In brief: Avista seeks rise in natural gas rates

Spokane-based Avista Corp. said Wednesday that natural gas rates could increase by 4.6 percent in Washington and 4.3 percent in Idaho if regulatory commissions in both states OK the request.

The new rates would become effective Nov. 1, allowing Avista to increase annual natural gas revenues by roughly $6.7 million in Washington and by $3.1 million in Idaho.

In 2009 the utility slashed natural gas rates by almost 30 percent due to a decline in the cost of gas. The new requests reflect adjustments the utility says are needed due to changing costs for wholesale natural gas.

A Washington residential customer using 69 therms a month could expect to pay $2.97 more each month; an Idaho residential customer using 63 therms per month would see an increase of $2.75.

Tom Sowa

State releasing economic forecast

State officials are expecting budget cuts of more than 7 percent could be ordered today after the latest economic forecast is released.

Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is on a trade mission to China and Vietnam, said Wednesday that when department heads were ordered this summer to prepare plans to cut between 4 percent and 7 percent, she thought the latter was “a worst-case scenario.” Now she fears that 7 percent won’t be enough, but will know more after receiving the forecast.

Had she known the trip would coincide with the need to order cuts, Gregoire said she might have chosen a different time when the trip was scheduled in January. But the trip represents a chance to forge relationships and sell Washington food and goods in growing economies in Asia, she said: “This is about jobs.”

Jim Camden

Rayner appointed to planning board

Business owner Peter Rayner was appointed this week to the Spokane County Planning Commission.

He replaces Peter Ice, who didn’t seek reappointment to represent unincorporated areas in District 3 in the northern part of the county.

Rayner owns Grace Catering, Beacon Hill Events and Beacon Hill Properties.

John Craig