HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211213Decision Memo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM 1
DECISION MEMORANDUM
TO: COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER
COMMISSIONER RAPER
COMMISSIONER ANDERSON
COMMISSION SECRETARY
COMMISSION STAFF
LEGAL
FROM: TAYLOR R. BROOKS
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
DATE: DECEMBER 14, 2021
SUBJECT: IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA UTILITIES’ APPLICATION FOR AN
ORDER APPROVING A CHANGE IN NATURAL GAS RATES AND
CHARGES; CASE NO. AVU-G-21-07.
On July 2, 2021, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities (“Company”) filed its annual
Purchased Gas Cost Adjustment (“PGA”) Application asking to increase its annualized revenues
by about $9.0 million or approximately 13.5%. See Case No. AVU-G-21-04. On August 31,
2021, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) approved the Company’s
application and ordered the proposed change to its natural gas rates and charges. See Order No.
35151, p. 5. Additionally, the Commission ordered that the Company “promptly apply to amend
its weighted average cost of gas (“WACOG”) if gas prices materially deviated from the
WACOG [approved in Order No. 35151.].” Id. at 6.
On December 3, 2021, the Company filed an “Out of Cycle” PGA to amend the
commodity WACOG in Schedule 150 due to a material change in natural gas prices. Application
at 2. The Company now seeks to increase its annualized revenues by approximately $3.3 million
or about 8.1%. Id. at 1. If the Company’s request is approved, a residential or small commercial
customer using an average of 63 therms for the period January – October 2022 will see an
increase of $3.93 per month, or approximately 7.6%. Id. The present bill for 63 therms is $51.93
while the proposed bill is $55.86. The Company requests an effective date of February 1, 2022.
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DECISION MEMORANDUM 2
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the case be processed through Modified Procedure, with a
Staff and interested persons comment deadline of January 6, 2022 and a Company reply
deadline of January 13, 2022.
COMMISSION DECISION
Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Application and Notice of Modified
Procedure with a Staff and interested persons comment deadline of January 6, 2022 and a
Company reply deadline of January 13, 2022?
Taylor R. Brooks
Deputy Attorney General
I:\Legal\GAS\AVU-G-21-07\memos\AVUG2107_dec_tb.doc