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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210615Avista Electric Natural Gas Press Release.pdf Case No. AVU-E-21-01 Case No. AVU-G-21-01 Order No. 35010 Contact: Adam Rush Office: (208) 334-0339 adam.rush@puc.idaho.gov NEWS RELEASE: Commission schedules public workshop on proposed Avista natural gas, electric rate increases and will consider proposed settlement BOISE (June 15, 2021) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will host a public workshop on Wednesday, June 16, to share information on a proposed rate increase for Avista natural gas and electric customers in Idaho. The public workshop is on June 16 and begins at 7:00 p.m. (MDT). Those interested in attending and learning more about Avista’s application can call 1-415-655-0001, and enter meeting number 133 194 8246. Participation also can be done online by visiting idahogov.webex.com, and entering meeting number 133 194 8246. At the next window, please enter your name, e-mail address and this password: June16Meeting. Parties to the case have proposed a settlement with a two-year rate plan that, if approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, would allow Avista to increase annual base electric revenues by $10.6 million, or 4.3 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2021, and increase annual base electric revenues by $8.0 million, or 3.1 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2022. For natural gas, the parties agree that Avista should be allowed to decrease natural gas base revenue by $1.6 million, or 3.7 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2021, and increase natural gas base revenue by $0.9 million, or 2.2 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2022. Through the settlement agreement, the parties also agree to return to customers available tax credits of approximately $31.3 million for electric over the two-year rate plan and $12.1 million for natural gas over 10 years. If the settlement is approved, a residential electric customer using an average of 892 kilowatt hours per month would see a billed increase of $0.49 per month, or 0.6 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2021, and a billed increase of $0.31 per month, or 0.4 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2022. A residential natural gas customer using an average of 63 therms per month would see a billed decrease of $2.30 per month, or 4.6 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2021, and a billed increase of $0.76 per month, or 1.6 percent, effective Sept. 1, 2022. Avista’s original proposal called for an increase in rates for electric customers and natural gas customers over a two-year period. In the first year, Avista proposed to increase electric revenues by $24.8 million, or 10.1 percent, and natural gas revenues by $0.1 million, or 0.1 percent, beginning Sept. 1, 2021. In the second year, Avista originally requested an increase of $8.7 million, or 3.2 percent, for electric customers, and $1 million, or 2.2 percent, for natural gas customers. Avista’s original request also proposed to offset the proposed rate increases with available tax credits, similar to the settlement agreement. To learn more about Avista’s application, please visit: puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6614.