20230802Order_Vacating_Comment_Deadlines_Order_No_35874.pdf

ORDER VACATING COMMENT DEADLINES
ORDER NO. 35874 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
August 2, 2023
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF AVISTA CORPORATION, D/B/A AVISTA
UTILITIES, REQUESTING AUTHORITY TO
REVISE ITS ELECTRIC AND NATURAL
GAS BOOK DEPRECIATION RATES AND
AUTHORIZE DEFERRED ACCOUNT
TREATMENT FOR DIFFERENCE IN
DEPRECIATION EXPENSE
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CASE NOS. AVU-E-23-02
AVU-G-23-02

ORDER VACATING COMMENT
DEADLINES

ORDER NO. 35874

On February 22, 2023, Avista Corporation, doing business as Avista Utilities
(“Company”), filed an application (“Application”) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission
(“Commission”), for approval of a proposed change to electric and natural gas book depreciation
rates. The Company also requests that the Commission approve deferred accounting treatment if
allocated depreciation rates are not approved by all jurisdictions prior to September 1, 2023,
resulting in a difference between allocated depreciation expense included in Case Nos. AVU-E-
23-01 and AVU-G-23-01, and allocated depreciation expense ultimately approved in these
dockets. The Company requests that the Application be processed by Modified Procedure.
On March 15, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Intervention Deadline. Order No. 35709. No parties intervened. On April 27, 2023, the
Commission issued a Notice of Modified Procedure setting an August 8, 2023, comment deadline,
and an August 15, 2023, reply comment deadline. Order No. 35754.
On July 13, 2023, Commission Staff (“Staff”) and the Company participated in a settlement
conference. Based upon that settlement conference, Staff believes that a settlement (“Proposed
Settlement”) has been reached in principle; however, Staff represents that at this time a Proposed
Settlement is not yet ready to file with the Commission for approval.
Based upon the established procedural schedule, at the Commission’s August 1, 2023,
decision meeting, Staff requested that the Commission vacate the existing comment deadlines until
such time as either a Proposed Settlement is filed, or Staff informs the Commission that a Proposed
Settlement will not be filed.

ORDER VACATING COMMENT DEADLINES
ORDER NO. 35874 2
COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND FINDINGS
The Commission finds it reasonable to vacate the presently scheduled comment deadlines
based upon the representation that a settlement has been reached in principle. The Commission
will revisit the procedural schedule at such time as either a Proposed Settlement is filed for
Commission approval, or the Commission is informed that a Proposed Settlement will not be filed.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the August 8, 2023, and August 15, 2023, comment
deadlines are vacated.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 2nd day of
August 2023.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

__________________________________________
EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\AVUE2302_G2302_Dep Rates\orders\AVUEG2302_Order_Vacate_cb.docx