Public Comments

Title:	Proposed settlement with Spokane-based utility Avista
Description:	<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">BPA is seeking public comment period on a proposed settlement with Spokane-based utility Avista over an unresolved matter from the former Residential Exchange Program. BPA is proposing to settle a disputed balancing account between Avista and BPA – known as a “deemer account” – in order to allow the utility and BPA to begin providing Avista’s consumers with a share of the benefits of the federal power system.  The proposed settlement would also avoid a potentially costly and time consuming legal battle between BPA and Avista. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Calligraphy'"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">In</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Calligraphy'"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"> the proposed settlement, BPA and Avista have agreed to substitute a revised Oct. 1, 2001, deemer account balance for the balance BPA assumed in the WP-07 Supplemental Wholesale Power Rate Case Record of Decision and Final Studies. This revised deemer account balance would eliminate uncertainty regarding the account balance and would allow the efficient administration of the utility’s participation in the Residential Exchange Program and the repayment of its Lookback obligation. In consideration of BPA agreeing to the lower deemer account balance, Avista would not pursue legal challenges of deemer treatment in the WP-07 Supplemental Lookback calculations and would not challenge the Balancing Account (deemer) provisions in the new “Bridge” and Regional Dialogue Residential Purchase and Sale Agreements (RPSA).  <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 54pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">When BPA released information about its proposed settlement with Avista, the agency stated the deemer balance was adjusted using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the inflation index. BPA staff actually used a different inflation index--the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) price deflator--for this purpose. BPA staff will explain and discuss this difference at the Feb. 11 public meeting, 1 to 4 p.m., in the Rates Hearing Room.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P> <P> </P>
Start Date:	1/28/2009
End Date:	2/26/2009
Related information:	http://www.bpa.gov/power/pl/regionaldialogue/implementation/correspondence/

Bonneville Power Public Comments

Comments for Proposed settlement with Spokane-based utility Avista