Panel Seeks Avista Clarification

Avista Utilities was not the only party that questioned portions of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission’s Sept. 29 electricity and natural gas rates decision.

The commission’s own staff weighed in Monday, as well.

Unlike the Avista Utilities petition for reconsideration of two issues, the staff petition would not change any of the ruling’s financial results.

The staff works independently of the three commissioners.

Their petition asks the commission to clarify its intentions if Avista Utilities fails to file another rate case addressing its power costs.

More than $8.6 million of the rates approved in the order will expire Nov. 30, 2002.

Company spokesmen say Avista Utilities will file a power-cost case as soon as possible.

The commissioners are also asked to clarify if and how a buyout of Portland General Electric’s lease of output from the Rathdrum power plant will be rolled into the Avista Utilities’ rate base over time.

The staff also points out an apparent conflict in the commissioners’ directions for spreading the impacts of its rate decision among Avista Utilities residential, commercial and industrial customers. Other wording changes are suggested.

The company’s petition raising two issues would adjust the rates set by the commission slightly higher.

But spokesman Steve Becker said Avista Utilities has no plans to litigate those matters or any other.