20231122Notice_of_Application_Order_No_36008.pdf

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
November 22, 2023
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF AVISTA CORPORATION, D/B/A/
AVISTA UTILITIES, REQUESTING
AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH TARIFF
SCHEDULE 23 FOR DIRECT CURRENT
FAST CHARGING (DCFC) OF ELECTRIC
VEHICLES
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CASE NO. AVU-E-23-16

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE

NOTICE OF
INTERVENTION DEADLINE

ORDER NO. 36008

On November 3, 2023, Avista Corporation, doing business as Avista Utilities
(“Company”), filed an application (“Application”) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission
(“Commission”) requesting authority to establish electric tariff Schedule 23, “Direct Current Fast
Charging (“DCFC”) Rate Option,” effective February 1, 2024.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company proposes a new optional commercial
EV rate schedule primarily as a way to address the significant market barrier associated with high
variable demand charges in existing rates. Application at 6. The Company represents that the EV
rate schedule for general service Schedule 23 customers will encourage greater investment in
public DCFC, while also continuing to recover utility costs through a higher per kWh charge. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes optional commercial EV
rate Schedule 23 for DCFC charging general commercial service. Id. The Company represents that
in addition to the fixed demand charge, the Company proposes to increase the per kWh charge and
eliminate the variable demand charge for this new rate schedule. Id. at 7. The Company submitted
the table below with details comparing the existing Schedule 21 base rates and the proposed
Schedule 23 DCFC base rates.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 2

Id. at 7.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents that the full calculations
of the proposed rates for Schedule 23 have been provided as workpapers with the Application, and
that commercial EV rate Schedule 23 will be subject to the same adder schedules (DSM, PCA,
FCA, etc.) and miscellaneous charges consistent with existing Schedule 21. Id. at 7-8.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company states that the proposed rates provide
reasonable recovery of utility costs based on a simple flat rate for energy charges, while eliminating
demand charges that currently inhibit market growth. Id. at 8.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents that a relatively small
number of customers are expected to adopt this optional rate schedule over the next few years;
however, the Company believes that it may still be effective in removing a key market barrier to
early adoption, while also providing a means to acquire utilization and cost data to inform revisions
to the commercial EV rate schedules in the future. Id. at 9.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting documentation
have been filed with the Commission and are 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, and 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 SUSPENSION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 3
SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
The Company filed its Application on November 3, 2023, proposing a February 1, 2024,
effective date. The Commission finds that the Company’s proposed effective date does not provide
adequate time for Commission Staff (“Staff”), and interested persons, to evaluate the Company’s
proposal. Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622, the Commission suspends the proposed effective date
until April 1, 2024, or until the Commission enters an earlier order on the issue.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter to
obtain parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission
pursuant to this Commission’s Rules of Procedure 71-73, IDAPA 31.01.01.072-073. Persons who
wish to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than fourteen (14) days
after the date of service of this Order. Persons desiring to present their views without parties’
rights of participation do not have to intervene and may present their comments without prior
notification to the Commission or the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice of
Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed. The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties is issued, Staff will
informally confer with the parties to discuss a schedule to process this case and other issues as may
be raised by the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following persons are designated as the
Company’s representatives in this matter:
David J. Meyer, Esq.
Vice President and Chief Counsel for
Regulatory & Governmental Affairs
1411 E. Mission Ave, MSC 13
Spokane, WA 99220-3727
[e-mail]

Patrick Ehrbar
Director of Regulatory Affairs
1411 E. Mission Ave, MSC 27
Spokane, WA 99220-3727
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO. 4
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s proposed effective date of February 1,
2024, is suspended until April 1, 2024, or until the Commission enters an earlier order on the issue.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case for the purpose
of obtaining parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission,
under Rules 71-73, IDAPA 31.01.01.071-073, no later than fourteen (14) days after the service
date of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, after the Secretary issues a Notice of Parties, Staff will
informally confer with the parties to discuss the appropriate scheduling of this case.
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 22nd day of
November 2023.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

_________________________________________
EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Monica Barrios-Sanchez
Interim Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\ELECTRIC\AVU-E-23-16_DCFC\orders\AVUE2316_Ntc_App_Int_Susp_cb.docx