Avista Energy said it’s quickly moving up in the gas and powermarketer rankings, increasing its power sales by 90% in the firstquarter of 1998 compared with the fourth quarter of last year andgrowing gas trading volumes by 42% over the same period.

The company said it has powered its way into the top quartile ofthe nation’s power marketers in terms of volumes sold, ranking21st.

“We’re uniquely positioned because we’re now large enough tocompete effectively in the dynamic energy arena, yet small enoughto be agile, flexible and personal with our transactions,” saidAvista Energy CEO Lloyd Meyers. “Even more pleasing than our rateof growth is Avista Energy’s net profitability.” Financialstrength, not size, is driving Avista Energy’s growth strategies,the company said.

Avista is expanding its market share and presence by gainingaccess to key wholesale and retail energy markets and by gainingcontrol of generating resources and natural gas storage capacity.

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