Coeur d’Alene workshop scheduled on proposed Avista rate increase

Avista’s Idaho customers will have a chance to weigh in on proposed rate increases during an Aug. 31 workshop in Coeur d’Alene.

Staff from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission will take public comments from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene School District’s Midtown Center, 1505 N. Fifth St. No decision will be made that night.

The Spokane-based company has asked state regulators to approve increases in base rates in 2018 and 2019 for electric and natural gas customers, and to raise the basic monthly charge for each service from $5.75 to $6.

If approved as is, electric rates would go up by an average of 7.9 percent for Avista’s electric customers beginning Jan. 1, and an average of 4.2 percent on Jan. 1, 2019.

For natural gas customers, Avista’s proposal calls for rates to increase by an average of 5.7 percent in 2018, and an average of 3.3 percent in 2019.

Avista said the $34.1 million generated by the increases is needed to replace or upgrade its aging infrastructure.

A decision is expected later this year.

Customers can also provide written comment. Visit www.puc.idaho.gov for more information.

In a separate matter, Avista is asking state regulators for a 2 percent increase in residential electric rates for Idaho customers, effective Oct. 1.

Part of customers’ bills are adjusted yearly to account for fluctuations in the wholesale power prices and credits from the Bonneville Power Administration.

If approved, the bill for a typical customer using 910 kilowatt hours of electricity per month would go up by $1.73.