20180928Decision Memo.pdf

DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO COMI\iIISSIONER KIELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM:EDWARD JBWELL
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: SEPTEMBER 20,2018
SUBJECT:APPLICATION OF AVISTA FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED SERVICB
QUALITY MEASURES PROGRAM AND ASSOCIATED REVISIONS TO
ITS ELECTRIC AND NATURAL GAS TARIFFS;
CASE NOS. AVU.E.18.1O AND AVU.G.18.O6.
On September 10, 2018, Avista Corporation ("Avista" or "the Company") filed an
Application seeking approval of the Company's proposed Service Quality Measures Program
("SQM Program") and authorizatron to revise its associated electric and natural gas tariffs,
Schedule 85 and Schedule 185 respectively.
THE APPLICATION
In Final Order No. 39593, the Commission approved the stipulated settlement
("Settlement") in Avista's20lJ general rate case, AVU-E-17-01/AVU-G-11-02. One condition of
the Settlement is that Avista will work with interested parties to develop a SQM Program similar
to the Company's program in Washington. Settlement at if 21. The Company worked with Staff to
develop the current proposal. Application at 4.
Under the proposed SQM Program, Avista would track and report to the Commission
annually its performance in meeting thirteen electric measures and nine natural gas measures. The
measures are grouped into three categories: customer service, electric system reliability, and
customer guarantees . Id. at 4-5.
Avista requests an effective date of November 1, 2018. Id. at l.
1DECISION MEMORANDUM
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Commission issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure, with comments due on October 19, 2018 and reply comments, if any, due on October
25,2018.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure that establishes a comment deadline of October 19,2018 and a reply comment deadline
of October 25,2018?
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Edwafl. lerfor\
Deputy AttornfGeneral
I:\ITBaNELECTRIC\AVUEllilo_AVUGl806_dcc memo l_ej
2DECISION MEMORANDUM