20180309Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDT'M
TO:COMN{ISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMNflISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMI\{ISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STATF
FROM:BRANDON I(ARPEN
DEPUTY ATTORNf,Y GENERAL
DATE: MARCH 7r20l8
IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT PETITION OF AVISTA
CORPORATION, IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES STAFtr', AND
COMMT'NITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP ASSOCHTION OF IDAIIO
(cAPAr) TO INCREASE LOW-TNCOME Fr.rNDrNG r,rNDER TARrrr
SCHEDULES 9r AND r9l; CASE NO. AV[J-E-I8-02
On February 20,z0l&,Avista Corporation, Commission Staff, and CAPAI ('the parties')
filed a joint petition requesting approval of a settlement that increases funding to low-income
programs.
BACKGROT'ND
On December 28, 20fi, the Commission approved a settlement of Avista's general rate
case. ,See Order No. 33953. One provision of the settlement was that "[tJhe Company and
interested parties will meet and confer to consider whether the Low Income Weatherization
Program and Energy Conservation Education Program funding should be increased from the
current Commission approved levels..." See Stipulation and Settlement at 15. After extensive
examination into how the low-income funding has been utilized, and confening with the parties,
an agreement to increase &e funding levels was reached.
THE SETTLEMENT
The parties report that after confening on the issue, a funding increase is appropriate.
Specifically, they agreed that $125,000 of additional funding for Avista's Low lncome
Weatherization Program, and $25,000 of additional funding for Avista's Conservation Education
Program in Idaho be approved. The Company reported that the increase in funding "has no effect
on the Company's approved revenue requirement,'and that "the funding will come dircctly out
of Avista's Energy Efficiency TariffRider Schedules 9l and l9l.
IDECISION MEMORANDUM
SI,IBJECT:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that this matter be processed by modified procedure. Staff further
recommends that the Commission set a 2l-day comment deadline for all parties.
COMMISSION DECISTON
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application, and set a 2l-day comment
deadline for all parties?
Attorney General
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2DECISION MEMORANDUM