20031008Order No 29351.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
October 8, 2003
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE SUBMISSION OF
THE SCHEDULE 66 PCA STATUS REPORT
OF A VISTA CORPORATION AND
APPLICATION FOR CONTINUATION OF A
SCHEDULE 66 POWER COST
ADJUSTMENT (PCA) SURCHARGE ORDER NO. 29351
CASE NO. A VU-O3-
On August 11 , 2003, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities (Avista; Company) filed
a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) Schedule 66 Status Report with the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (Commission) and an Application requesting approved recovery of PCA balancing
account deferrals through June 30, 2003 ($27 843 108) and further continuation of a 19.4%
($23.6 million) PCA surcharge currently scheduled to expire on October 11 2003.
On August 27, 2003, the Commission issued a Notice of the Company s PCA filing
and scheduled dates in Lewiston (Sept. 08) and Coeur d' Alene (Sept. 09) for customers to
discuss Avista s PCA/energy issues with Commission Staff. The Commission in its Notice made
a preliminary determination as to the appropriateness of processing the Company s Application
under Modified Procedure, i., by written submission rather than by hearing, and established a
September 30, 2003, comment deadline.Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.Timely
comments were filed by Commission Staff and a few of the Company s customers. Staff
recommends a $5 849 100 adjustment (net fuel expense for losses on natural gas combustion
turbine (CT) fuel sold rather than burned) to the deferral balance, a continuation of the existing
19.4% surcharge and true-up in the Company s next PCA filing. Staff also proposes changes in
the Company s risk management policy. The Commission is informed that Avista intends to file
a written reply to Staff comments and to make a procedural recommendation regarding Staffs
proposed adjustment.
Because of time constraints and other demands on the Commission s time, the
Commission will be unable to fully consider the Company s Application in Case No. A VU-
03-06 prior to the scheduled expiration of the existing PCA surcharge (October 2003).
Recognizing that the existing 19.4% Schedule 66 PCA surcharge without Commission action
will expire October 2003, we find it administratively reasonable to continue the existing
ORDER NO. 29351
surcharge for 60 days or until such time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting,
rejecting or modifying the Application in Case No. A VU-03-6. Our continuation of the
existing surcharge is not to be construed as constituting approval of the referenced filing or of
any purposed surcharge provided for in the filed documents. Our continuation of the existing
surcharge is without prejudice to any findings or Orders which may hereafter be made by the
Commission in this proceeding.
ORDER
In consideration of the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and the Commission
does hereby authorize continuation of the existing 19.4% Schedule 66 Power Cost Adjustment
(PCA) surcharge for 60 days beyond the scheduled October 11 , 2003 expiration, or until such
time as the Commission may issue an Order accepting, rejecting or modifying the Application in
Case No. A VU-03-
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this
~fI'
day of October 2003.
01 aL1v. tJ
~ ~
MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER
jLz
DENNIS S. HANSEN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
#--tJ.
D. Jewel
Commission Secretary
vld/O:A VUE0306 sw
ORDER NO. 29351