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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210730Customer Notice and Press Release.pdflmportant Notice for ldaho Electric and Natural Gas Customers (August 20211 DRAFT Avista has made annual rate adjustment filings with the ldaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC or Commission) that if approved, are designed to increase overall electric revenues by approximately $1.0 million or 0.4o/o effective Oct. 1, 2021 and increase overall natural gas revenue by approximately $0.3 million or 0.4o/o effective Nov. 1 ,2021. These annual filings have no impact on Avista's earnings. Electric Adjustment Filings Four annual electric adjustments were filed, that if approved, are designed to change overall electric revenues effective Oct. 1, 2021 as follows: 1. Power Cost Adjustment (PCA): an increase of approximately $7.2 million or 2.8o/o2. Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA): a decrease of approximately $0.7 million or 0.3%3. Electric Energy Efficiency: a decrease of approximately $5.6 million or 2.2o/o4. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Residential Exchange Program: an increase of approximately $O.t million or 0.1o/o When combined, the four requests are designed to increase overall electric revenue by approximately $1.0 million or 0.4o/o effective Oct. 1,2021. Natural Gas Adjustment Filing The natural gas adjustment request is the annual naturalgas FCA. lf approved, Avista's request is designed to increase overall natural gas revenues by approximately $0.3 million or O.4o/o effective Nov. 1 ,202'1. Customer Bills Resulting from these Filings lf the electric PCA, FCA, energy efficiency and BPA filings are approved, residential electric customers in ldaho using an average of 892 kilowatt hours per month would see their monthly bills decrease from $85.63 to $84.09, a decrease of $1 .54 per month, or approximately 1 .8ol0. The proposed electric rate change would be effective OcL 1,2O21. The requested electric rate change by rate schedule are as follows: ResidentialService - Schedule 1 General Service - Schedules 11 & 12 Large General Service - Schedules 21 &22 Extra Large General Service - Schedule 25 Extra Large General Service - Schedule 25P Pumping Service - Schedules 31 &32 Street & Area Lights - Schedules 4149 Overall General Service - Schedule 101 Large General Service - Schedules 111 & 112 lnterruptible Service - Schedules 131 & 132 Transportation Service - Schedule 146 Overall -1.8o/o 1.8o/o 3.0o/o 2.3o/o 2.5o/o 2.2o/o -1.0o/o 0.40/o lf the natural gas FCA flling is approved, residential natural gas customers in ldaho using an average of 63 therms per month would see their monthly bills increase from $49.49 to $49.67, an increase of $0.18 per month, or approximately 0.4o/o. The proposed naturalgas rate change would be effective Nov. 1 ,2021. The net effect, on a revenue basis, for the requested natural gas rate change by rate schedule are: 0.4o/o 0.40/o 0.0% 0.0% o.40/o Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) The PCA is an annual rate adjustment made to reflect the difference between the actual cost of generating and purchasing electric power to serve customers and the cost currently included in customer rates. Over the last year, power supply costs have been primarily higher than those included in retail rates due to higher wholesale electric and natural gas prices. Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA) The electric and natural gas FCA is a mechanism designed to break the link between a utility's revenues and customers' energy usage. Avista's actual revenue, based on kilowatt hour or therm sales, will vary, up or down, from the level included in a general rate case and approved by the Commission. This could be caused by changes in weather, energy conservation or other factors. Generally, under the FCA, Avista's revenues are adjusted each month based on the number of customers. The annual difference between revenues based on sales and the number of customers is surcharged or rebated to customers beginning in the following year. The proposed FCA rate adjustments in 2021 are primarily driven by variations in 2020 customer usage related to weather and the COVID-19 pandemic where a higher level of residential customer usage was partially offset by a lower level of non-residential customers usage. The FCA mechanisms do not apply to Avista's Electric Extra Large General and Street Lighting Service Schedules, nor to its Natural Gas lnterruptible and Transportation Service Schedules. Energy Efficiency Adj ustment The energy efficiency adjustment is related to the funding