20230614Cover Letter_COS_Motion for Approval.pdf

RECEIVED
2023 JUNE 14, 2023 2:04PM
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have this 14th day of June 2023, served the foregoing Motion for
Approval of Stipulation and Settlement, as well as the Settlement Stipulation itself, in Case Nos.
AVU-E-23-01 and AVU-G-23-01, upon the following parties by electronically providing a copy
thereof, to:

Commission Staff:
Chris Burdin
Deputy Attorneys General
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, ID 83714
[e-mail]

Jan Noriyuki, Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd
Building 8, Suite 201-A
Boise, ID 83714
[e-mail]

Clearwater Paper:
Peter J. Richardson
Richardson Adams
515 N. 27th Street
PO Box 7218
Boise, ID 83702
[e-mail]

Dr. Don Reading
280 S. Silverwood Way
Eagle, ID 83616
[e-mail]

[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Idaho Forest Group:
Andrew Moratzka
Stoel Rives LLP
33 South Sixth Street, Suite 4200
Minneapolis, MN 55405
[e-mail]

Larry Crowley
The Energy Strategies Institute, Inc.
3738 S. Harris Ranch Ave.
Boise, ID 83716
[e-mail]

Bradley R. Mullins
Principal Consultant
MW Analytics
[e-mail]

Walmart:
Justina A. Caviglia
Parons Behle & Latimer
50 Est Liberty Street, Suite 750
Reno, NV 89502
[e-mail]

Steve W. Chriss
Director, Energy Services
Walmart Inc.
2608 Southeast “J” Street
Bentonville, AR 72716
[e-mail]

Idaho Conservation League:
Marie Callaway Kellner
Brad Heusinkveld
Idaho Conservation League
710 N. 6th St.
Boise, ID 83702
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
NW Energy Coalition:
F. Diego Rivas
NW Energy Coalition
1101 8th Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
[e-mail]

/s/ Shawn Bonfield

Shawn Bonfield
Sr. Manager of Regulatory Policy & Strategy
MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF STIPULATION AND SETTLEMENT Page 1

David J. Meyer, Esq.
Vice President and Chief Counsel of
Regulatory and Governmental Affairs
Avista Corporation
1411 E. Mission Avenue
P.O. Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220
Phone: [phone]

Chris Burdin
Deputy Attorney General
Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF AVISTA CORPORATION FOR
AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES
AND CHARGES FOR ELECTRIC AND
NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO ELECTRIC
AND NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS IN
THE STATE OF IDAHO

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CASE NO. AVU-E-23-01
CASE NO. AVU-G-23-01

MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF
STIPULATION AND SETTLEMENT

Avista Corporation, doing business as Avista Utilities ("Avista" or "Company") and the
Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Staff”), hereby move the Commission for an
Order accepting the Settlement Stipulation filed herewith. See Commission Rules 56, 276
and 274.
1. On February 1, 2023, Avista filed an Application with the Commission for
authority to increase revenue effective September 1, 2023, and September 1, 2024, for electric
and natural gas service in Idaho. The Company proposed a “Two-Year Rate Plan” with an
increase in electric base revenue of $37.5 million or 13.6% for “Rate Year 1”, and $13.2 million
or 4.2% for “Rate Year 2”. With regard to natural gas, the Company proposed an increase in
base revenue of $2.8 or 6.0% for “Rate Year 1”, and $120,000 or 0.3% for “Rate Year 2”. By
MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF STIPULATION AND SETTLEMENT Page 2

Order No. 35684, dated February 21, 2023, the Commission provided Notice of the Application
and set an intervention deadline for interested persons and parties to intervene in the case.
2. Petitions to intervene in this proceeding were filed by Clearwater Paper
Corporation ("Clearwater"), Idaho Forest Group, LLC ("Idaho Forest"), Walmart Inc. and Idaho
Conservation League / NW Energy Coalition (“ICL/NWEC”). The Commission granted these
interventions in IPUC Order Nos. 35704, 35713 and 35719.
3. A settlement conference was noticed and held on June 1, 2023. All Parties
attended, whether in person or virtually. Based on these settlement discussions, the Settling
Parties1, whose signatures appear on the Stipulation, have agreed to resolve and settle all of the
issues in the case. ICL/NWEC do not join in the Settlement. A copy of the signed Stipulation
evidencing that settlement is enclosed as Attachment 1.
4. The Settling Parties recommend that the Commission grant this Motion and
approve the Stipulation in its entirety, without material change or condition, pursuant to RP
274.
5. The Settling Parties respectfully request that the procedural schedule
established in this case be amended to allow for the Settling Parties to submit testimony in
support or opposition of the Stipulation on July 12, 2023, and any rebuttal testimony by the
Settling Parties by July 26, 2023. Because of the Settlement, the June 14, 2023 date for the
filing of Staff and Intervenor Testimony and the July 12, 2023 date for the filing of
Company Rebuttal were vacated by Commission Order 35808.
6. As noted in the Stipulation, the parties agree that the Stipulation is in the public

1 Avista, Staff, Clearwater, Idaho Forest, and Walmart Inc., are collectively referred to as the "Settling Parties” and
singularly as a “Settling Party.” The remaining parties, ICL/NWEC, do not join in the Settlement.
MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF STIPULATION AND SETTLEMENT Page 3

interest and that all of its terms and conditions are fair, just and reasonable.
7. The Settling Parties support this Motion.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties respectfully request that the Commission issue an
order in Case Nos. AVU-E-23-01 & AVU-G-23-01:
1. Granting this Motion and accepting the Stipulation (Attachment 1), in its
entirety, without material change or condition;
2. Revising the procedural schedule to allow for the filing of testimony in support
or opposition of the Settlement on July 12, 2023, and July 26, 2023, for any rebuttal
testimony by the Settling Parties.
3. Authorizing the Company to implement revised tariff schedules designed to
increase the annual electric and natural gas revenue from Idaho customers consistent with
the terms of the Stipulation; and
4. Authorizing that revised tariff schedules implementing settlement rates be
made effective September 1, 2023, consistent with the terms of the Stipulation.
Respectfully submitted this ___ day of June, 2023.
Avista Corporation
By:
David J. Meyer
Attorney for Avista Corporation

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff

By:
Chris Burdin
Deputy Attorney General