20180718Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:BRANDON KARPEN
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: JULY 10,2018
On February 23,2018, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities filed an Application
requesting that the Commission approve changes to the Company's depreciation rates for electric
and natural gas property. Avista serves customers in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The
Company seeks an effective date for the proposed changes to its depreciation rates of January l,
2019. Avista last changed its Idaho book depreciation rates in Idaho in January and April 2013.
Order No. 32769.
The Commission subsequently issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Intervention Deadline. Order No. 34014. Clearwater Paper, Idaho Conservation League (lCL),
Idaho Forest Group, and the Sierra Club intervened as parties. After conferring with the parties,
Staff now recommends that the Commission process the case by modified procedure, and
proposes the following schedule:
Settlement Conferences August 29,2018
September 25,2018 (if necessary)
October 16,2018 (if necessary)
November 15,2018
November 29,2018Reply Deadline
Comment Deadline
IDECISION MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: AVISTA,S APPLICATION FOR A CHANGE IN ITS ELECTRIC AND
NATURAL GAS DEPRECIATION RATES;
CASE NOS. AVU-E-18-03 AND AVU-G-I8.02
The parties believe that modified procedure is the appropriate method of processing the case, and
that the proposed schedule will enable the Commission to issue its final Order by December 28,
2018, and before the first proposed effective date of January I ,2019.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Commission issue an Order that approves the use of
modified procedure and adopts the above schedule.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue an Order that the case be processed by modified
procedure, and adopts the agreed-upon schedule as described above?
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2DECISION MEMORANDUM