Avista details long-range plans

Avista Utilities is counting on energy efficiency measures to offset more than half its projected load growth over the next 20 years.

The utility, which serves about 125,000 electric customers in northern Idaho, is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to accept its integrated resource plan, which outlines how the utility plans to meet load growth over the next two decades. The utility must file an updated IRP with the commission every two years.

While population and employment growth are starting to recover from the Great Recession, the utility nonetheless revised downward — from 1 percent to 0.6 percent — its annual load growth projection from its 2013 IRP.

Efforts in energy efficiency have reduced Avista’s load requirement by 127 average megawatts, which was about 11 percent of the utility’s total load in 2014. Energy efficiency and market purchases push out the first anticipated long-term capacity deficit to 2021 at the earliest.

In total, the utility plans on adding about 565 MW of new natural gas generation through 2035 and acquiring another 193 MW winter peak reduction through energy efficiency programs (132 MW annual average).

The commission is taking comments on the plan through Dec. 18. Comments are accepted online at www.puc.idaho.gov and clicking on “Case Comment Form,” under the “Consumers” heading. Fill in the case number (AVU-E-15-08) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 or faxed to 208-334-3762.