Avista proposes rate increase and decrease

Avista Utilities is asking for a slight decrease in electric rates and a slight increase in natural gas rates for its Washington customers, citing changing power costs. The Spokane-based utility asked the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to approve the rate adjustments effective Nov. 1. If the changes are approved, a typical household, which uses 965 kilowatt hours of electricity per month, would see its monthly bill decrease from $80.09 to $79.03, a 1.3 percent decline. The monthly national gas bill for a typical household, which uses using 65 therms of natural gas per month, would increase from $61.19 to $61.96, a 1.3 percent increase. The electrical rate decrease is related to a Bonneville Power Administration program that provides the Northwest’s residential utility customers with a share of the benefits from federal hydropower dams. The benefit shows up as a credit on customers’ bill. The request for higher natural gas rates is related to higher wholesale costs caused by colder than normal temperatures throughout the U.S. last winter, company officials said. Avista asks for adjustments to rates every fall, based on wholesale power costs and the BPA credit. Neither request would impact the company’s corporate earnings, officials said. Friday’s request for rate adjustments is separate from the utility’s request for higher base rates, which is pending before the Utilities and Transportation Commission. Avista has asked for a 2.6 percent increase in electric rates and a 5.9 percent increase in natural gas rates, effective Dec. 1.