20181219notice_of_application_order_no_34222.pdf

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
December 19,2018
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION )CASE NO.AVU-G-18-08
OF AVISTA CORPORATION FOR A )
DETERMINATION OF 2014-2017 NATURAL )NOTICE OF APPLICATION
GAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPENSES AS )PRUDENTLY INCURRED )NOTICE OF INTERVENTION
)DEADLINE
)ORDER NO.34222
On November 16,2018,Avista Corporation ("Avista"or "Company")filed an
Application requestingthe Commission determine the Company prudentlyincurred $2,899,525 in
natural gas energy efficiency expenses from January 1,2014 throughDecember 31,2017.The
Application summarizes the Company's energy efficiency activities and their cost-effectiveness.
The Application includes the Company's Idaho 2016-2017 Natural Gas Impact Evaluation,which
was prepared by a third party,and its 2016 and 2017 Idaho Annual Conservation Report(s).
With this Order,the Commission provides notice of the Application,and sets deadlines
for interested persons to intervene as parties to the case.
BACKGROUND
Generally,if a utility operates programs to help improve customers'efficient use of
energy,the Commission will allow the utility an opportunityto recover its program expenses
through rates if the Commission finds the expenses were prudently incurred.However,if the
Commission finds any of the expenses were not prudentlyincurred,it will not allow the utility to
recover those expenses through rates,and the disallowed expenses will be borne by the utility's
shareholders and not by customers.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that Avista is a public utilitythat produces,transmits,
and distributes electricityto customers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho.The Company
also distributes natural gas in northern Idaho and parts of
Montana,Washington,and Oregon.This Application only pertains to the prudency of the
Company's energy efficiencyexpenses while providing natural gas in Idaho.The prudency of the
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34222 1
Company's energy efficiency expenses while providing electric service is addressed in a separate
docket,Case No.AVU-E-18-12.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED the Company states it spent $2,899,525 on natural
gas energy efficiency measures from January 1,2014,to December 31,2017.Application at 1.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company reports that 54%,or $1,567,707,of
its total expenditureswere paid to customers in direct incentives.Id at 5.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company reports that its energy efficiency
portfolio achieved a Utility Cost Test ratio of 1.45 in 2016 and 2.35 in 2017.Id.at 7-8.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company reports that its natural gas energy
efficiency programs saved 535,449 therms,on a gross basis,from January 1,2016,through
December 31,2017,and also that its natural gas energy efficiency programs exceeded the
Company's 2016 and 2017 Integrated Resource Planning target(s).Id.at 9.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company hired a third party to conduct an
impact evaluation in order to accurately summarize "the gross energy and demand savings
attributable to Avista's Energy Efficiency portfolio."Id.at 10.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and supporting documentation
have been filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection during regular
business hours at the Commission offices.These documents are also available on the
Commission's web site at www.puc.idaho.gov.Click on the "Open Cases"link under the heading
"Natural Gas"and click on the case number as shown on the front of this document.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this matter will be conducted
pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Procedure,IDAPA 31.01.01.000 et seq.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held
pursuant to the Commission's jurisdictionunder Title 61 of the Idaho Code and specifically Idaho
Code §§61-117,61-502,61-503 and 61-622.The Commission may enter any final Order
consistent with its authorityunder Title 61.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who wish to intervene in this matter to
obtain the rights of party (e.g.,to file formal discovery,or present evidence or cross-examine
witnesses at a hearing)must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission under the
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34222 2
Commission's Rules of Procedure 72 and 73,IDAPA 31.01.01.072 and .073.Persons who wish
to intervene as a party must file a Petition to Intervene no later than January 8,2019.Such
persons shall also provide the Commission Secretary with their electronic mail address to facilitate
further communications.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons who would like to present their views
without parties'rights of participation and cross-examinationare not required to intervenebut may
present their views by submitting written comments to the Commission.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission Secretary shall issue a Notice
of Parties after the deadline for intervention has passed.The Notice of Parties shall assign exhibit
numbers to each party in this proceeding.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once the Notice of Parties is issued,
Commission Staff will informally confer with the parties to discuss a schedule to process this case
and other issues as raised by the parties.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that persons desiring to intervene in this case for the
purpose of obtaining parties'rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the
Commission,pursuant to Rules 72 and 73,IDAPA 31.01.72-.73,no later than January 8,2019.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that,after the Secretary issues a Notice of Parties,Staff
will informally confer with the parties to discuss the appropriate scheduling of this case.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
ORDER NO.34222 3
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise,Idaho this /
day of December,2018.
P L KJEILA I ER RESIDENT
KRISTINE RAPER,SIONER
ERIC ANDERSON,COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Diane M.Hanian
Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\AVU-G-18-08\AVUGl808_nteapp nte inter se
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
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ORDER NO.34222 4