20180831Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO:COMMIS SIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIOI\IER RAPER
COMMISSIONER AIYDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
LEGAL
WORKING FILE
FROM: JOHNATHAI\ FARLEY
DATE: AUGUST 31,20lE
STIBJECT:IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF AVISTA CORPORATION
DBA AVISTA UTILITIES FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES
AND CHARGES FOR ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS SERVICE IN
IDAIIO (CASE NOS. AW-F-I7-0UAVU-G-r ?-0r)
COMPLIANCE WITH STIPULATION NO. 20 OT SETTLEMENT
AGRAEMENT
BACKGROT'ND
On December 28,2017, the Commission approved a settlement in the Avista general rate
case. Order No. 33952. Part of the approved Settlement Agreement reads:
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.
On June 25,2018, Avista frled a motion requesting to extend the filing deadline from
July 1, 2018, to October l, 2018, to allow sufficient time to complete the work. OrderNo. 34102.
Subsequently, Staffand the Company discussed standards, procedures and implementation plans.
Both Staffand the Company agree that no tariff revisions are required. No other parties have
expressed an interest in this matter. On August 22,2018, Staffperformed a final review of
Avista's written materials and discussed the Company's outreach strategy.
IDECISION MEMORANDUM AUGUST 31,20I8
Meter Placement and Protection
The Company and Staffdeveloped written materials outlining the proper placement of
gas rneter-sets, [n addition to general placement requirements, the Company developed crileria
for mitigating hazards posed by fatling snow and ice in areas with heavy snow loads, The
Company's new materials include updated placement standards, design criteria for custom meter
protection structures, and designaiions of areas considered to be heavy snow load locales. All
materials provided to the Commission Staffhave been placed in the AVU-E-17-01 and
AVU-G- 1 7-01 case files.
Public 0utreach
The Company developed an outreach strategy to disseminate the new placement and
protection materials. The Company also developed engineering criteria for designing custom
meter protection sffuctures. Attachment 2. It created a brochure outlining the new meter
placement standards and meter protection requirements. Attachment 1. The Company will make
copies of the brochure and design criteria available to the public at each of its Customer Project
Coordinator offices throughout its Idaho, Washington, and Oregon service territories. In
addition, the Company will include the meter placement and protection brochure and the
engineering design criteria on its website.
The second piece of the Company's outreach strategy is to contact Avista contractors and
vendors. The Company has approximately 27,000 contractors and vendors that operate within its
service territories in ldaho, Oregon, and Washington. The Company currently sends out a semi-
annual newsletter to contactors and vendors in March and October of each year. The Company
has indicated that the October 2018 and March 2019 newsletters will address the new meter
placement and protection standards and indicate where to find more information on the subject.
STAF'F RECOMMEDATION
Staff has reviewed all of the Company's submitted materials and believes they fulfill the
requirements of the Settlement Agreement. Staff recommends the Commission accept Avista's
submitted materials in compliance with Order No. 33952.
2DECISION MEMORANDUM AUCUST 3I,2OI8
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Cornmission accept Avista's submitted materials in compliance with Order No.
33952?
Farley
Udmemos/Avista Dec Memo AVU-E-I7 4l AVU-G-I 7-01
3DECISTON MEMORANDUM AUGUST 31,20I8
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Avista is committed to
the safety of our
customers. lt's why we
have specific
requ i rements concerni ng
the location of your
natural gas meter. This
simple guide shows
clearances and other
important measures to
prevent potential
hazards and keep
everyone safe.
) Any openlng below the
meter rervice regulator vent
should be at least 1 foot
away (foundation vent
wlndow, dryer vent etc.)
) Meter servke regulator vent
rhould not be within 3 fuet of
lg nition sources, including:. electric meter
o eledric outlets
o electric sruitches. air conditioner condenser. applaance ventsr combustlon air vents
to fireplaces andor
heating appliances
) The meter servlce regulator vent
must be at least 10 feet from
mechanical air intakes.
> Mete6 should not be located
under any porch, deck patio or
similar endorure where regulator
venting and accessibillty are limited.
