Huckleberries Online

Escapee: Project Share? Not So Much

Posted by DFO

May 4, 2009 6:04 a.m. • 13 comments

Escapee: I always found it ironic, that while Avista keeps raising rates, it also includes a nifty little box on your bill that invites you to donate to “project share” so that those in need can stay warm. Heck, if you can pay yer power bill, you should want to donate, right?

Question: Do you ever contribute a buck or $2 extra on your Avista bill to help the less fortunate? Or do you figure that Avista has gouged you enough?

13 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JBelle on May 04 at 7:34 a.m.
Project Share is a veiled attempt to write down bad debt. Avista could care less about ratepayers—neither those that can pay nor those that cannot pay.
JBelle on May 04 at 7:35 a.m.
And by the way, SNAP is where you want to contribute if you want to help people with their heat and lights.
redman on May 04 at 8:50 a.m.
My bet is your project share bucks go right into the general fund of Avista. I have NEVER heard of anyone being helped out by project share. Perhaps a public records request would solve our mystry.
CMHansen on May 04 at 8:57 a.m.
I refuse to give to Avista or Snap as long as they give money to people like those that used to live next door. They tore off all the storm windows and storm doors on their house and trashed them, then they rushed down to Snap for a handout so they would not freeze in the winter. They partied every day, tried to tear out the trees I planted along the parking strip in front of my house after ice storm destroyed the trees that were there. Those trees were in their way when the party people showed up each day. I was never so happy when they moved.
Don_Sausser on May 04 at 9:39 a.m.
Question 1: Yes

Loaded question 2: Don’t get pissed at Avista. If you own your own business you try for a maximum return on your investment. Power utilities are only one of many divisions in Avista.
Since nobody wants 10 sets of competitive power lines strung along each street and alley, utilities are given monoply status and controlled by the appointed Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Any complaints should go to that commission and/or those who appoint them.
Dan_at_Avista on May 04 at 12:35 p.m.
Conspiracy theories aside about that little check box on your bill, 100 percent of the money donated by Avista customers goes directly to SNAP for Project Share.

Avista, as the largest utility in the region, serves as the conduit for collecting contributions – that’s it. Project Share is also fuel blind, meaning it helps families in our region, regardless of their serving utility or heat source.
Dan
Escapee on May 04 at 9:05 p.m.
Aha, I touched off a lil’ bit of controversy here! Cool. My work is now done here…

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.