20231124Notice_of_Application_Order_No_36009.pdf

NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 1
Service Date
November 24, 2023
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF AVISTA’S APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER AUTHORIZING DEFERRED ACCOUNTING FOR COSTS RELATED TO THE NOVEMBER 2023 WILLIAMS NORTHWEST PIPELINE OUTAGE
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NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE

On November 9, 2023, Avista Corporation d/b/a Avista Utilities (“Company”) applied
to the Commission for authority to defer costs associated with a “dig in” event causing the
Williams Pipeline to shut down on the afternoon of November 8, 2023. The Company requested
its Application be processed by Modified Procedure.
The Commission now provides this Notice of Application and establishes comment
deadlines for interested persons and the Company’s reply.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the shutdown forced the Company to stop
delivering natural gas to customers in the Moscow and Lewiston areas. Between Idaho and
Washington, the Company estimates 35,000-40,000 customers were affected.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company had not finalized its response
plan at the time of filing but indicated it will have to visit every affected premise to turn off natural
gas meters, then purge the lines, and finally refill the lines, turn on the meters, and relight
appliances. The duration of the outage was unknown at the time of filing.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company proposes to defer costs
associated with this incident for future recovery. Under the Company’s proposal, it would seek
reimbursement of deferred costs plus interest in a later proceeding. The Company did not rule out
that it could seek damages through future legal proceedings which could be applied towards the
deferral.
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company did not provide its response plan,
restoration plan, communications, or other shutdown response measures. The Company indicated
it would supplement the filing when additional information is available.
NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 2
YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Application is available for public
inspection during regular business hours at the Commission’s office. The Application is also
available on the Commission’s website at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the “ELECTRIC” 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 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 December 18, 2023 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:

NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 3

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that the Company must file any reply comments by
December 20, 2023.
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. Persons interested in submitting written comments must do so by
December 18, 2023. The Company must file any reply comments by December 20, 2023.
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.
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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 Avista Corporation:
David J. Meyer
P.O. Box 3727 1411 E. Mission Ave. Spokane, WA 99220-3727 [e-mail]

Patrick D. Ehrbar P.O. Box 3727 1411 E. Mission Ave.
Spokane, WA 99220-3727
[e-mail] [e-mail]
NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOTICE OF MODIFIED PROCEDURE
ORDER NO. 4
DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this 24th day
of November 2023.

ERIC ANDERSON, PRESIDENT

EDWARD LODGE, COMMISSIONER

JOHN R. HAMMOND JR., COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:

Monica Barrios-Sanchez Interim Commission Secretary
I:\Legal\GAS\AVU-G-23-08_WNP outage\orders\AVUG2308_ntc app mod_dh.docx