20190215Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:EDWARD JEWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: FEBRUARY 14,2019
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA,S PETITION FOR AN EXTENSION TO
FILE ITS 2OI9 ELECTRIC INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN; CASE NO.
AVU-E-19-01
On January 30, 2019, Avista Corporation ("Company") filed a Petition seeking an
extension of the August 31,2019, filing date for the Company's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan
("lRP").
THE PETITION
The Company requests a six month extension of its August 31,2019, IRP filing
deadline. Petition at 2. The Company states that there are numerous potentially significant
legislative proposals in Washington, Montana, and Oregon that if passed, would have significant
impact on the regional electric market. Id. al 3. The Company points to proposed legislation in
Washington, particularly S.B. 5ll6 among others, which u,'ould require an elimination of coal
generation sources serving Washington customers by 2025, 80%o carbon-free energy serving
Washington customers by 2030, and 100% carbon-free energy serving Washington customers by
2045. Id. at 3-4. The Company states that Oregon is considering a cap and trade bill that the
Company believes may impact its Coyote Springs 2 generating facility. Id. at 4. Meanwhile,
Montana House Bill 203 would allow Montana to issue half a billion dollars of bonds to buy
Colstrip. Id. In sum, the Company states that it would be premature to run IRP models given the
high level of legislative uncertainty and requests a deadline that would allow the Company to run
its models with inputs that reflect the potentially changed legislative landscape. 1d.
IDECISION MEMORANDUM
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission issue a Notice of Petition and Notice of Modified
Procedure, with comments due thirty-five days from the issuance of the Notice and reply
comments due seven days later.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Petition and Notice of Modified
Procedure that establishes a thirty-five day comment period and a seven day reply period?
ll
Deputy General
I:\LegaI\ELECTRIC\AVU-E-19-01\AVUEl90l dec memo l_ej
2DECISION MEMORANDUM