20041104Application.pdf

Avista Corp.
1411 East Mission POBox3727
Spokane, Washington 99220-3727
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800-727-9170
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November 3,2004
State of Idaho
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Statehouse
Boise I D 83720
Attention: Myrna Walters, Secretary
Case NO.(WWP-97-1 & AVU-01-
Transmitted herewith are one executed and two conformed copies of a petition to modify existing orders
27153 and 28899. The petition contains as much information as is presently known. If other applicable
data or documents become available, they will be forwarded to your attention.
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The Company requests to receive an Order of Approval from the Commission by December 3, 2004.
When complete, please send two (2) executed copies of the Order of Approval to:
Ms. Diane C. Thoren
Assistant Treasurer
A vista Corporation
East 1411 Mission Avenue
Spokane W A 99202-2600
If any questions arise or additional information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Kimball at
509-495-4584.
Sincerely,
Diane C. Thoren
Assistant Treasurer
Enclosures
BEFORE THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITI ES COMMI~~h; V
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In the Matter of the Application of AVISTA CORP.
for an Order modifying existing authority
to allow the issuance of secured obligations in
connection with certain $88,850,000 unsecured
medium-term notes currently outstanding and
certain unsecured obligations related to certain
$83,700,000 tax-exempt debt securities
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CASE NO. WWP-97-1 -
and CASE NO. AVU-UiO;1-; ; t/)LIL
UT \l r\t ~)- COr)\HI SSION
A VIJ 11- (Jt(-I.J
PETITION TO MODIFY EXISTING AUTHORITY
Avista Corporation (the Applicant) requests authorization from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) to
modify the authority contained in Order No. 27153 issued in Case No. WWP-97-1 and in Order No. 28899 issued in
Case No. A VU-01-3. Specifically, the Applicant proposes to issue secured obligations (Le. first mortgage bonds issued
under the Applicant's Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of June 1 , 1939) to the trustee for holders of the Applicant'
Medium-Term Notes, Series C, issued under Order No. 27153 (the Series C Notes), and to the bond insurer of those
certain City of Forsyth, Montana, Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Avista Corporation Colstrip Project) Series
1999A and Series 1999B, issued under Order No. 28899 (the Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds).
I. INTRODUCTION
In October 1997, the Applicant received approval from the Commission to issue up to $250,000,000 of debt
securities (and to refinance $85,000,000 of securities related to certain tax-exempt debt securities, which was later
supplemented by the authority granted in Order No. 28899). The Applicant issued $109,000,000 of Series C Notes
under the authority granted in Order No. 27153. $88,850,000 of Series C Notes are presently outstanding. The Series C
Notes are unsecured obligations of the Applicant. Certain provisions of the Series C Notes limit the amount of secured
debt the Applicant can issue, unless the Applicant secures the Series C Notes.
In November 2001 , the Applicant received approval from the Commission to issue up to $83,700,000 of
securities in connection with the refunding of certain pollution control bonds issued by the City of Forsyth, Montana, the
proceeds of which had been loaned to the Applicant. The Applicant issued $83,700,000 of securities related to the
Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds under the authority granted in Order No. 28899. $83,700,000 of Colstrip Pollution
Control Bonds are presently outstanding. The securities issued by the Applicant related to the Colstrip Pollution Control
Bonds are unsecured obligations of the Applicant. Conditions in the bond insurance policy for the Colstrip Pollution
Control Bonds similarly limit the amount of secured debt the Applicant can issue, unless the Applicant secures its
obligations related to the Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds.
Recent developments in the financial markets have offered the Applicant several favorable opportunities, which
involve the issuance of additional secured debt that would otherwise violate the restrictions contained in the Series C
Notes and in the bond insurance policy for the Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds. In light of these opportunities, the
Applicant believes that it is necessary to secure both the Series C Notes and its obligations related to the Colstrip
Pollution Control Bonds in order to remove the restrictions on the Applicant's issuance of additional secured debt.
Removal of these negative covenants will provide the Applicant more flexibility on issuing debt, will enable the Applicant
to restructure its credit facility on more favorable terms and at competitive rates, and will allow the Applicant to better
manage its debt. The Applicant expects that these opportunities will allow the Applicant to reduce its overall costs and
expenses related to its credit facilities and borrowings.
The Applicant is now requesting modification of the Commission s Orders as described below.
II. PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS
The Applicant is requesting that Order No. 27153 and Order No. 28899 be modified to allow the Applicant to
issue secured obligations (Le. first mortgage bonds issued under the Applicant's Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of
June 1 , 1939) in order to remove the negative covenants contained in the conditions of the Series C Notes and the bond
insurance policy for the Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds. The requested authority will not increase the amount of debt
outstanding under either the Series C Notes or the Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds. The issuance of additional secured
obligations will only operate to convert the Applicant's obligations under the Series C Notes and the Colstrip Pollution
Control Bonds from unsecured obligations to secured obligations. The Applicant anticipates that its secured obligations
will be issued (i) to the trustee for benefit of holders of the Series C Notes, and (ii) to the bond insurer under the bond
insurance policy for the Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds, or alternatively to the trustee for the benefit of holders of the
Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds.
III. RELIEF REQUESTED
The Applicant respectfully requests that the Commission grant this petition ex parte
(A) Modifying Order No. 27153 and Order No. 28899 to allow the Applicant to issued secured obligations in order
to remove the negative covenants contained in the conditions of the Series C Notes and the bond insurance policy for the
Colstrip Pollution Control Bonds; and
(B) Providing that the authority granted in such decision or order will be effective at the earliest date permitted by
law.
Dated at Spokane, Washington, this 3rd day of November 2004.
Respectfully submitted,
AVISTA CORPORATION
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Diane C. Thoren
Assistant Treasurer