20181121press release.pdf

Case No. AVU-E-17-09 and AVU-G-17-05
Contact: Matt Evans
Office: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Idaho regulators to hold technical hearing on
Nov. 26 in Avista-Hydro One merger case
BOISE (Nov. 21, 2018) – State regulators will hold a technical hearing on Monday
regarding Avista Corporation’s proposed merger with Hydro One Limited.
The hearing before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission starts at 9:30 am MST in the
hearing room at 472 W. Washington St. in Boise. The proceeding is open to the public but
seating is limited.
Live audio of the hearing will be provided online or via phone. Please go here for
information: http://www.puc.idaho.gov/conference.html.
A technical hearing provides an opportunity for intervening parties to the case to present
testimony and cross-examine witnesses as the Commission considers the proposed $5.3
billion merger. The technical hearing is not an opportunity to take public testimony or
comment.
Public testimony was taken at three public hearings held in northern Idaho in mid-June,
and more than 600 written comments have been submitted in the case. The vast majority
of public comments oppose the merger.
The technical hearing had initially been set for July 23 but was postponed after Hydro One’s
chief executive officer retired and its board of directors resigned under political pressure
from the newly elected premier of the Province of Ontario, the largest shareholder of Hydro
One with a 47-percent stake.
The Commission rescheduled the technical hearing in August, after a new board and
interim CEO were appointed.
The Idaho Commission is one of several regulatory entities that must approve the
transaction.
The application submitted by the two companies for Commission approval in fall 2017 calls
for Avista to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro One, the largest electric utility in
Ontario with more than 1.3 million customers.
Avista provides electric service to approximately 378,000 customers and natural gas
service to approximately 342,000 customers. About 130,000 electric customers are in
Idaho, along with approximately 82,000 natural gas customers.
Under the terms of the proposal, Avista would maintain its name and existing corporate
headquarters in Spokane. Existing staffing levels and community involvement would also
be unchanged.
Several parties to the case entered into a proposed settlement agreement in April that
contain provisions intended to shield Avista and its customers from financial risk. Among
the 73 commitments outlined in the proposed settlement are nearly $16 million in rate
credits for Idaho customers over five years and more than $5 million to fund energy
efficiency, weatherization, conservation and low-income assistance programs over a 10-
year period.
A revised list of provisions was submitted on Nov. 16 that are intended to “address the
impact of the management changes and the potential for Provincial involvement in the
affairs of Hydro One and Avista.”
Seven parties have intervened in the case: Avista Customer Group, Community Action
Partnership Association of Idaho, Clearwater Paper Corporation, Idaho Conservation
League, Idaho Forest Group, Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Washington
and North Idaho District Council of Laborers.
There is no timeline for the Commission to issue a decision in the case.
All documents related to the case, including public comments, the company’s application
and all testimony filed, can be found at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on “Open Cases” under
the Electric heading and scroll down to Case No. AVU-E-17-09. Or go here.