20181214notice_of_application_order_no_34210.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
December 14,2018
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )(OE NR WU-E-18-12
OF AVISTA FOR A DETERMINATION OF )2016-2017 ELECTRIC ENERGY )NOTICE OF APPLICATION
EFFICIENCY EXPENSES AS PRUDENTLY )INCURRED )NOTICE OF INTERVENTION
)DEADLINE
)ORDER NO.34210
On November 16,2018,Avista Corporation ("Avista"or "Company")filed an
Application requesting the Commission to determine that the Company prudently incurred
$22,719,204 in electric energy efficiency expenses in 2016 and 2017.The Application provides
an overview of the Company's energy efficiency activities and their cost-effectiveness.The
Application includes 2016 and 2017 Idaho Annual Conservation Reports,a 2018 Idaho Research
and Development Report,and an Impact Evaluation of the Company's 2016-2017 Electric Energy
EfficiencyPrograms prepared by a third party.
Generally,a utility incurs energy efficiency or demand side management ("DSM")
expenses by developing and operating programs designed to reduce or shift customers'energy
consumption and improve their efficient use of energy.The Commission will allow the utility an
opportunity to recover its energy efficiency and DSM expenses through rates if the Commission
finds that the expenses were prudentlyincurred.However,if the Commission finds any of the
expenses were not prudentlyincurred,it will not allow the utilityto recover those expenses through
rates,and the disallowed expenses will be borne by the utility's shareholders and not by customers.
With this Order,the Commission provides notice of the Application,and sets deadlines
for interested persons to intervene as parties to the case.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that Avista is a public utilitythat produces,transmits,
and distributes electricityto customers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.The Company
also distributes natural gas in northern Idaho and parts of
Montana,Washington,and Oregon.This Application only pertains to the prudency of the
Company's energy efficiency expenses while providing electrical service.The prudency of the
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34210 1
Company's energy efficiency expenses while providing gas service is addressed in a «
docket,Case No.AVU-G-18-08.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company states that it spent $22,719,204 on
energy efficiencymeasures from January 1,2016 to December 31,2017.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company reports that 74%,or $16,835,716
of its expenditureswere paid to customers in direct incentives.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company reports that its energy efficiency
programs saved 38,149 MWh in 2016 and 42,223 MWh in 2017,which exceeded the 23,399 MWh
goal for the two year time period by 359%.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company hired a third party to evaluate
and verify the demand savings attributable to the Company's energy efficiency portfolio and
submitted the third party's report to the Commission with its Application.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting documentation
have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular
business hours at the Commission offices.These documents are also available on the
Commission's web site at .Click on the "Open Cases"link under the heading
"Electric"and click on the case number as shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted
pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.000et seq.
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.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who wish to intervene in this matter to
obtain the rights of party (e.g.,to file formal discovery,or present evidence or cross-examine
witnesses at a hearing)must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission under the
Commission's Rules of Procedure 72 and 73,IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and .073.Persons who wish
to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than January 2,2019.Such
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34210 2
persons shall also provide the Commission Secretary with their electronic mail address to facilitate
further communications.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who would like to present their views
e thout parties'rights of participation and cross-examination are not required to intervenebut may
present their views by submitting written comments to the Commission.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice
of Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed.The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties is issued,
Commission Staff will informally confer with the parties to discuss a schedule to process this case
and other issues as raised by the parties.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case for the
purpose of obtaining parties'rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the
Commission,pursuant to Rules 72 and 73,IDAPA 31.01.72-.73,no later than January 2,2019.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that,after the Secretary issues a Notice of Parties,Staff
will informally confer with the parties to discuss the appropriate scheduling of this case.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENT U )E i i
ORDER NO.34210
DONE by Order of Ha i i h Pun i no m at Boise,Idaho this
of December,2018.
PAUL KJELLAND R,DENT
KRIS'ÍlNERAPER,COMMISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
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ORDER NO.34210