of Avista's electric energy efficiency programs. This annual adjustment aligns the amount that is collected in customer rates with the actual costs to run and deliver the programs. Avista's programs are based on providing a financial incentive or rebate for cost- effective energy efficiency measures. Over the last year, the amount collected in customer rates exceeded the actual costs to run and deliver the programs. Residential Exchange Adjustment The Residential Exchange Program provides a share of the benefits of the federal Columbia River power system to the residential and small farm customers of the investor-owned utilities in the Pacific Northwest, including Avista. Avista applies the benefits it receives, which typically fluctuate from year to year, to customers as a credit in their monthly electric rates. The benefit Avista will receive from BPA starting in October 2021 will result in a slightly lower level of benefits than is currently being passed through to qualifoing customers. Rate Application Procedure The Company's applications are proposals, subject to public review and a Commission decision. Copies of the applications are available for public review at the offices of both the Commission and Avista, and on the Commission's website (www.ouc.idaho.oov). Customers may file with the Commission written comments related to the Company's filings. Customers may also subscribe to the Commission's RSS feed (http://www.puc.idaho.qov/rssfeeds/rss.htm) to receive periodic updates via e-mail about the case. Copies of rate filings are also available on our website, www.mvavista.com/rates. lf you would like to submit comments on the proposed rate change, you can do so by going to the Commission website or mailing comments to: ldaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, lD 83720-0074 Avista offers a number of programs and services to help customers manage their energy use and costs. Visit www.myavista.com for information on these programs which include Comfort Level Billing, bill payment options, automated payment service, assistance programs, conservation tips, and energy efficiency rebates. AVA4SOi ,i,,'irrltsta Contact: DRAFT Med ia: Celena Mock (509) 4954923 celena. mock@avistacorp.conr lnvestors: John Wilcox (509) 49541 71 iohn.wilcox@avistacoro.com Avista 2417 Media Access (509) 495-4174 Avista Makes Annual Price Adjustment Filings in ldaho Reguesfs would result in change in electric prices effective Oct. 1, 2021 and naturalgas prices Nov.1,2021. SPOKANE, Wash. - July 30,2021,1:05 p.m. PDT: Avista (NYSE: AVA) has made annual rate adjustment filings with the ldaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC or Commission) that if approved, are designed to increase overall electric revenues by approximately $1.0 million or 0.4o/o effective Oct. 1, 2021 and increase overall natural gas revenue by approximately $0.3 million or O.4o/o effective Nov. 1, 2021. These annual filings have no impact on Avista's earnings. Electric Adjustment Filings Four annual electric adjustments were filed, that if approved, are designed to change overall electric revenues effective Oct. 1, 2021 as follows: 1. Power Cost Adjustment (PCA): an increase of approximately $7.2 million or 2.8o/o2. Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA): a decrease of approximately $0.7 million or 0.3%3. Electric Energy Efficiency: a decrease of approximately $5.6 million or 2.2o/o4. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Residential Exchange Program: an increase of approximately $O.t million or O.1o/o When combined, the four requests are designed to increase overall electric revenue by approximately $1 .0 million or 0.4o/o effective Ocl. 1, 2021 . Natural Gas Adjustment Filing The natural gas adjustment request is the annual natural gas FCA. lf approved, Avista's request is designed to increase overall natural gas revenues by approximately $0.3 million or 0.4o/o effective Nov. 1, 2021. Gustomer Bills Resulting from these Filings lf the electric PCA, FCA, energy efficiency and BPA filings are approved, residential electric customers in ldaho using an average of 892 kilowatt hours per month would see their monthly bills decrease from $85.63 to $84.09, a decrease of $1.54 per month, or approximately 1.8%. The proposed electric rate change would be effective Oct. 1,2O21. The net effect, on an annual revenue basis, for the requested electric rate changes by rate schedule are as follows: Residential Service - Schedule 1 General Service - Schedules 11 & 12 Large General Service - Schedules 21 &22 Extra Large General Service - Schedule 25 Extra Large General Service - Schedule 25P Pumping Service - Schedules 31 &32 Street & Area Lights - Schedules 41-49 Overall -1.8% 1.80/o 3.0o/o 2.3o/o 2.5o/o 2.2o/o -1.00/o 0.40/o lf the natural gas FCA filing is approved, residential natural gas customers in ldaho using an average of 63 therms per month would see their monthly bills jncrease from $49.49 to $49.67, an increase of $0.18 per month, or approximately 0.4o/o. The proposed naturalgas rate change would be effective Nov. 1, 2021. The net effect, on a revenue basis, for the requested natural gas rate change by rate schedule are as follows: General Service - Schedule 101 Large General Service - Schedules 111 & 112 lnterruptible Service - Schedules 131 & 132 Transportation Service - Schedule 146 Overall 0.4o/o 0.4o/o 0.0% 0.0% 0.4o/o Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) The PCA is an annual rate adjustment made to reflect the difference between the actualcost of generating and purchasing electric power to serve customers and the cost cunently included in customer rates. Over the last year, power supply costs have been primarily higher than those included in retail rates due to higher wholesale electric and natural gas prices. Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA) The electric and naturalgas FCA is a mechanism designed to break the link between a utility's revenues and customers' energy usage. Avista's actual revenue, based on kilowatt hour or therm sales, will vary, up or down, from the level included in a general rate case and approved by the Commission. This could be caused by changes in weather, energy conservation or other factors. Under the FCA, Avista's revenues are adjusted each month based on the number of customers. The annual difference between revenues based on sales and the number of customers is surcharged or rebated to customers beginning in the following year. The proposed FCA rate adjustments in 2021 are primarily driven by variations in 2020 customer usage related to weather and the COVID-19 pandemic where a higher level of residential customer usage was partially offset by a lower levelof non-residential customers usage. The FCA mechanisms do not apply to Avista's Electric Extra Large General and Street Lighting Service Schedules, nor to its Natural Gas lnterru ptible and Transportation Service Schedules. Energy Efficiency Adjustment The energy efficiency adjustment is related to the funding of Avista's electric energy efftciency programs. This annual adjustment aligns the amount that is collected in customer rates with the actual costs to run and deliver the programs. Avista's programs are based on providing a financial incentive or rebate for cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Residential Exchange Adjustment The Residential Exchange Program provides a share of the benefits of the federal Columbia River power system to the residential and small farm customers of the investor-owned utilities in the Pacific Northwest, including Avista. Avista applies the benefits it receives, which typically fluctuate from year to year, to customers as a credit in their monthly electric rates. The benefit Avista will receive from BPA starting in Od.2021 will result in a slightly lower level of benefits than is currently being passed through to qualifuing customers. Rate Application Procedure Avista's applications are proposals, subject to public review and a Commission decision. Copies of the applications are available for public review at the offices of both the Commission and Avista, and on the lilr.tsra Commission's website (www.ouc.idaho.oov). Customers may file with the Commission related to Avista's filings. Customers may also subscribe to the Commission's RSS feed (http://www.ouc.idaho.qov/rssfeeds/rss.htm) to receive periodic updates via e-mail about the case. Copies of rate filings are also available on Avista's website at www.mvavista.com/rates. lf you would like to submit comments on the proposed rate change, you can do so by going to the Commission website or mailing comments to: ldaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, lO 83720-0074 About Avista Corp. Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 395,000 customers and natural gas to 362,000 customers. lts service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern ldaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Lioht and Power Comoanv. Avista stock is traded under the ticker symbol 'AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31 ,2O2O and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,2021. SOURCE: Avista Corporation -21XX- To unsubscribe from Avista's news release distribution, send a reply message to lena.fu nston@avistacoro.com