20001222app-mod.doc

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION OF AVISTA CORPORATION DBA AVISTA UTILITIES—WASHINGTON WATER POWER DIVISION (IDAHO) FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT A SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT CHARGE. )
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CASE NO. AVU-G-00-6
AVU-E-00-11

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on November 13, 2000, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities—Washington Water Power Division (Idaho) made a filing with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Commission) requesting authority to add a new Section 6.3 to the Company’s Idaho Rules and Regulations: i.e.,
Service Establishment Charge
When an account is initially established under any of the Rules and Regulations, a Customer will be required to pay a service establishment charge in the amount of $15.00.

The Company states that the proposed fee is intended to recover a portion of the Company’s cost of service establishment for its gas and/or electric utility service accounts. The incremental annual revenue generated by the charge will correspond directly to the number of Idaho customers added in a calendar year (in 1999: 35,056 customers). The Company requested an effective implementation date of December 22, 2000.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has reviewed the filings of record in Case Nos. AVU-G-00-6 and AVU-E-00-11. The Commission has preliminarily determined that the public interest may not require a hearing to consider the issues presented, and that the issues raised by the Company’s filing may be processed under Modified Procedure, i.e., by written submission rather than by hearing. Reference Commission Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission will not hold a hearing in this proceeding unless it receives written protests or comments opposing the use of Modified Procedure and stating why Modified Procedure should not be used. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.203.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the deadline for filing written comments or protests with respect to the Application and the Commission’s use of Modified Procedure in Case Nos. AVU-G-00-6 and AVU-E-00-11 is Friday, January 12, 2001. Persons desiring a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written protests or comments.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no protests or comments are received within the deadline, the Commission may consider the matter and enter its Order without a hearing. If comments or protests are filed within the deadline, the Commission will consider them and may set the matter for hearing or may decide the matter and issue its Order on the basis of the written positions before it. Reference IDAPA 31.01.01.204.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that written comments concerning this Application must be mailed to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission and Avista Corporation at the following addresses.
COMMISSION SECRETARY
IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
PO BOX 83720
BOISE, IDAHO 83720-0074

Street Address for Express Mail:

472 W WASHINGTON ST
BOISE, ID 83702-5983 THOMAS D DUKICH, MANAGER
RATES & TARIFF ADMINISTRATION
AVISTA CORPORATION
PO BOX 3727
SPOKANE, WA 99220
Attn: Liz Andrews
Renee Webb

All comments should contain the case caption and case number shown on the first page of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission in Order No. 28604 suspended the Company’s proposed effective implementation date for the proposed Service Establishment Charge from December 22, 2000 to January 26, 2001.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the filings in Case Nos. AVU-G-00-6 and AVU-E-00-11 can be reviewed at the Commission’s office and at the Idaho offices of Avista Corporation during regular business hours.
DATED at Boise, Idaho this day of December 2000.

DENNIS S. HANSEN, PRESIDENT

MARSHA H. SMITH, COMMISSIONER

PAUL KJELLANDER, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jean D. Jewell
Commission Secretary

Vld/N:AVU-G-00-6_AVU-E-00-11_sw

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
NOTICE OF COMMENT/ PROTEST DEADLINE 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
December 22, 2000