BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

In the Matter of the Application of 

AVISTA UTILITIES

To Amend its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Operate a Gas 
Plant for Hire in the General Area of  Lincoln County.	)
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		DOCKET UG–010319
		
		
		ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION

BACKGROUND

1 On March 2, 2001, Avista Utilities (Avista), a Washington corporation, filed 
an application to amend  its present Certificate of Public Convenience and 
Necessity to Operate a Gas Plant for Hire, to   include an additional area in 
Lincoln County. (Appendix A-17).

DISCUSSION

2 Avista is presently certificated for and is now providing gas service in 
Lincoln County.  Avista is  requesting a certificate to expand the service area 
south of the city of Odessa, Washington.  The  additional area requested is 
contiguous to the existing certificated area.  (See Attachment 1 for the  legal 
description.)

3 This filing requests no determination at this time as to the reasonableness 
of the gas pipeline facility to  service this addition to Avista’s service 
area, and recognizes the right of the Commission to determine  such reasonable 
services and expenditures, together with the treatment of same, in any formal   
proceeding before the Commission dealing with Avista’s results of operation for 
ratemaking purposes.

4 It appears that Avista Utilities is best suited to serve the requested 
service territory economically,  therefore, the application herein should be 
granted to satisfy the public convenience and necessity.

5 This matter was brought before the Commission at its regularly scheduled open 
meeting on April 25,  2001.  The Commissioners, having been fully advised in 
the matter, and having determined the   following order to be consistent with 
the public interest, directed the Secretary to enter the following  order and 
related provisions.

FINDINGS OF FACT

6 1. Avista Utilities, a Washington corporation, operates gas plant for hire in 
this state and is   subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission.

7 2. Avista Utilities has previously been issued a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity  to Operate a Gas Plant for Hire as amended.

8 3. Avista Utilities has filed an application to amend its Certificate of 
Public Convenience and  Necessity, to include an additional area in Lincoln 
County that is contiguous to its presently certificated  area in Lincoln County.

9 4. The operation of a gas plant for hire in the additional area requested is 
or will be required by  the public convenience and necessity.

10 The Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Operate a Gas Plant 
for Hire presently held  by Avista Utilities, should be further amended to 
include the additional area applied for herein.

ORDER

11 1. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED That the application of Avista Utilities to amend 
its Certificate of  Public Convenience and Necessity to Operate a Gas Plant for 
Hire within the certificated area in  Lincoln County, is hereby approved and 
said Certificate shall be in accordance with attached   Appendix A-17.

12 2. This Order makes no determination at this time as to the reasonableness 
of the gas pipeline  facility to serve this addition to Avista’s service area, 
and recognizes the right of the Commission to  determine such reasonable 
services and expenditures, together with the treatment of same, in any  formal 
proceeding before the Commission dealing with Avista’s results of operation for 
ratemaking  purposes.

13 3. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED That jurisdiction over this Order is retained to 
effectuate the  provisions of this Order.

DATED at Olympia, Washington and effective this 25th day of April, 2001.

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



      CAROLE J. WASHBURN
Secretary