20171208Answer.pdf

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Avista Corp.
141 1 East Mission P .O. Box 3727
Spokane. Washington 99220-0500
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
December 8,2017
Diane Hanian, Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Statehouse Mail
W. 472 Washington Street
Boise,Idaho 83720
RE: Avista Utilities Answer - AVU-E-17-11
Dear Ms. Hanian:
Enclosed for filing with the Commission is an original and 7 copies of Avista Corporation's dba
Avista Utilities ("Avista or the Company") answer to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission's
("Commission") Summons dated November 17 ,2017, regarding the "Formal Complaint of Mary
Baenen (Ms. Baenen) Against Avista Utilities."
Please direct any questions regarding this Answer to me at 509-495-4975.
Sincerely,
M. Gervais
Senior Manager, Regulatory Policy
Avista Utilities
509-495-4975
I inda. gervais@avistacorp. com
Enclosure
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David Meyer
Vice President, Chief Counsel,
Regulatory and Govemmental Affairs
Avista Corporation
1411 East Mission Ave.
Spokane, WA99202
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BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Mary Baenen
Complainant,
CASE NO. AVU-E-I7-I1
AVISTA UTILITIES,
ANSWER OF AVISTA
CORPORATION
Respondent.
Avista Corporation ("Avista" or 'oCompany") hereby submits its answer to the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission's ("Commission") Summons dated November 17,2017, regarding
the "Formal Complaint of Mary Baenen (Ms. Baenen) Against Avista Utilities."
The Company appreciates the opportunity to respond to the complaint filed by the Ms.
Baenen.
I. INTRODUCTION
Ms. Baenen, in her petition to the Commission dated October 6, 2017, complains
generally about the health effects after a smart meter is installed, concems over reports of smart
meters causing fires, as well as emitting RF-ERM (Radio Frequency-Electromagnetic Radiation),
which she states is "rated by WHO (World Health Organization) as a Class 28 carcinogen." Ms.
Baenen's complaint goes on to state that she has:
AVISTA CORPORATION ANSWER IN AVU-E-I7-II
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Asked Scott L. Morris, the CEO of Avista, to replace the digital RF-EMR
emitting meter on my home with a non-EMR emiuing analog meter. He refuses to
do so. As per Idaho Code 6l-302, Avista shall provide me with equipment that
shall promote safety, health, comfort and convenience.
II. ANSWER OF COMPANY
First and foremost, Avista is committed to providing safe and reliable electric and natural
gas service for our customers and a safe work environment for our employees. As an investor-
owned utility, Avista is regulated by state utility commissions in Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
The utility commissions require us to maintain and, when necessary, replace equipment,
including meters, used to provide service to our customers.
A "smart meter" is a term that typically refers to electronic meters that have a two-way
communication function between the utility company and the customer. Ms. Baenen has been
concerned about the potential health effects from exposure to radiofrequency (RF) emitted from
Smart Meters.
The electric meter at Ms. Baenen's address is a digital meter equipped with a low power
radio transmitter, which transmits the meter readings to Avista's meter readers or fixed
equipment mounted in the field. The radio transmitter communicates this data every fifteen
minutes in very short increments of less than a second, totaling less than a minute each day. This
process is similar to the new generation of meters that are now being called "smart meters." The
difference is that the new smart meters have two-way communication capability versus the older
generation of radio transmitters which only have one-way communication capability such as the
one on Ms. Baenen's premise.
Electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy
moving together through space at the speed of light. Radio waves and microwaves, emitted by
transmitting antennas, are one form of electromagnetic radiation and are collectively referred to
AVISTA CORPORATION ANSWER IN AVU.E.I7.I I
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as "radiofrequency" or "RF" energy or radiation. Radio frequency can be from natural sources
(e.g. the sun) or from man-made sources (e.g. radios). The most important use for RF energy is
in providing telecommunications services. Smart meters, cell phones, wireless routers,
computers, and radio and television broadcasting are just a few of the many telecommunications
applications of RF energy.r
The low power radio frequency signals emitting from Ms. Baenen's meter are similar to
those used by cordless telephones or other electronic devices common in homes today, including
cell phones, baby monitors and wireless routers as noted above. However, the radio frequency
power level of the meter transmitter, and the new generation of smart meters, which are placed
outside the home, is significantly lower than those associated with many of those household
items listed above.
In 2010, the California Council on Science and Technology (CCSTF performed an
"independent, science-based study that would help policy makers and the general public resolve
the debate over whether smart meters present a significant risk of adverse health effects" titled
"Health Impacts of Radio Frequency Exposure from Smart Meters." They identified and
reviewed over 100 publications and postings about smart meters and other devices in the same
range of emissions, including research related to cell phone RF emissions. In addition, they
contacted over two dozen experts in radio and electromagnetic emissions and related fields and
asked for their opinions. They concluded that:
1. The FCC standard provides an adequate factor of safety against known RF induced
health impacts of smart meters and other electronic devices in the same range of RF
emissions.
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I Some common household items use RF and are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The
FCC is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates interstate communications by radio,
television, wire, satellite, and cable in the US.
2 the CCST is an independent non-profit organization established in the state of California to provide expert advice
on science and technology issues with no funding from the utility industry.
AVISTA CORPORATION ANSWER IN AVU-E-I7-I I
2. At this time, there is no clear evidence that additional standards are needed to protect
the public from smart meters or other common household electronic devices (CCST
2010).
The full text of the report and the conclusions can be found on the CCST website at
www.ccst.us.
III. CONCLUSION
Avista remains committed to providing safe and reliable electric and natural gas service
for our customers and a safe work environment for our employees. Avista also is committed to
protecting our customers' privacy and any personally identiffing information we collect through
the metering process. We have stringent procedures in place for the use and protection of
customers' personal information. You can read our complete customer privacy policy at
www. avistautilities. com/pages/privasy.
As a result, the Company respectfully requests that the Commission deem Avista's
response to this dispute to be sufficient and otherwise dismiss this complaint.
Respectfully submitted this 8th day of December 2017
AVISTA CORPORATIONtr/@
Vice President, Chief Counsel, Regulatory
and Government Affairs
AVISTA CORPORATION ANSWER TN AVU-E-I7-II
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