20220727Notice_of_Petition_Order_No_35471.pdf

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35471 1

Office of the Secretary
Service Date
July 27, 2022
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

On June 28, 2022, Avista Corporation d/b/a Avista Utilities (“Company”) Petitioned the
Commission for a temporary exemption from provisions of Gas Service Rules (“GSR”) 151 and
152, IDAPA 31.31.01.151-.152, Utility Customer Relations Rule (“UCRR”) 203, IDAPA
31.21.01.203, and associated Company tariffs.
The Commission now issues this Notice of the Company’s Petition, Notice of Modified
Procedure and sets public comment and Company reply deadlines.
BACKGROUND
GSR 151 and 152 set forth requirements for the periodic testing of customer natural gas
meters and standards for natural gas service. UCCR 203 provides stipulations regarding the
issuance of corrected bills, including specifics regarding the rebilling time period to be used in the
event that the time when a billing problem began cannot be reasonably determined.
Consistent with industry practices, the Company tests three types of meters, including
“diaphragm meters”, the meter type most used to serve residential loads and medium commercial
loads—to verify performance of new and installed meters. Petition at 2-3. Meters that fail to meet
the Company’s standards are tested more frequently or, eventually, removed from service. Id. at
4.
NOTICE OF PETITION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that, to test diaphragm meters, the Company represents
that it must temporarily remove the meters from service and take them off-site. However, due to
supply chain issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic and other events, the Company states there
is and will continue to be an insufficient amount of replacement meters to temporarily install while
it tests its diaphragm meters and/or replaces failed meters.
IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA
CORPORATION’S PETITION FOR A
TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM GAS
SERVICE RULES 151 AND 152, UTILITY
CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULE 203(3), AND
ASSOCIATED TARIFFS
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CASE NO. AVU-G-22-03

NOTICE OF PETITION

NOTICE OF MODIFIED
PROCEDURE

ORDER NO. 35471
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35471 2

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that, to maintain an adequate level of replacement
meters to continue its current testing regime and replace failed meters, the Company represents it
considered but ultimately decided not to seek meters from a second manufacturer, borrow or buy
meters from other utilities, or use diaphragm meter alternatives. Thus, to build up an adequate
supply of meters for its testing and replacement program, the Company seeks to pause its
diaphragm meter testing program through December 31, 2023. Id.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company represents that UCCR 203(3)(a)
limits the timeframe under which corrected billings can be sent to a customer to the six months
preceding the date an error in the meter is discovered. Id. at 9. Pausing its meter testing and
replacement program, the Company states, will require that some customers whose meters
eventually test outside the prescribed parameters will need to be rebilled for billings more than six
months before the meter error was discovered.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that once it resumes its testing and replacement
program, the Company predicts it will discover meters that resulted in overcharges or undercharges
to customers. Thus, the Company requests it be allowed to extend the rebilling period for
customers who have been overcharged to 18-months from the time it resumes its testing program.
Id. The Company explains customers who have been undercharged will only be rebilled for up to
six months. Id. at 9-10. The Company states that, based on previous years’ data, it estimates that
if an average customer is overbilled for 18 months, the customer would receive a bill credit for
$26.10.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Petition is available for public inspection
during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. This document is 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.
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 APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35471 3

NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Commission has determined that the public
interest may not require a formal hearing in this matter, and it will review the case through written
submissions under the Commission’s Rules of Modified Procedure Rules 201-204 of the Idaho
Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Procedure, IDAPA 31.01.01.201-204. The Commission
notes that Modified Procedure and written comments have proven to be an effective means for
obtaining public input and participation.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that persons desiring to state a position on this
Application may file a written comment explaining why they support or oppose the Application.
Persons who would like a hearing must specifically request a hearing in their written comments.
Persons shall have until September 13, 2022, to file written comments. Comments must be
filed through the Commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is unavailable. To
comment electronically, please access the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click the
“Case Comment Form” and complete the form using the case number as it appears on the front of
this document. To file by e-mail, the customer must e-mail the comments to the Commission
Secretary and the Company at the e-mail addresses listed below. If computer access is unavailable,
then comments may be mailed to the Commission and Company at these addresses:

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by
September 20, 2022.
For the Idaho PUC:

Commission Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
[e-mail]

Street Address for Express Mail:

11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, ID 83714
For the Company:

David J. Meyer, Esq.
Vice President and Chief Counsel
Regulatory & Governmental Affairs
Patrick Ehrbar
Director of Regulatory Affairs
P.O. Box 3727
1411 E. Mission Avenue, MSC 27
Spokane, WA 99220-3727
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

NOTICE OF APPLICATION
NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 35471 4

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that if no written comments or protests are received
within the time limit set, the Commission will consider this matter on its merits and enter its order
without a formal hearing. If written comments are received within the time limit set, the
Commission will consider them and, in its discretion, may set the same for formal hearing.
O R D E R
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s Application be processed by Modified
Procedure, Rules 201-204 (IDAPA 31.01.01.201-.204). Persons interested in submitting written
comments must do so by September 13, 2022. The Company must file any reply comments by
September 20, 2022.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that parties comply with Order No. 35375, issued April 21,
2022. Generally, all pleadings should be filed with the Commission electronically and will be
deemed timely filed when received by the Commission Secretary. See Rule 14.02. Service between
parties should continue to be accomplished electronically when possible. However, voluminous
discovery-related documents may be filed and served on CD-ROM or a USB flash drive.
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 27th day of
July 2022.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

__________________________________________
JOHN CHATBURN, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

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