20220914Reply Comments.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission P.O. Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220-0500
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
September 14, 2022
Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Bldg. 8, Ste. 201-A
Boise, Idaho 83714
Re: Case No. AVU-E-22-11– Reply Comments of Avista
Dear Commission Secretary:
Avista Corporation, dba Avista Utilities (Avista or Company), respectfully submits the following
reply comments in response to Commission Staff’s September 7, 2022 written comments. Avista
appreciates Staff’s time and thorough review of its annual Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) filing.
In general, the Company finds Staff’s comments to be agreeable, but has one point of clarification
on the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM).
Staff has recommended “the Commission authorize EIM incremental expenses to be included in
the PCA up to the benefits realized from the EIM until the Company’s next rate case when these
costs can be reviewed and included in base rates.”1 While the Company is not opposed to including
incremental EIM O&M expenses through base rates in its next general rate case, the Company
currently has authority, per Case No. AVU-E-21-01 Order No. 35156, that “effective with the
expected “go live” March 1, 2022, date, the Company will begin to reflect Idaho’s share of
incremental EIM O&M expenses through the PCA up to Idaho’s share of EIM benefits that also
will flow through the PCA.”2
1 Staff’s Comments, p. 5.
2 Order No. 35156, p. 5, section 6 E.
RECEIVED
2022 SEP 14 AM 9:09
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION

2

The Company’s preference at this time would be to continue this methodology of incremental EIM
O&M expenses and EIM benefits flowing through the PCA in order to match such costs going
forward.
Please direct any questions regarding this filing to Kaylene Schultz at [phone].
Sincerely,
/s/Patrick D. Ehrbar
Patrick D. Ehrbar
Director of Regulatory Affairs