20100507Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM

TO: COMMISSIONER KEMPTON
COMMISSIONER SMITH
COMMISSIONER REDFORD
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF

FROM: DON HOWELL AND KRISTINE SASSER
DEPUTY ATTORNEYS GENERAL

DATE: MAY 6, 2010

SUBJECT: PROPOSED SCHEDULE TO PROCESS AVISTA’S GENERAL RATE
CASE, CASE NOS. AVU-E-10-01/AVU-G-10-01

On March 23, 2010, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities filed an Application
seeking authority to increase the Company’s general rates for electric and natural gas service in
Idaho by averages of 14% and 3.6%, respectively. If approved, the Company’s revenues for
electric base rates would increase by $32.1 million annually. Company revenues for natural gas
rates would increase by $2.6 million annually.
A Notice of Application and Notice of Intervention Deadline was issued by the
Commission on April 9, 2010, setting an April 23, 2010, deadline for intervention. Order No.
31038. Seven parties timely filed for intervention – Clearwater Paper Corporation, Idaho Forest
Group, Idaho Community Action Network (ICAN), Community Action Partnership Association
of Idaho (CAPAI), Idaho Conservation League (ICL), Snake River Alliance, and North Idaho
Energy Logs. The Commission also suspended the Company’s proposed effective date of April
23, 2010, for a period of 30 days plus 5 months. The Commission directed that Staff convene an
informal prehearing conference to discuss how this case should be processed.
THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE
Pursuant to the Commission’s direction, the parties convened an informal prehearing
conference on May 5, 2010. Avista, Staff, CAPAI, Clearwater Paper, Idaho Forest Group, ICL
and North Idaho Energy Logs were in attendance. The parties agreed on the proposed schedule
as set forth below:

DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
Action Date
Staff/Intervenor prefiled testimony due August 5, 2010
Staff/Intervenor rebuttal testimony due August 24, 2010
Company rebuttal testimony due September 10, 2010
Technical hearing (Boise) September 22-24, 2010
The parties agreed to serve other parties with discovery and other documents via e-mail. The
parties further agreed that, after the Staff/Intervenor prefile deadline of August 5, answers to
discovery should be provided no later than seven calendar days from the date of the discovery
request.
COMMISSION DECISION
1. Does the Commission wish to adopt the discovery and hearing schedule proposed
by the parties?

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