The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has adopted a natural gas rate hike by Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities of 3.5% effective Jan. 1. The settlement will also grant an electric utility rate hike of 0.6%. Avista had requested gas rate increases of 4.5% in 2016 and 2.2% in 2017 and electric hikes of more than 5% each year. Avista will receive a $2.5 million increase to revenue under the settlement.