Spokane

Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. is sitting atop snowpack and water levels more than 150% of normal, setting up the prospect for abundant hydroelectric supplies and less-than-normal natural gas-fired electric generation for its combination utility Avista Utilities. As a result, revenues were up and fuel costs down for the first quarter, Avista reported in a quarterly earnings conference call last Friday.

Washington state regulators announced late last Friday that Spokane-based Avista Utilities has agreed to pay a $200,000 fine for actions that the regulators’ staff concluded resulted in a December 2008 distribution pipeline explosion and fire that destroyed part of a home and injured two people.

Washington state regulators on Friday approved a settlement, paving the way for natural gas and electricity retail utility rate increases for Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities, effective Dec. 1.

Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities faces changes for two rate credits in its purchased gas and power mechanisms that could result in slight increases for fuel purchasing costs, effective Nov. 1. A purchased gas cost adjustment and a power credit with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) emerged following rate hikes approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, which allows retail power charges to increase by 9.25% over three years and natural gas retail charges to rise 2.6% over two years. An initial power rate increase of 3.59% and a natural gas hike of 1.9% went into effect Oct. 1. Avista is proposing an average 4.3% increase for its Idaho gas customers, an average of about $2.75/month for a typical residential customer. The electric adjustment is due to BPA reducing the size of the federal power credit.

Having put new natural gas and electric general rate increases in effect earlier in October, Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities looks at changes in its purchased gas and power mechanisms that could result in slight increases covering its fuel purchasing costs, effective Nov. 1.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Thursday approved natural gas and electric retail rate increases for Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities, but the amounts were below what the utility requested (see Daily GPI, April 16). The increases were effective Friday.

Idaho regulators on Wednesday announced customer workshops June 28-29 on Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities request in March that it be allowed to raise electric and natural gas retail utility rates for its customers in the northern panhandle part of the state. The sessions will be held in Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene, ID, respectively.

Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities has asked the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval of a 2.6% energy efficiency surcharge, or rider, on retail natural gas customer bills, and the PUC has issued a call for input on the proposal. Comments will be accepted through the end of June.

Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities asked Idaho regulators Friday to increase the natural gas efficiency rider for its utility customers in the northern part of the state. The changes would increase the rider by 2.6%, or about $1.52 monthly.