20180703order_no_34102.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 3,2018
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )CASE NOS.AVU-E-17-01
OF AVISTA CORPORATION DBA )AVU-G-17-01
AVISTA UTILITIES FOR AUTHORITY )TO INCREASE ITS RATES AND )ORDER NO.34102
CHARGES FOR ELECTRIC AND )NATURAL GAS SERVICE IN IDAHO )
On June 25,2018,Avista filed a motion for procedural relief under Rule 256 to
extend the filing deadline for complying with three (3)terms of its stipulation and settlement
agreement in Case Nos.AVU-E-17-01 and AVU-G-17-01,approved by the Commission on
December 28,2017.See Order No.33953.The Company requested an extension of the deadline
from July 1,2018,to October 1,2018,to allow sufficient time to complete the work.Avista has
contacted the parties to the case and none of them,includingStaff,object to the motion.
BACKGROUND
The Commission issued Order No.33953 in Case Nos.AVU-E-17-01 and AVU-G-
17-01 approving the terms of the Settlement agreement regarding Avista's Application for a
general rate increase.Three of the terms of the settlement agreement addressed consumer issues
as follows:
19.Natural Gas Service Rules.The Company and interested parties will meet
and confer to review the Commission's Service Rules for Gas Utilities
(IDAPA 31.31.01)to determine which provisions should be retained and/or
modified,and,if the participants agree,incorporate those changes into the
Company's tariff.Any changes requiring Commission approval,e.g.,tariff
revisions,will be submitted by the Company on or before July 1,2018.
20.Natural Gas Meter Placement Rules.The Company and interested parties
will meet and confer to review its meter placement and protection policies
and practices and determine based on the agreement of the parties,what
additional steps should be taken to revise the Company's current policies and
practices.Any necessary changes requiring Commission approval,e.g.,tariff
revisions,will be submitted by the Company on or before July 1,2018.
21.Service Quality/Performance Measures.Avista has established Service
Quality Performance,Customer Guarantees and a Service Quality Measure
Report Card for its customers in Washington.The Company and interested
parties will work to develop similar performance standards,customer
guarantees and a reporting mechanism for its Idaho customers.Following
ORDER NO.34102 1
those discussions,the Company will file its proposal with the Commission
requesting implementation on or before July 1,2018.
Lipulationand Settlement at 15-16.The Company reports that an additional 90 days is sufficient
to accomplish the work required in the settlement.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
We find good cause to grant the requested extension of time in this matter.No party
will be prejudiced,and no harm will come to ratepayers as a result.The Company and Staff
report they have been working collaborativelyto address the issues,but that additional time is
needed to fully determine what compliance filings might need to be made with the Commission.
Accordingly,pursuant to the Commission's authority under Rules 248 and 256 (IDAPA
31.01.01.248,.256),we grant the request to extend the Company's deadline from July 1,2018,to
October 1,2018.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Avista's motion for procedural relief under Rule 256
is granted.The deadline for complying with paragraphs 19,20 and 21 of the Commission
approved stipulation and settlement is extended from July 1,2018,to October 1,2018.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this 3
day of July 2018.
PAUL K LLA ,PRESIDENT
KÈIST AP ,$OMM SIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Diane Hanian
Commission Secretary
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