently purchase Green-E tags from
PPM Energy for the program.
2. Participation. In the table below, please provide participation data as of December 31 , 2005. If data are
provided for a different time2eriod, please indicate.
a. Total number of residential green power participants 294
b, Total number of non-residential green power participants
c, Number of new residential green power participants in 2005 (do not subtract dropouts)757
d, Number of new non-residential green power participants in 2005 (do not subtract dropouts)
e, Total number of residential customers (or members) eligible to participate 290 000
f. Total number of non-residential customers (or members) eligible to participate 000
g. Is the program currently open to new customers? Yes/No Yes
h, Number of customers on waiting list N/a
i, Number of participants who have dropped out of the program this year 402
j, Minimum period oftime residential customers must participate (e.g" 1 year)1 month
k. Minimum period oftime non-residential customers must participate (e,, 2 years)1 month
3. Programs Offered Through Distribution Utilities. For programs that are offered through multiple
distribution cooperatives or municipal utilities, please list the number of distribution utilities that offer the
program and utilities that have achieved participation rates of 4% or higher. Please add more space, if necessary.
Number of Distribution Utilities That Offer Proe:ram Utilities with :::-4% Participation Participation Rate
N/a
P' , d'fth d of 2005
------...--
Sector Price Are Participants Exempt Change in Block Size, if Minimum
Premium from Fuel Charge? Y/N If Premium in applicable Purchase
(~/kWh)yes, what was fuel charge in 2005? Y/N*(kWh)(e.g. 25% or
Dec 2005? (~/kWh)kWh)
a, Residential 3 it/kWh 300 1 block for $1
b. Non-Residential 3 It/kWh 300 1 block for $1
*If there was a change in the price premium during 2005 or if you anticipate a price premium change in 2006, please
explain,
5. Renewable Energy Sales for 2005. In the table below, please indicate the total annual sales of green power
to customers during 2005. If sales are reported for a different period other than January through December 2005
Qlease indicate.
Green power sales for 2005 TOTAL 2005 Sales (kWh)
a. Green power sales to residential customers 436 200
b. Green power sales to non-residential customers 414 100
Please email or fax this questionnaire by Tuesday, January 31 2006 to: Lori Bird lori bird0J.nrel.gov, Fax [phone],
If you have any questions, please call Lori Bird at [phone],
c. Total retail electricity sales to eligible residential customers 3 409 325 562
d, Total retail electricity sales to eligible non-residential customers 5 105 640 219
6. Renewable Energy Mandates. Does your utility count the green power sold to customers through your
green pricing program toward compliance with a state-imposed renewable portfolio standard? Yes / No
7. Sales by Renewable Resource. In the table below, list the percentage of sales supplied by each of the
following renewable resources in 2005. Also, please indicate the percentage of sales supplied by new renewable
energy sources, if different.
Resource Percent of Sales Supplied Percent of Sales Supplied
by Resource Type by New* Resources
Biomass: Landfill Gas
Biomass: Biogas
Biomass: Wood or Other
Geothennal
Hydroelectric
Solar
Wind 100 %100 %
**New resources defined as those in service or repowered after January 1 1997,
8. Renewable Energy Supplies. Of the renewable energy used to supply your program, what percentage came
from the following?
Renewable projects owned or partially-owned by your utility
Renewable energy purchases from other suppliers/producers
Renewable energy produced by utility customers (e.g. PV)
Renewable certificate purchases 100%
Total 100 %
9. Renewable Energy Projects Supplying Program. In the table below, please indicate the type and
amount of renewable resources used to supply participants in your green pricing program during 2005.
Name(s) of Renewable Resource Nameplate Year 2005 Energy or REC
Energy Project Used to Type (e,Capacity Installed (kW)Installed Purchases (kWh/yr)
Supply Program Wind, PV)
10. Planned Renewable Energy Supplies. In the table below, please indicate any planned renewable energy
projects that will be used to supply participants in your green pricing program.
Name(s) of Planned Renewable Energy Resource Type Nameplate Capacity Year
Projects to Supply Program in Future (e,,. Wind, PV)Planned (kW)Planned
11. Program Research. Have you performed (in 2005 or earlier) market research to aid in the design of your
green power program or have you performed a program evaluation?
Research Category Did you Perfonn?In what year(s) was Type of Research or Evaluation Perfonned
Y/N research perfonned?
a, Market Research 200 I-ongoing Subscription to 3"1 party research services
b. Program Evaluation
Please email or fax this questionnaire by Tuesday, January 31, 2006 to: Lori Bird lori bird(a),nre1.gov, Fax [phone].
If you have any questions, please call Lori Bird at [phone].
12. Customer Enrollment. In which ways can customers sign up for your program? (check all that apply)Al ff, h d f 1 . h 5 b' the most effective., p ease rate tee ectlveness 0 eac met 0 on a sca e 0 to , WIt emg
Check Effectiveness Rating
(x)(1-5 scale, 5 =most effective)
Utility Web site
By returning a mail-in cardlbangtail
Checking a box on their electric bill
Sign up at special events
By phone through the utility call center
Other? (specify) C&I Account Execs
13: Value-Added Products. What other value-added products or services do you provide to customers that
enroll in your green power program? (check all that apply)
Compact fluorescents or efficiency products Decals for display in store windows
Recognition of business customers in program ads or local media Education programs/school installations
Discounts or promotions at local businesses Plaques, certificates or other recognition
Newsletters that provide program updates Protection from fuel cost increases
Tours to renewable energy project sites Exemption from environmental fees
Welcome Kit/Thank you letter Other (List):
14. Marketing and Administration Spending. Please indicate below how much you spend annually ond d (h k opriate boxes below)mar etmg an a IlliillstratlOn 0 your green power program, c ec t e appr
Marketing Costs Administrative Costs
(excluding staff time)(including staff time)
Less than $10 000
$10 000-$49 999
$50 000-$99 999
$100 000-$249 999
$250 000-$499 999
$500 000 -$749 999
$750 000-$999 999
000 000 or more
15. Distribution of Costs.
What percentage of your green power premium was attributable to marketing and administrative costs in 2005?I 27.5 %
Are all program costs borne by program participants? Circle one.I Y /N
If no, please explain
On average, how much did you spend in 2005 to sign up each residential customer ($/customer)?1-$20
16. Marketing Strategies. In the table below, please indicate which marketing strategies you used for your
green power program in 2005. (check all that apply) Also, please rate the cost-effectiveness of those strategies
utilized based on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most cost-effective.
Check (x)Rating (1-Check (x)Rating (1-
Bill inserts Publicity/feature stories (non-paid)
Television Events/Presenting to groups
Telemarketing Community challenges
Direct mail Partner with environmental orgs.
Radio Retail partners (co-branding)
Billboards Web-based marketing
Utility newsletter Direct sales to commercial accts.
Bangtails Door-to-door residential
Newspaper/other print ads Kiosks
Other (please list):
Please email or fax this questionnaire by Tuesday, January 31 2006 to: Lori Bird lori bird(iV,nre1.gov, Fax [phone],
If you have any questions, please call Lori Bird at [phone].