Integrated Resource Planning
Planning is integral to everything we do at Avista, and it is especially important in determining how to meet the future energy needs of our customers. Central to this effort is a process called the Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP. You can think of the IRP as a roadmap for how we will meet the energy needs of our electric and natural gas customers 20 years into the future.
Having a diverse energy mix is the foundation of Avista's ability to provide our customers with clean, reliable power at fair, reasonable rates. Our diversified energy portfolio ensures we have a stable supply of power around the clock, every day of the year, today and into the future.
As a regulated utility, Avista files an electric IRP in odd years with the public utility commissions in Washington and Idaho. In even years, we file a natural gas IRP with the public utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
An important part of both the electric and natural gas IRP process is public involvement. Two key opportunities for public involvement are through the Technical Advisory Committee, or TAC, and the public comment period.
The TAC is committee of stakeholders who meet to review specific issues and aspects of the IRP. During this approximately 18-month process, the electric IRP TAC and the natural gas TAC each meet six times in Spokane, with each meeting being an intensive, full-day session. To encourage participation in the TACs by a diverse group of representatives, participation can be via conference call.
When the respective IRPs have been drafted, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Idaho Public Utilities Commission, and Public Utility Commission of Oregon will each hold open comment periods when the public is invited to review the plan and provide comments to the respective agencies.
2020 IRP
2019 IRP
An updated work plan will be available after the new schedule is determined.
- TAC 1: Thursday, July 25, 2018 (PDF): TAC meeting expectations and IRP process overview, review of 2017 IRP acknowledgment and policy statements, 2017 IRP action plan update, Hydro One merger agreement's impact on the 2019 IRP, demand and economic forecast, and review the 2019 IRP draft work plan. Meeting minutes
- TAC 2: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 (PDF): Modeling process overview, including Aurora and PRiSM, generation options (cost and assumptions), resource adequacy and effective load carrying capability (ELCC) analysis, overview of home heating technologies and efficiency, expected case key assumptions (regional loads, CO2 regulation, etc), and discuss market and portfolio scenarios. Meeting minutes
- TAC 3: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 (PDF): Regional legislative update, IRP transmission planning studies, distribution planning within the IRP, conservation potential assessment, demand response potential assessment, Pullman Smart Grid Demonstration Project and review E3 study – Resource Adequacy in the Pacific Northwest. Meeting minutes
- TAC 4: Tuesday, August 6, 2019 (PDF): Natural gas price forecast, electric market price forecast, energy and peak load forecast, existing resource overview (Colstrip, Lancaster, and other resources), and final resource needs assessment. Meeting minutes
- TAC 5: Tuesday, October 15, 2019: Ancillary services and intermittent generation analysis, Energy Imbalance Market Analysis, review preliminary Preferred Resource Strategy, market scenario results, and preliminary portfolio scenario results. Meeting minutes
- TAC 6: Tuesday, November 19, 2019: Review of final Preferred Resource Strategy, market scenario results, final portfolio scenario results, carbon cost abatement supply curves and 2019 IRP Action Items. Meeting minutes
2017 IRP
Avista submitted the 2017 Electric IRP to the Idaho and Washington Commissions on August 31, 2017. If you are interested in joining the TAC and participating in the development of the 2019 IRP, please email John Lyons or contact him at (509) 495-8515. You can also contact him with questions about previous IRPs.
2017 Integrated Resource Plan - Filed on August 31, 2017
2015 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2015 Electric Integrated Resource Plan (PDF)
- 2015 Electric IRP Appendix A - TAC Presentations (PDF)
- 2015 Electric IRP Appendix B - Work Plan (PDF)
- 2015 Electric IRP Appendix C - AEG Studies (PDF)
- 2015 Electric IRP Appendix D - Avista Generation Energy Efficiency Studies (PDF)
- 2015 Electric IRP Appendix E - Transmission Studies (PDF)
2013 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2013 Electric Integrated Resource Plan (PDF)
- 2013 Electric Integrated Resource Plan Appendices (PDF)
2011 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2011 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2011 IRP Appendix (PDF)
2009 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2009 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2009 IRP Appendix (PDF)
- 2009 IRP Appendix Table of Contents (PDF)
2007 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2007 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2007 IRP Appendix (PDF)
- 2007 Wind Integration Study Report (PDF)
2005 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2005 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2005 IRP Appendices 1 (PDF)
- 2005 IRP Appendices 2 (PDF)
2003 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2003 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2003 IRP Appendices.pdf (PDF)
2001 Integrated Resource Plan
- 2001 IRP Document (PDF)
1997 Integrated Resource Plan
- 1997 IRP Document (PDF)
- 1997 IRP Appendices.pdf (PDF)
1995 Integrated Resource Plan
- 1995 IRP Document (PDF)
- 1995 IRP Appendices (PDF)
1993 Integrated Resource Plan
- 1993 IRP Document (PDF)
- 1993 IRP Appendices (PDF)
1991 Integrated Resource Plan
- 1991 IRP Document (PDF)
1989 Integrated Resource Plan
- 1989 IRP Document (PDF)
Direct questions to Clint Kalich, Avista's Manager of Resource Planning and Power Supply Analysis.
The 2016 natural gas IRP was filed on August 31, 2016. If you or your organization would like to participate in the process for the 2018 IRP, or be included in our Technical Advisory Committee mailing list, please email Tom Pardee or contact him by phone at (509) 495-2159.
2018 Natural Gas IRP
- Work Plan for Avista's 2018 Natural Gas IRP (PDF)
- TAC 1: Thursday, January 25, 2018 (PDF)
- TAC 2: Thursday, February 22, 2018 (PDF): Weather analysis, supply-side resources overview, overview of the major interstate pipelines, and the procurement plan.
- TAC 3: Thursday, March 29, 2018 (PDF): Distribution, environmental policies, market dynamics, price forecasts, cost of carbon, and initial modeling results.
- TAC 4: Thursday, May 10, 2018 (PDF): DSM results, stochastic modeling and supply-side options, final portfolio results, and 2020 Action Items.
- TAC 5: July 2018: TAC final review meeting (if necessary).
2018 Natural Gas IRP
- 2018 Natural Gas IRP (PDF)
- 2018 Natural Gas IRP Appendices (PDF)
2016 Natural Gas IRP
- 2016 Natural Gas IRP (PDF)
- 2016 Natural Gas IRP Appendices (PDF)
2014 Natural Gas IRP
- 2014 Natural Gas IRP (PDF)
- 2014 Natural Gas IRP Appendices (PDF)
2012 Natural Gas IRP
- 2012 Natural Gas IRP (PDF)
- 2012 Natural Gas IRP Appendices (PDF)
2009 Natural Gas IRP
- 2009 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2009 IRP Appendix (PDF)
2007 Natural Gas IRP
- 2007 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2007 IRP Appendix (PDF)
2006 Natural Gas IRP
- 2006 IRP Document (PDF)
- 2006 IRP Appendix (PDF)
If you have questions about these plans, please contact Tom Pardee by email or at (509) 495-2159.