Avista requests gas, electrical rate hikes in Washington

Avista Corp. is requesting rate increases for its electricity and natural gas customers in Washington, the company announced today. Avista is asking regulators to approve a 9.3 percent rate increase for electrical service and a 5.1 percent increase for natural gas. Avista officials said the rate request is driven primarily by $250 million in capital improvements planned for this year. The work will replace aging equipment, such as power lines, poles and substations, and fund upgrades at the company’s hydropower dams. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has 11 months to act on Avista’s request. If approved, the rate increase would amount to a $7.13 per month increase on a typical residential customer’s electric bill, for a total of $84.14. A typical natural gas customer would see a $3.26 monthly increase, for a total of $66.71. Avista is also considering asking Idaho regulators to approve higher rates for its Idaho electric and natural gas customers. However, no rate increase request has been filed in Idaho.