140117_AVUEEprudency.pdf

Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Case Nos. AVU-E-13-09 and AVU-G-13-02, Order No. 32921
January 17, 2014
Contact: Gene Fadness [phone]
Website: www.puc.idaho.gov

Avista seeks prudency declaration
for electric, gas efficiency programs

Avista Utilities’ electric efficiency programs have provided more than 109,100 megawatt-hours
of savings in 2010-12, the utility reports. Natural gas efficiency programs have resulted in
950,822 therms not being used.
Avista is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to declare that the $25.4 million the
company spent on energy and natural gas efficiency programs during those three years was
prudently incurred. The prudency finding, if granted, does not immediately impact rates. The
programs are funded primarily through riders on customer bills. The electric rider is 0.245 cents
per kilowatt-hour and the gas rider is currently zeroed out.
The 30 programs funded by the rider must pass cost-effectiveness tests that demonstrate all
customers benefit, not just those who participate in the programs. One measure, called the
Total Resource Cost, measures whether the total costs in the utility service territory decrease as
a result of the programs. This test showed that for every $1 invested in the programs, the
benefit to all customers is $1.91.
Some of the programs for residential customers include financial incentives for installation of
high-efficiency equipment, compact fluorescent lamps, refrigerator recycling, weatherization,
and electric-to-natural gas conversions. Commercial and industrial customers who participate
can take advantage of customized, site-specific programs.
The commission is taking comment on Avista’s application through Feb. 4. Comments are
accepted via e-mail by accessing the commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on
"Case Comment Form,” under the “Electric” or “Gas” heading. Fill in the case number (AVU-E-13-09 or
AVU-G-13-02) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID
83720-0074 or faxed to [phone].
A full text of the commission’s order, along with other documents related to this case, is
available on the commission’s Web site. Click on “Open Cases” under the “Electric” or “Gas”
heading and scroll down to the above case numbers.

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