20200701ICL Comments.pdf

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CONSERVAT ION
LEAGUE
RE
Jnly 1,2020
Paul Kjellander, President
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
Second Request for a Public Hearing on Avista's 2020 Electric Integrated Resource
Plan, Case No. AVU-E-19-01
President Kjellander and Commissioners of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission:
The Idaho Conservation League (ICL) respectfully requests the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (IPUC) order a virtual public hearing be held on the matter of Avista's 2020
Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
On May 13,2020, the IPUC issued a notice of modified procedure in Order Number
34666, directing persons desiring a hearing to specifically request a hearing in written comments.
Prior to the IPUC's issuance of Order Number 34666, the tdaho Conservation League, Idaho
Forest Group, the City of Sandpoint, and several small business owners in Sandpoint had already
submitted written comments specifically requesting that a public hearing be held on this matter,
all of which contained statements of reasons supporting the request for a hearing, including that:
Local governments and their communities are interested in directly communicating their
interests and vision for how Avista approaches the rapidly changing electric utility
landscape;
Businesses are aware of the dramatic changes underway in the electric utility industry
and want to ensure steady electric rates and reduced financial risk;
Avista electric customers in rural North ldaho communities want an opportunity to
communicate directly with the IPUC and Avista in the same way that electric customers
in Boise and Spokane more often have the opportunity to do;
Newcomers to North Idaho and Avista's electric service are interested to communicate
directly with the company that provides their only source of electricity and want to
convey why they feel strongly about where that electricity comes from; and
a
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a
Idaho ('onsen,ation League
Request for Public Hearing re Case No. AVU-E-19-01
a An increasing number of Avista customers in Idaho continue to participate in the IRP
process via public hearing opporhrnities.
Based on these reasons the IPUC should hold a public hearing on Avista's [RP, but
because the State of Idaho continues to face challenges related to COVID-I9, ICL requests the
IPUC hold a virtual (i.e. live-streamed on Zoom or Webex) public hearing rather than an in-
person public hearing. Not only would a virtual public hearing reduce the public's potential
exposrue to COVID-I9, it would allow Avista customers from across the Idaho Panhandle to
participate in the public process instead of limiting the hearing to one particular community.
Facilitating a virtual public hearing takes time to coordinate and organize, which is why
ICL is also requesting the IPUC issue an order, at its earliest convenience, directing the IPUC
Staffto begin the process of coordinating it. According to the IPUC Order No. 34666, Avista's
reply comment deadline in this case is September 2,2020.If the IPUC grants a virtual public
hearing on this matter, presumably Avista would like an opportunity to reply to any comments
made during that hearing. This means a virtual public hearing would need to be set for a date
before September 2,2020 but late enough that the date provides the public sufficient advance
notice. ICL recommends the virtual public hearing be set in August, mid-week, and after 5 PM
Pacific Time.r
To summarize,lCL respectfully requests the IPUC order a virtual public hearing be held
on the matter of Avista's 2020 Electric IRP. Given the narrowing time window, ICL furttrer
requests that the IPUC order its Staffat the IPUC's earliest convenience to begin the process of
coordinating a date and time to hold this virtual public hearing in August, mid-week, and after 5
PM Pacific Time.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
MattNykiel
Conservation Associate
Diane Hanian, Commission Secretary, Idaho Public Utilities Commtssron
Ed Jewell, Deputy Attorney General, Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Shawn Bonfield, Sr. Manager, Regulatory Policy and Strategy, Avista
David J. Meyer, Vice President and Chief Counsel for Regulatory and Governmental
Affairs, Avista
r ICL appreciates that the IPUC Staffare facilitating a virtual public workshop on July 9 for Avista's customers to
learn more about the IRP, but we were disappointed to see the Staffset the virtual workshop for 3 PM Pacific Time.
To actually enable robust public participation, it is critical that public workshops and hearings in North Idaho be set
after 5 PM Pacific Time, when the majority of Avista customen are finished with work.
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