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Home My WebLink About20150407notice_of_application_order_no_33270.pdfOffice of the Secretary Service Date April 7,2015 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA )CASE NO.AVU-E-15-03 CORPORATION’S APPLICATION TO ) UPDATE ITS ELECTRIC LINE EXTENSION )NOTICE OF APPLICATION SCHEDULE 51 ) )NOTICE OF )MODIFIED PROCEDURE ) ______________________________ )ORDER NO.33270 On March 31,2015,Avista Corporation filed a tariff advice that sought to make several revisions to the Company’s Electric Line Extension Tariff Schedule 51,Tariff Schedule 51 generally sets out the charges for extending electric service to certain new customers,or for relocating electric facilities for existing customers.The Company proposes that the changes to its schedule become effective on May 18,2015. Although the Company initially submitted its filing as a tariff advice,the Company and Commission Staff later agreed that the filing —which proposes to remove large “Three Phase”industrial and commercial customers from Schedule 51,among other revisions —should be processed as an application to afford interested persons an opportunity to file written comments under the Commission’s Rules of Modified Procedure.See Rules 134 and 201-204, IDAPA 3 1.01.01.134,.201-.204. With this Order,we provide notice of the Application and set a 21-day period for interested persons to submit written comments. NOTICE OF APPLICATION YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company proposes several revisions to its Electric Line Extension Schedule 51 regarding the proposed charges and the scope of the Schedule.The Company proposes to revise line extension costs based on updates to the Company’s Construction &Material Standards,as well as actual average costs of all material and labor used in line extensions during 2014. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company says it implemented a new work and asset management application —“Maximo”—on February 7,2015.The Company uses this application to create work orders for service and emergency calls,and construction jobs for customers and Company operations.It compares job estimates to actual job costs,and provides NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.33270 1 data that enables the Company to set Schedule 51 costs that more precisely reflect actual costs. Advice Letter at 2. YOU ARE FURTIIER NOTIFIED that the Company says its residential development costs.updated for the most current Construction &Material Standards and average 2014 construction costs,are as follows: Residential Developments Present Proposed Total Cost per Lot $1,596 $1,705 Less:service Cost $485 $417 Developer Responsibility $Liii $i,288 Developer Refundable Payment $1,111 $1,288 Builder Payment $46 $155 Allowance $1,550 $1,550 Advice Letter at 2. YOU ARE FURTFIER NOTIFIED that on Third Revision Sheet 51C,the Company proposes to remove language related to the calculation of the exceptional costs for overhead extensions longer than 1,500 feet.With this change,any exceptional costs estimated for a specific project would be assigned fully to that project.Id.at 2. YOU ARE FURTHER OTIFIED that on the First Revision Sheet 5 liv],the Company proposes to remove costs related to Three-Phase electric service.The Company believes that Three-Phase service for large industrial and commercial customers “does not lend itself to be charged out on an average basis”because such projects “are not as homogenous as single-phase,residential type jobs.”According to the Company,estimating Three-Phase service costs “on a site specific basis is a more reasonable and fair approach for those customers.”Id. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the tariff advice has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission offices.The tariff advice documents are also available on the Commission’s web site at xv.puc.idaho.gov.Click on “File Room,”scroll down to “Open Electric Cases,”and then click on the case number as shown on the front of this document. NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.33270 2 NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter and will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Idaho Public Utilities Commissions Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through .204. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that any person desiring to state a position on this Application/tariff advice may file a written comment in support or opposition with the Commission within twenty-one (21)days from the date of this Notice,or no later than April 28, 2015.The comment must contain a statement of reasons supporting the comment.Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.Written comments concerning this case shall be mailed to the Commission and the Applicant at the addresses reflected below: Commission Secretary David Meyer Idaho Public Utilities Commission Avista Corporation P0 Box 83720 1411 East Mission Boise,ID 83720-0074 P0 Box 3727 Spokane,WA 99220-0500 Street Address for Express Mail:E-Mail: 472 W.Washington Street Patrick Ehrbar Boise,ID 83702-5918 Joe Miller Avista Corporation 1411 East Mission P0 Box 3727 Spokane,WA 99220-0500 E-mail:patrick.ehrbar@avistacorp.com i1ler@avistacor.com These comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.Persons desiring to submit comments via e-mail may do so by accessing the Commission’s home page located at www,puc.idaho.gov.Click the “Case Comment or Question Form”under the “Consumers”tab,and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of this document.These comments must also be sent to the Company at the e-mail addresses listed above. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company shall file reply comments,if necessary,no later than May 4,2015. NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.33270 3 YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the time limit set,the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its Order without a formal hearing.If written comments are received within the time limit set,the Commission will consider them and,in its discretion,may set the same for formal hearing. 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 specifically Idaho Code §61-502 and 61-503.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 Commissions Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Avista’s tariff advice to update Electric Line Extension Tariff Schedule 51 be processed under Modified Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.201 - .204.Persons interested in submitting written comments in this matter must do so no later than April 28,2015.Avista shall file reply comments (if necessary)no later than May 4,2015. NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.33270 4 DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise.Idaho this day of April 2015. PAUL KJELLANDER,PRESIDENT MACK A.REDFORDO1MISS1ONER 42 PER,C OM IS S IONER ATTEST: Jn D.JewelLj Ommission Secretary O:AVU-E-I 5-O3djh NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO.33270 5