Avista’s Idaho customers could get slight break on winter heating bills

Avista’s Idaho customers could see about $6 in monthly savings on their heating bills this winter.

The Spokane-based utility has asked the Idaho Public Utilities Commission for decreases in electric and natural gas rates, based on higher-than-expected company revenues in 2017. A colder than normal winter led to increased sales of electricity and natural gas, Avista officials said.

If approved by the commission, a typical household using 910 kilowatt hours of electricity per month would see its monthly bills drop from $88.49 to $84.33, a decrease of $4.16. The new rates would take effect Oct. 1.

For natural gas customers, a typical household using 63 therms per month would see its monthly bills drop from $48.31 to $46.28, a decrease of $2.03 per month. The new gas rates would take effect Nov. 1.

The proposed rate changes would lead to a $7.4 million drop in electric revenues for Avista, and a $2.7 million drop in natural gas revenues.

Utility rates are adjusted each fall, based on previous sales. Avista officials said the rate decrease is not related to Avista’s proposed sale to Hydro One Ltd., a Canadian utility.