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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230711News Release.pdf1 Case No. AVU-E-23-01 Case No. AVU-G-23-01 Order No. 35844 Contact: Adam Rush Office: (208) 334-0339 E-mail: adam.rush@puc.idaho.gov NEWS RELEASE: Customer hearings scheduled to take testimony on proposed electric and natural gas rate increases BOISE (July 11, 2023) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will host customer hearings in late July to take testimony on applications from Avista to increase rates for natural gas and electric service. Avista is asking for approval to increase base rates for natural gas customers and electric customers in 2023 and 2024. Under the terms of a proposed settlement involving parties in the case, natural gas customers would see an increase of approximately 2.7 percent beginning Sept. 1, 2023, and an additional increase of 0.01 percent beginning Sept. 1, 2024. Electric service customers would see an increase of 8.0 percent beginning Sept. 1, 2023, and an additional increase of 1.4 percent beginning Sept. 1, 2024. The commission may approve the proposed settlement, deny it, or modify it. Customer hearings will be held in Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint. Those attending the hearings in-person will have the opportunity to submit testimony for the record. The hearings may be listened to by calling in, but testimony will not be accepted over the phone. The Lewiston hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) at the Elks Lodge, 3444 Country Drive Club Drive. It will conclude at 1:00 p.m. or after all customer testimony has been taken, whichever comes first. Those wanting to listen to it can call 1-415-655-0001, and enter meeting number 2632 065 8514 when prompted. The Coeur d’Alene hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 6:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) at the College of Northern Idaho’s Meyer 106 Lecture Hall, 1000 W. Garden Avenue. It will conclude at 9:00 p.m. or after all customer testimony has been taken, whichever comes first. Those wanting to listen to the hearing can call 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 2632 824 2575 when prompted. 2 The Sandpoint hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 26, at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 South 1st Avenue. It will conclude at 2:00 p.m. or after all customer testimony has been received, whichever comes first. Those interested in listening to the hearing can call 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 2631 407 0012 when prompted. Written comments on the proposed settlement are being accepted until July 26, 2023. Comments are required to be filed using the commission’s website or by e-mail unless computer access is not available. To comment using the website, please visit puc.idaho.gov. Please click on the “Case Comment Form” link on the upper left side of the page. If commenting on the proposed natural gas rate increase, please use case number AVU-G-23-01. If commenting on the proposed electric rate increase, please use case number AVU-E-23-01. Those submitting comments using e-mail are required to send them to the commission secretary and Avista at the e-mail addresses listed below. If computer access is not available, comments can be mailed to the commission and Avista at these addresses: For the commission: Commission Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 secretary@puc.idaho.gov Street address for express mail: 11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Building 8, Suite 201-A Boise, ID 83714 For Avista: David J. Meyer, Esq. Vice President and Chief Counsel for Regulatory & Government Affairs Avista Corporation P.O. Box 3727 1411 E. Mission Ave. Spokane, WA 99220-3727 david.meyer@avistacorp.com Patrick D. Ehrbar Director of Regulatory Affairs Avista Utilities P.O. Box 3727 1411 E. Mission Ave. 3 Spokane, WA 99220-3727 pat.ehrbar@avistacorp.com avistadockets@avistacorp.com Additional information on Avista’s applications is available at puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6971 or puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/6970.