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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211124Notice_of_Application_Order_No_35235.pdfNOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35235 1 Office of the Secretary Service Date November 24, 2021 BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA UTILITIES’ APPLICATION FOR PROPOSED CHANGES TO SCHEDULE 95 “MY CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM” ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. AVU-E-21-15 NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35235 On October 18, 2021, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities’ (“Company”) proposed modifications to its Tariff Schedule 95, “My Clean Energy Program” (“Program”). The Company requests that its Application be processed by Modified Procedure. The Commission now sets deadlines for interested persons to comment on the Application and for the Company to reply. NOTICE OF APPLICATION YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED the Program includes three options: 1) a national block option where customers can purchase 300 kilowatt hours (“kWh”) for $1 a month with Renewable Energy Credits (“RECs”) sourced from anywhere in the United States; 2) a regional option where customers can purchase 100 kWh for $1 a month for RECs procured in the Western Interconnection, with preference given to the Northwest region including Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Montana, and British Columbia; and 3) a 100% clean option charged per kWh rather than by block and is priced at $0.01/kWh. The amount of kWhs purchased will vary each month to match the customers actual kWh usage. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes to modify the Program pricing as the price for RECs has increased and to meet the legislative requirement of all costs and benefits being confined to the Program, while optimizing value for Program participants. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company states that to prevent loss of revenue within the Program, the Company is proposing revisions to the pricing structure. National Blocks - Participants can purchase 100 kWh “blocks” for $1. RECs procured under this option will be sourced from renewable generation anywhere in the United States. This provides customers a low- cost option to continue supporting renewable energy. NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35235 2 Regional Blocks - Participants can purchase 100 kWh “blocks” for $1.30. RECs procured under this option will be sourced from generation in the Western Interconnection, with preference given to the Northwest region including Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Montana, and British Columbia. This option provides customers an opportunity to support regional renewable energy at a price point that is more reflective of the REC market. 100% Renewable Option - One (1) kWh of renewable power from a regional source in the Western Interconnection, with preference given to the Northwest region including Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Montana, and British Columbia will offset every kWh used at the customer selected meter. Each kWh is priced at $0.013 /kWh and the amount of kWhs purchased will vary each month to match the customers actual kWh usage. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company asserts the foregoing pricing was informed using an analysis of the current and forecasted program budgets and expecting the 2021 market price for RECs will likely continue into the next calendar year or more. The Company states its goal is to have pricing for the Program to ensure that all costs are covered by expected revenues, while setting pricing at a point that still attracts participants. The Company alleges this pricing should tolerate REC market price volatility, and that may lead to a budget surplus that may fund non-profit community solar installations. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company will provide notice of the proposed Program changes to participants through email and direct mail communications. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company requests that the Commission issue an order approving the proposed modifications to the Program effective January 1, 2022. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application is available for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. These documents are also available on the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “ELECTRIC” icon, select “Open Cases,” and click on the case number as shown on the front of this document. 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. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq. NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35235 3 NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter, and that it will proceed under Modified Procedure pursuant to Rules 201 through 204 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201 through .204. The Commission notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for obtaining public input and participation. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that people desiring to state a position on this Application may file a written comment explaining why they support or oppose the Application. Persons who would like a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments. Persons interested in filing written comments must do so by December 15, 2021. Comments must be filed through the Commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is unavailable. To comment electronically, please access the Commission’s home page at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the “Consumers” tab and then “Case Comment Form” and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of this document. To file by e-mail, the customer must e-mail the comments to the Commission Secretary and the Company at the e-mail addresses listed below. If computer access is unavailable, then comments may be mailed to the Commission and Company at these addresses: For the Idaho Public Utilities Commission: Commission Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 secretary@puc.idaho.gov Street Address for Express Mail: 11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Building 8, Ste. 201-A Boise, ID 83714 For Avista Corporation: Shawn Bonfield Senior Manager, Regulatory Policy & Strategy Avista Corporation 1411 East Mission P.O. Box 3727 Spokane, WA 99220-0500 Telephone: (509) 495-2782 shawn.bonfield@avistacorp.com David J. Meyer Vice President and Chief Counsel for Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Avista Corporation P.O. Box 3727 1411 E. Mission Avenue, MSC-7 Spokane, WA 99220-3727 david.meyer@avistacorp.com NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35235 4 YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by December 22, 2021. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its order without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing. O R D E R IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Application be processed by Modified Procedure, Rule 201-204 (IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204). Persons interested in filing written comments must do so by December 15, 2021. The Company must file any reply comments by December 22, 2021. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties should continue to comply with Order No. 35058, issued June 3, 2021. All pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and shall be deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between parties should also be accomplished electronically. Voluminous discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive. /// NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE ORDER NO. 35235 5 DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 24th day of November 2021. PAUL KJELLANDER, PRESIDENT KRISTINE RAPER, COMMISSIONER ERIC ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER ATTEST: Jan Noriyuki Commission Secretary I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\AVU-E-21-15 Clean Energy\orders\AVUE2115_NtcAppMod_jh.docx