Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities Tuesday submitted its biennial natural gas resources plan to three Northwest state regulatory commissions for its operations in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Avista’s integrated resource plan (IRP) for natural gas supply/demand covers a 20-year period.

The plan concluded that the utility’s gas supplies are “sufficient” until 2011-12 in Oregon, and until 2014-15 in Washington and Idaho.

Focus of the plan will be on greatly enhancing natural gas storage and energy efficiency programs, areas the regulatory commissions in each state are stressing — particularly in Washington and Oregon where climate legislation has been enacted.

“Our philosophy is to reliably provide natural gas to our customers with an appropriate balance in the pursuit of price stability and low cost,” said CEO Scott Morris, who added the Avista chairman/CEO roles to his president’s role when Gary Ely retired at the end of last year. “We will be using our portfolio of purchase contracts, storage and firm pipeline capacity rights to bring our customers the best value possible.”

Avista Utilities serves 305,000 natural gas customers in its three states — most in the state of Washington — and it serves 348,000 electricity customers in those same states.

Enhanced pipeline systems, expanded storage and stepped-up energy efficiency are all highlighted in the latest plan:

The full IRP for gas can be found on Avista’s website at www.avistautilities.com under “Resources” and “Natural Gas Plan.”

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