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State to hold public meeting on Avista rate-increase request Oct. 2 in Spokane
 

MEDIA ADVISORY
Sept. 12, 2007

UE-070804, UG-070805 & U-070311

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Avista’s electric and natural-gas customers will be able to comment to state regulators on the utility’s proposed rate increase next month in Spokane.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has scheduled a public meeting for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the City Hall Council Chambers of the Office of the Spokane City Council, West 808 Spokane Falls Boulevard, in Spokane.

Avista filed a request with the commission April 26 to increase rates by an average of 15.5 percent for electric customers and 2.27 percent for natural-gas customers. If the proposed rates are approved, a residential electric customer using 1000 kilowatt-hours a month could expect to pay an additional $10.07 for a total of $69.21.

Avista is seeking to raise natural-gas rates $1.93 a month for a typical residential customer using about 70 therms a month for a total monthly bill of $90.74. The company is also asking for a bump of 50-cents to $6 for a basic monthly service charge for all residential electric and natural-gas customers.

The additional revenue Avista is requesting would produce about $55.6 million in new revenue. Also, the utility is asking for an 11.3 percent return on equity, up from the current 10.4 percent level. New rates must be approved by the three-member commission.

The commission has received 62 public comments to date, all opposing Avista’s rate-hike proposal. Members of the public who are unable to attend the public hearing but wish to comment can direct their correspondence to: P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, Wash. 98504 or e-mail to comments@utc.wa.gov.

The UTC is the state agency in charge of regulating the private, investor-owned electric and natural-gas companies in Washington. It is the commission’s responsibility to ensure regulated companies provide safe and reliable service to customers at reasonable rates, while allowing them the opportunity to earn a fair profit.

Spokane-based Avista serves 228,000 electric customers and 141,000 natural gas customers mostly living in Eastern Washington.