20230918Final_Order_No_35927.pdf

ORDER NO. 35927 1
Office of the Secretary
Service Date
September 18, 2023
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF AVISTA CORPORATION FOR THE
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 NOS. AVU-E-23-01
AVU-G-23-01

ORDER NO. 35927

On February 1, 2023, Avista Corporation (“Company”) filed an application
(“Application”) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) requesting
authorization to increase its rates for both Electric and Natural Gas service. The Company
requested a September 1, 2023, effective date.
On February 21, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Application and Notice of
Intervention Deadline. Order No. 35684. Subsequently, the Commission granted intervention to
Clearwater Paper Corporation, Idaho Forest Group LLC, Walmart Inc., and the Idaho
Conservation League and NW Energy Coalition (“ICL/NWEC”) jointly. Order Nos. 35704, 35713,
and 35719.
On April 12, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Schedule, Notice of Virtual Public
Workshop, and Notice of Technical Hearing. Order No. 35736. The Commission set a June 14,
2023, Commission Staff (“Staff”) and Intervenor written testimony deadline, and a July 12, 2023,
Company Rebuttal written testimony deadline. Id.
On June 1, 2023, Staff, the Company, and all Intervenors participated in a settlement
conference. Based upon that settlement conference, on June 6, 2023, Staff requested that the
Commission vacate the deadlines for written testimony, and the Commission issued an Order
Vacating Testimony Deadlines. Order No. 35808.
On June 14, 2023, Staff and the Company filed a Stipulation and Settlement (“Proposed
Settlement”), and a Motion for Approval of Stipulation and Settlement (“Motion”). The Proposed
Settlement was signed by Staff, the Company, and intervenors Clearwater Paper Corporation,
Idaho Forest Group LLC, and Walmart Inc. (“Signing Parties”). Intervenors ICL/NWEC did not
sign the Proposed Settlement.
On July 6, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Settlement, Notice of
Amended Schedule, Notice of Customer Hearings, Notice of Technical Hearing, and Notice of
ORDER NO. 35927 2
Public Comment Deadline. Order No. 35844. The Commission set an initial testimony filing date
of July 12, 2023, and a rebuttal testimony filing date of July 26, 2023. Id. The Commission
scheduled customer hearings in Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on July 25, 2023, and a
customer hearing in Sandpoint, Idaho, on July 26, 2023. The Commission also set a July 26, 2023,
deadline for public comments on the Proposed Settlement.
On July 25, 2023, the Commission held customer hearings in Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene,
Idaho. On July 26, 2023, the Commission held a customer hearing in Sandpoint, Idaho. On August
2, 2023, the Commission held a technical hearing on the Proposed Settlement.
On August 31, 2023, the Commission issued Order No. 35909 approving the Proposed
Settlement. On August 31, 2023, the Company submitted updated tariffs and schedules reflecting
the rates approved by the Order.
COMMISSION FINDINGS AND DECISION
The Commission has jurisdiction over the Company’s Application and the issues in this
case under Title 61 of the Idaho Code including Idaho Code §§ 61-301 through 303. The
Commission is empowered to investigate rates, charges, rules, regulations, practices, and contracts
of all public utilities and to determine whether they are just, reasonable, preferential,
discriminatory, or in violation of any provisions of law, and to fix the same by order. Idaho Code
§§ 61-501 through 503.
Having reviewed the record and the Company’s submission, the Commission finds that the
Company’s tariffs and schedules filed on August 31, 2023, comport with the provision of the
approved Settlement.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Company’s tariffs and schedules filed on August 31,
2023, are approved with an effective date of September 1, 2023.
THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order may petition for
reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date upon this Order regarding any
matter decided in this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for
reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. Idaho Code §§ 61-626.

ORDER NO. 35927 3
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 18th day of
September 2023.

__________________________________________
ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

__________________________________________
JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER

__________________________________________
EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER

ATTEST:

_________________________________
Jan Noriyuki
Commission Secretary

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