20230907Reply Comments.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission P.O. Box 3727
Spokane, Washington 99220-0500
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170

September 7, 2023

Jan Noriyuki, Secretary
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd. Bldg. 8, Ste. 201-A
Boise, Idaho 83714

RE: Case No. AVU-G-23-03 - Avista Utilities 2023 Natural Gas Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)

Dear Ms. Noriyuki:

Avista Corporation, dba Avista Utilities (Avista or the Company), submits the following comments
in response to comments received from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Staff (Staff) in the
matter of the Company’s Natural Gas IRP in Case No. AVUG-23-03. Avista appreciates the time and
diligence of Idaho Staff and the valuable inputs given during the Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC) process and looks forward to continued collaboration for planning in future IRPs.

The following comments are in response to Staff’s two recommendations.

1.) Staff recommends the Company's 2023 Natural Gas IRP be acknowledged and accepted
for filing contingent on the Company submitting a compliance filing with an updated
DSM Avoided Cost table that does not include a National Carbon Tax starting in 2030.

Response: The table below shows the updated Preferred Resource Selection (PRS) scenarios
avoided cost table, excluding the national carbon tax.

Fiscal Year Units ID_Com ID_Ind ID_Res
2023 $/MMBtu $6.94 $6.31 $7.10
2024 $/MMBtu $5.69 $5.13 $5.84
2025 $/MMBtu $4.48 $4.08 $4.59
2026 $/MMBtu $3.98 $3.63 $4.08
2027 $/MMBtu $3.78 $3.46 $3.87
2028 $/MMBtu $4.01 $3.61 $4.13
2029 $/MMBtu $3.82 $3.53 $3.90
2030 $/MMBtu $3.85 $3.58 $3.93
2031 $/MMBtu $3.90 $3.66 $3.98
2032 $/MMBtu $4.10 $3.82 $4.19
RECEIVED
Thursday, September 7, 2023 11:24:41 AM
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION

Page 2 of 2
2033 $/MMBtu $4.26 $3.97 $4.35
2034 $/MMBtu $4.30 $4.02 $4.39
2035 $/MMBtu $4.43 $4.16 $4.52
2036 $/MMBtu $4.70 $4.36 $4.80
2037 $/MMBtu $4.64 $4.36 $4.73
2038 $/MMBtu $4.81 $4.51 $4.90
2039 $/MMBtu $4.86 $4.55 $4.97
2040 $/MMBtu $5.06 $4.73 $5.19
2041 $/MMBtu $5.21 $4.90 $5.33
2042 $/MMBtu $5.30 $5.02 $5.41
2043 $/MMBtu $5.46 $5.22 $5.56
2044 $/MMBtu $5.47 $5.25 $5.57
2045 $/MMBtu $5.53 $5.34 $5.61

2.) Staff recommends that the Commission require the Company to include updates on PLEXOS®
implementation, model validation, and enhancements in its semi-annual Natural Gas Updates with
the Commission.

Response: Avista will provide updates on PLEXOS® implementation, model validation, and
enhancements in its semi-annual Natural Gas Updates with the Commission.

If you have any questions regarding these comments, please contact Tom Pardee at 509-495-2159 or
[e-mail], or myself at 509-495-2782 or [e-mail].

Sincerely,

/s/ Shawn Bonfield

Shawn Bonfield
Sr. Manager of Regulatory Policy & Strategy