Avista seeks regulator approval for Idaho rate increases

Avista Corp. has finalized its request to Idaho regulators seeking its annual rate adjustment for residential electric and natural gas customers.

If approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the utility’s electric rates would increase by $3 a month, or about 3.6%, for the average customer who uses 898 kilowatt hours per month. The increase would lead to bills increasing from $82.57 a month to $85.57 for the average customer. The proposed electric rate changes would go into effect Oct. 1.

Natural gas rates would increase by $1.05 a month, or about 2.3%, for the average customer, bumping the monthly bill up from $45.67 to $46.72. The proposed natural gas rate changes would be effective Nov. 1.

The rate increase request is designed to increase overall electric rate revenues by $4.9 million, and overall natural gas revenues by $1.2 million. According to a news release, the rate adjustments are driven primarily by the warm winter, which led to customers using less electricity and natural gas. Of Avista’s 395,000 electric customers, more than 133,000 are in Idaho.

Regulators have nine months to consider the request. Comments on the proposed increase can be made at www.puc.idaho.gov.