180719 Avista hearing stay.pdf

Case Nos: AVU-E-1709 and AVU-G-17-05
Contact: Matt Evans
Office: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
www.puc.idaho.gov

Commission postpones technical hearing for
Avista-Hydro One merger
BOISE (July 19, 2018) – A technical hearing regarding the proposed merger of Avista and Hydro
One has been postponed.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission postponed the hearing in order to determine the
implications of the unexpected and simultaneous July 11 retirement of Hydro One’s chief executive
officer and the resignation of the board of directors of the Toronto-based company.
The hearing had been set for July 23 and was intended as a forum for the parties to the case to
address concerns and issues raised in public comments and testimony provided to Commission.
The technical hearing has not been rescheduled. If a new board and CEO are not named by Aug. 15,
the Commission has directed Avista to file an update on the circumstances.
Once new leadership is in place at Hydro One, the Commission said it expects the parties to meet for
a prehearing conference, to propose a new procedural timeline for the case.
The two companies filed for Commission approval of the $5.3 billion merger in September, 2017.
The application calls for Avista to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro One, the largest
electric transmission and distribution utility in the province of Ontario with more than 1.3 million
customers.
Avista provides electric service to approximately 378,000 customers and natural gas service to
342,000 customers. Approximately 130,000 electric customers and 82,000 natural gas customers
are in Idaho.
All documents filed in the case, including the companies’ application, proposed settlement
agreement, testimony and public comments, can be found here. Or go to www.puc.idaho.gov. Click
on “Open Cases” under the “Electric” or “Natural Gas” heading and scroll down to AVU-E-17-09 or
AVU-G-17-05.