MECHANICAL AIR INTAKEs, OPERABLE WINDOWS/DOORS
APPLIANCE VENT
AIR CONDITIONER
ELECTRIC METER
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OUTLETS, SWTCHES,
MOTORS OR OTHER
ARCINGAPARKING
SOURCES
METER SIRVICE REGULATOR \GNT
OPENING BELOW METER
SERVICE REULATOR VENT
Natural Gas lVeter
Location Guidelines
IAFvrsra
Safe clearances
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rln Oregon, electri( provider PP&L requlreg a 3-foot mlnimum horizontal dirtance to any part of the
gas meter. ln all other area3. a 3-foot radiel di3tanc€ from the meter seNice r€gulator vent is required
imIlf,TIFI
ir'rrai"r lr"ptffi
from meter service l
I regulator vent ]
Gas nreter sheltered belclw forward-sloping roof
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FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW
SIDE VIEW
i ln areas prone to heavy snowfall (see below), protect the meter
from snow and ice by locating it under a roof overhang of at least
l2 inchcs from the dripline to the front face of the metcr or on the
gable end of the bullding. lf this ls not poslble, a snow shed
should be lnstalled. Avlsta-provided snow sheds arc thc preferrud
optlon. The customer also may build and installthelr own
Avlsta-approved snow shed (see dcslgn details rt
myavlsta.cony'safety).
PLEASE NOTE| Arcs pron. to hllvylnow'rll lnclud. th! folbrylng courttl$: Eonncr (lD).
Boundrry (lD), Kl.mrth (OR), lolcklut (wA, rootcnrl (10). bkr (Oi), Ltdr (lD), Llnroln
(wN, Shoshone (lD). Spoklnc (WA), ltaru.ru (wA), Unlon (OR) rnd Whhmrn (WN,
i Meter should be located withln 3 feet of where the housc llne
enters the bullding, and not typically extend more than 1 foot
from the bulldlng.
) Meter should be easlly accessible for readlngs and maintcnance.
) Meter should be protectcd from potentlal damage by a vchicle.
(lf th. locrtlon ffnnot provlde thls protectlon, Avlsta wlll lnstall a
protectlva barricrde or one or morc bollrrds.)
Thank you for bohq our p.rtncr ln rafity.
For more information go to myavista.com
or catl 1.800.227 -9187.
Gas meter sheltered below gable roof
frrtsta
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OVERHANGI
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CustomqPtovided "Snow Shed' D
At Avista, we want our customers to be safe. This is why in areas that have the potential to experience
heavy snowfall, the gas meter should be installed at the gable end of the building to protect the meter
from falling snow and ice. Areas prone to heavy snowfall include the following counties: Bonner (lD),
Boundary (lD), Klamath (OR), Klickitat (WA), Kootenai {lD}, Lake (OR), Latah (lD), Lincoln (WA), Shoshone
(lD), Spokane (WA), Stevens (WA), Union (OR), and Whitman (WA). lf the meter cannot be installed at
the gable end of the building, a "snow shed" must be installed to provide meter protection if the roof
overhang is not sufficient to protect the meter from falling snow and ice. A company provlded snow
shed is the preferred option; however, customers may elect to install their own cover. Custorners who
opt to use their own snow shed are responsible for its design and construction. Avista requires that a
customer provided snow shed has a design that is stamped by a Professional Engineer and approved by
Avista. Customer provided snow sheds shall be structurally sound and meet all of the requirements
discussed below. For any additional information, please call 7-8OO-227-9187.
O ,oo oounds oer souare foot lndicates Perimeter of
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Snow Shed
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The snow shed shall be designed to
withstand a uniform pressure of 500 pounds
per square foot distributed over the top
suface of the structure. The snow shed
must not deform or fai[ under this design
load,
The snow shed must cover the entire width
of the meter set, with an additional 8"
(minirnum) on either side to allow
The snow shed must be corrosion resistant,
through the use of galvanized metals, paint,
or other corrosion resistant materials. lt
must also be free standing, and cannot be
attached to the meter assembly in any way.
The snow shed shall allow natural ventilation
to mitigate accumulation of naturalgas.
The snow shed must provide a minimum of
8" of overhang, measured from the front
face of the meter.
A minimum of 12" of clearance between the
top of the meter set and the snow shed shall
be provided.
accessibil for maintenance.
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