Avista wants to decrease Idaho electric rates

Avista Utilities has asked Idaho regulators to lower the bills of electric customers in that state as part of an annual “power cost adjustment” process. If the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves the request, the typical residential customer in Idaho would see a 5.25 percent reduction on their monthly bill, or $4.40, the company said Thursday in a news release. Avista has more than 122,000 electric customers in Idaho. The power cost adjustment process seeks to make up the difference between Avista’s cost of generating and buying electric power and the cost reflected in its rates, the release said. The requested reduction would shave company revenue by $15.4 million for the 12 months ending June 30, 2012, but wouldn’t affect earnings, Avista said. A copy of the rate application is available at www.puc.idaho.gov. The power cost adjustment process is separate from Avista’s general rate case in Idaho, in which the company is seeking a 3.7 percent rate hike for its electric customers. In addition, in October Idaho customers will see a 3.9 percent rate increase that’s part of a previous rate request, which regulators spread over three years to soften the impact.