IPUC approves Avista applications

BOISE — The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved four applications from Avista Utilities that will increase customer monthly rates by an average of $1.14 beginning Oct. 1.

Avista’s applications asked for approval to decrease its Schedule 91 Energy Efficiency Rider Adjustment rates, approval to change the Power Cost Adjustment surcharge rate, approval of deferrals from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. It also asked for authorization to adjust its Fixed Cost Adjustment rates for electric service as well as approval to implement changes to residential and small farm credit rates for electric service.

Schedule 91 is designed to recover costs associated with energy efficiency services and programs offered to customers. It also provides customers with financial incentives or rebates for participating in electric energy efficiency programs offered by Avista. The commission approved Avista’s request, which will decrease the average residential customer’s bill by approximately 97 cents per month relative to Schedule 91.

The utility’s Power Cost Adjustment is an annual adjustment mechanism that monitors changes in hydroelectric generation, secondary prices, thermal fuel costs, and other changes in power contract revenues and expenses. Avista said residential customers using an average of 927 kilowatt-hours per month would see monthly bills increase from $85.40 to $88.63.

The Fixed Cost Adjustment is a rate adjustment mechanism that is designed to break the link between the energy a utility sells and the revenue it collects to recover the fixed costs of providing service. This decouples the utility’s revenues from its customers’ energy usage. Avista said residential customers would see a change in their rebate rate from $0.405 cents to a rate of $0.540 cents per kilowatt-hour and non-residential customers would see a rebate rate change from $0.034 cents to $0.048 cents per kilowatt-hour.