20181101final_order_no_34181.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
November 1,2018
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )CASE NOS.AVU-E-18-10
OF AVISTA FOR APPROVAL OF )AVU-G-18-06
PROPOSED SERVICE QUALITY )MEASURES PROGRAM AND ASSOCIATED )REVISIONS TO ITS ELECTRIC AND )ORDER NO.34181
NATURAL GAS TARIFFS )
On September 10,2018,Avista Corporation ("Avista"or "Company")filed an
Application seeking approval of the Company's proposed Service QualityMeasures Program and
authorization to revise its associated electric and natural gas tariffs,Schedule 85 and Schedule 185
respectively.The proposed changes were to take effect November 1,2018.On October 3,2018,
the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified Procedure setting comment
and reply deadlines.Order No.34161.On October 9,2018,Avista filed an amendment that
updated the name of the program to the Idaho Service Quality Program ("ISQ Program").
Commission Staff filed the only comments in the case,and recommended the Commission approve
the Company's Application,as amended.
Having reviewed the record,the Commission issues this Order approving the
Application as amended,includingthe ISQ Program and the associated changes to the Company's
electric and natural gas tariffs,effective November 1,2018.
BACKGROUND
In Final Order No.39593,the Commission approved the stipulated settlement
("Settlement")in Avista's 2017 general rate case,AVU-E-17-01/AVU-G-17-02.One condition
of the Settlement was that Avista would work with interested parties to develop a service quality
measures program similar to the Company's program in Washington.Settlement at ?21.The
Company worked with Staff to develop the ISQ Program using the Company's Washington
program as a template.Application at 4.
THE APPLICATION
Under the ISQ Program,Avista will track and report to the Commission annuallyits
performance in meeting thirteen electric measures and nine natural gas measures.Id.The program
for electric service consists of four customer service measures,seven customer guarantees,and
two electric system reliability measures.Id.at 5-11.The gas service program consists of four
ORDER NO.34181 1
customer service measures and five customer guarantees.Id All costs associated e
payment of customer service guarantees are paid by Avista shareholders.Id at 8.
STAFF'S COMMENTS
Staff filed the only comments in this matter,and recommended the Commission
approve the Application.In forming its recommendation,Staff compared the ISQ Program to the
Company's Washington program and Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho service quality program.
Staff concluded that the proposed ISQ Program is appropriately tailored to the specific
characteristics of Avista in Idaho.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter under Idaho Code §61-520.The
Commission has the express statutory authorityto ascertain and fix justand reasonable standards,
practices,and measurements of service quality applicable to public utilities in Idaho.The
Commission has reviewed the record,including the Application and the comments of Commission
Staff.We find that the ISQ Program complies with Order No.39593 and provides adequate service
measures to ensure quality service for the Company's Idaho customers.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company's amended Application is approved.
The ISQ Program,and proposed electric tariff Schedule 85 and natural gas tariff Schedule 185,
are approved as filed,effective November 1,2018.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER.Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21)days of the service date of this Order with regard to any
matter decided in this Order.Within seven (7)days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration,any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration.See Idaho Code §61-
626.
ORDER NO.34181 2
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this
day of October 2018.
PAUL KJELLANDER,PRESIDENT
KRI TINE RAPER,C ISSIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
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NO.34181 3