28098.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
THE WASHINGTON WATER POWER COMPANY (NOW AVISTA CORPORATION DBA AVISTA UTILITIES—WASHINGTON WATER POWER DIVISION) FOR AN ORDER APPROVING INCREASED RATES AND CHARGES FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE IN THE STATE OF IDAHO. )
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CASE NO. WWP-E-98-11

ORDER NO. 28098

On December 18, 1998, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) received an Application from The Washington Water Power Company, now Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities — Washington Water Power Division (Avista; Company) requesting approval of revised rates and charges for electric service in the state of Idaho to be effective January 22, 1999. The proposed effective date was suspended pending hearing on the Application and further Order of the Commission. Reference Order No. 27852; Idaho Code § 61-622. The initial period of suspension expires July 21, 1999.
A public hearing in Case No. WWP-E-98-11 was held in Sandpoint, Idaho on June 8 (9), 1999. Completed transcripts of the hearing proceedings together with related exhibits were filed with the Commission on June 29, 1999.
After reviewing the procedural requirements in Case No. WWP-E-98-11, the Commission makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and enters its Order as follows:
FINDINGS OF FACT
The Commission will be unable to fully consider the Application and issue its Order on or prior to July 21, 1999 because of other demands on the Commission’s time, the availability of key Staff personnel, and because of the complexity of the evidence and issues presented by the Application. The Application is of sufficient importance to require the Commission’s further investigation and consideration of the reasonableness of the proposed rates and charges. The Commission finds that it requires an additional ten (10) days from July 21, 1999 to fully consider the matter and issue its Order and we find that our requirements constitute good cause for further suspension. The Commission on July 16, 1999 notified the Company of its intent to take additional time to consider its Application.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over The Washington Water Power Company and its Application in Case No. WWP-E-98-11 pursuant to Idaho Code, Title 61, and the Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
The Commission has authority under 61622, Idaho Code, to suspend the rates which are the subject of this Application for a period of thirty (30) days plus five (5) months from the proposed effective date, January 22, 1999 and for an additional sixty (60) day period upon finding of a good cause.

It is necessary to suspend the proposed rates for an additional period of ten (10) days from July 21, 1999 to allow the Commission to review and consider the evidence presented in this matter, to consider and determine the issues presented by the Application, and to issue its Order.
O R D E R
In consideration of the foregoing and as more particularly described above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the proposed schedules of rates and charges for electric service in Case No. WWP-E-98-11 should be and hereby are suspended for a period of ten (10) days from July 21, 1999, or until such time as the Commission enters an order accepting, rejecting or modifying the Application in this matter.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho, this day of July 1999.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Myrna J. Walters
Commission Secretary

bls/O:wwpe9811_sw6

ORDER NO. 28098 -2-

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 19, 1999