20220325Notice_of_Application_Order_No_35355.pdf

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 35355 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
March 25, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

On March 1, 2022, Avista Corporation dba Avista Utilities (“Company”) applied for
authority to implement a new tariff Schedule 195—Optional Renewable Gas (“Schedule 195”).
The Company proposes to implement a voluntary Renewable Natural Gas (“RNG”) program that
provides customers an opportunity to purchase RNG as part of their regular monthly service. The
Company requested a May 1, 2022, effective date.
The Commission now issues this notice of the Company’s Application and sets a 21-
day intervention deadline for persons wishing to be joined as parties. The Commission further
issues this Notice of Suspension, suspending the Company’s proposed effective date of May 1,
2022, by thirty-days plus five months in accordance with Idaho Code § 61-622(4).
BACKGROUND
The Company conducted a commercial customer research project in 2019 focused
exclusively on energy and the environment plus internal research geared at residential customers’
RNG programs in 2020. Id. With ample RNG supply available to support a voluntary RNG
program for its natural gas customers, positive customer sentiment towards an RNG program, and
uptick in customer enrollments amongst its Washington natural gas customers, the Company
believes offering a voluntary RNG program in Idaho is a valuable option for its interested
customers. Id. at 3.

IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA
CORPORATION’S PROPOSED TARIFF
SCHEDULE 195—OPTIONAL RENEWABLE
NATURAL GAS
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CASE NO. AVU-G-22-01

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOTICE OF INTERVENTION
DEADLINE

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE

ORDER NO. 35355
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 35355 2

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Company plans to offer customers the
opportunity to purchase blocks of RNG where each block includes environmental attributes
represented by the equivalent to 1.5 therms of RNG for $5.00 per block (“Program”). Id. The
Company states that the charges would be separated on customer’s monthly bills and would be in
addition to the customer’s regular natural gas charges. Id. The Company states it has structured
the price to confine the costs and benefits strictly to Program participants, including the supply of
RNG attributes and Program administration costs. Id.; see also Attachment A to the Company’s
Application.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company has signed an agreement with Puget
Sound Energy (“PSE”) to acquire the necessary RNG to support the Program. PSE has signed a
contract for RNG with Klickitat Public Utility District to acquire an estimated 550,000 dekatherms
per year for the first three years with significantly more RNG in the years following. Application
at 3.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that interested customers may enroll online or over
the phone. Id. Customers may participate in the Program with no contract and may cancel
participation at any time. Id. at 4. Natural gas customers will be notified of the Program on the
effective date of Commission approval. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED the Company has identified key performance
indicators and will establish baseline metrics to track Program performance to meet its primary
objectives of customer satisfaction, customer awareness, and customer participation. Id. The
Company will monitor customer awareness through external web traffic on the Program’s page
and participation will be measured by customer enrollment. Id. For participating customers, the
Company states it will utilize the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System—M-RETS—for
purposes of the Program and retiring environmental attributes on behalf of participating customers.
Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application and attachments are available
for public inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. These documents
are also available on the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “GAS” icon,
select “Open Cases,” and click on the case number as shown on the front of this document.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 35355 3

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that all proceedings in this case will be held
pursuant to the Commission’s jurisdiction under Title 61 of the Idaho Code.
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.
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to intervene in this matter to
obtain parties’ rights of participation must file a Petition to Intervene with the Commission
pursuant to this 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 21 days
after the date of service of this Order. Persons desiring to present their views without parties’
rights of participation do not have to intervene and may present their comments without prior
notification to the Commission or the parties.
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 may be raised by the parties.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the following people are designated as the
Company’s representatives in this matter:
Shawn Bonfield
Amanda Ghering
Avista Corporation
1411 E. Mission
P.O. Box 3727
Spokane, WA 99220-0500
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company filed its Application on March
1, 2022, and proposes a May 1, 2022, effective date. The Commission finds the Company’s
proposed effective date does not provide adequate time for Commission Staff and interested
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 35355 4

persons to evaluate the Company’s proposal. Pursuant to Idaho Code § 61-622(4), the Commission
suspends the proposed changes for 30 days and five months or until the Commission enters an
order accepting, rejecting, or modifying the proposed rate increases.
O R D E R
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 31.01.01.72-73, no later than 21 days after the
service date of this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that after the Notice of Parties has issued, Commission
Staff shall confer with the parties regarding a procedural schedule for this matter.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Company’s proposed effective date of May 1,
2022, is suspended for 30 days plus five months or until the Commission enters an earlier order
accepting, rejecting, or modifying the proposed rate increases.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties should continue to comply with Order
No. 35058, issued June 3, 2021. All pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically
and shall be deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02.
Service between parties should also be accomplished electronically. Voluminous discovery-related
documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
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NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF INTERVENTION DEADLINE
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE
ORDER NO. 35355 5

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 25th day
of March 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

I:\Legal\GAS\AVU-G-22-01\orders\AVUG2201_ntc_app_int_susp_dh.docx