Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities filed two requests Thursday with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adjust its natural gas and electric utility rates for its operations in the state, effective Nov.1. Two gas rate changes requested would increase residential customers’ monthly bills 4.3% and large commercial/industrial customers by 4.7%, the company said, while two changes on the electric side would result in an increase of less than 1% (0.70%).

For gas operations Avista seeks a $2.7 million, or 3.2%, increase to cover higher wholesale natural gas costs, along with a $1.1 million, or a 1.4%, increase in rates to cover gas conservation programs.

“While the price of natural gas has fallen from the post-hurricane levels during late-2005, the average cost of gas for this next year is higher than the average cost of gas during the past year,” Avista said in its filings.

In the electric filings to the Idaho regulators, Avista proposed a slight decrease (0.75%) to pass through a credit from the federal Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for residential and small farm customers, and offsetting the slight decrease would be the utility’s request to eliminate a 1.45%, or 91 cent/month, credit electric customers have received over the past six years. Collectively, the credit amounted to about $15.1 million, Avista said.

“Avista continues to offer a number of programs to assist both our electric and natural gas customers in managing their energy bills,” said Scott Morris, president/COO of the utility’s parent company, Avista Corp.

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