Idaho Public Utilities Commission
Case Nos.
AVU-E-11-02 and AVU-G-11-03, Order No. 32278
July 7,
2011
Contact:
Gene Fadness (208) 334-0339, 890-2712
Website: www.puc.idaho.gov
Avista seeks decreases
in gas, electric efficiency riders
Avista Utilities, which operates
in northern Idaho, is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve
its applications for reductions to efficiency riders that appear on the bills
of the utility’s electric and natural gas customers.
The gas and electric efficiency
riders are separate line items on customer bills, apart from the base rates. (This case should not be confused with
pending applications from Avista to increase gas and electric base rates.)
The reduction in the riders would result in an average overall gas bill
reduction of about 4.2 percent and about 0.3 percent in electric bills.
Revenue from the riders is used
to fund about 30 electric and natural gas efficiency programs. Avista estimates
that during 2010, energy efficiency programs resulted in electric savings of
68,911 megawatt-hours (105 percent of the company goal) and natural gas savings
of about 1.9 million therms (85 percent of the company goal).
Avista reports that the rider
balance in the electric account, with a rider of 0.258 cents per kWh for
residential electric customers, is $723,240. Avista proposes to decrease the
electric rider to 0.252 cents per kWh. The balance in the natural gas account
is $897,808. Avista proposes to decrease the gas rider from 5.7 cents per therm
to 1.9 cents per therm. The decreases, if approved, would be effective Aug.
1.
Revenue collected from the riders
can go only toward efficiency programs and cannot be used for other purposes
such as salaries or increasing company’s earnings. The programs that the riders fund must pass
three cost-effectiveness tests demonstrating that, without the programs in
place, customers would be paying more for electric and natural gas
service. Programs that are not
cost-effective are removed from the rider.
The commission is taking comments on Avista’s
applications through July 19. Comments are accepted via e-mail by accessing the
commission’s homepage at www.puc.idaho.gov
and clicking on "Comments & Questions About a Case." Fill in the
case numbers (AVU-E-11-02 and AVU-G-11-03) and enter your comments. Comments
can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to (208)
334-3762.