Spokane7
49°
February 11, 2010 in City
Avista customers will see bills drop about $5
Electricity bills for Avista’s Eastern Washington customers will fall by 7 percent after state regulators eliminated a monthly surcharge that dated to the 2001 West Coast energy crisis.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission agreed to allow the utility to remove the surcharge, which will save most customers about $5.35 per month. Residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatts a month will see their monthly electric bill drop from $77.14 to $71.79.
In 2001, energy prices soared as a result of two factors: A drought that reduced the Northwest’s hydropower generation, and market manipulation by Enron and other energy traders. Avista and other utilities that bought wholesale electricity on the spot market got stuck with exorbitant price hikes.
To help Avista recover its wholesale energy costs, the WUTC allowed the utility to add a 25 percent surcharge to customers’ monthly electric bills. Part of the surcharge was later rolled into the utility’s base electrical rates, but it never completely went away.
In January, Spokane-based Avista asked the WUTC for permission to eliminate the surcharge.
The commission regulates private utilities in Washington. Its goal is to ensure that companies provide safe and reliable service to customers, while still allowing the utilities to earn a fair profit.
Miners to return to Lucky Friday 
madscientist on February 11 at 11:51 a.m.
Oh WOW!! 5 bucks!! no I can turn my gas fireplace back on for an hour.
polistra on February 11 at 2:59 p.m.
Yeah, it’s small, but it’s still nice to see a company passing on both increases and decreases in its costs. Many companies work on the “ratchet” principle, passing on increases and keeping the decreases.
deacon46 on February 11 at 4:47 p.m.
There was lot of money going from 2001 to Avista. I am skeptical about the “good” company press these folks will try on us next.
Scoutster on February 11 at 5:37 p.m.
Good, bad…such judgments are meaningless to the folks who make such decisions. You may be sure this tactic and every effort made by every employee at Avista was in the best interests of the people who ultimately make decisions: Shareholders.
D Statler on February 11 at 8:10 p.m.
I am and always have been an oponent of AVISTA and their guaranteed 10% returns. I had the pleasure of talking to a newly retired bean counter from AVISTA. I was pleased to hear that most of the AVISTA employees cared deeply about their customers.He also explained why rates are the way they are.We laughed at the CEO’s compensation package.I asked about the shelved wind farm project and was told that we may be better off waiting because technology is improving tremendously. The fact of the matter is the UTC is funded by big buisness.The are suppose to regulate AVISTA rates. The attourneys general office is suppose to protect taxpayers.I filed a complaint with the attourneys general office against the UTC. I have not received an answer or response. I guess what I am saying is we are lucky to get any decreases from AVISTA. The UTC is on AVISTA’s side. The Attourneys general office doesn’t care. AVISTA’s CEO would just as soon pocket everything himself to reach $2 million in executive compensation a year. I wish we could get 10% on our savings accounts guaranteed. Thanks to all AVISTA employees for keeping the lights on and caring.
lewis8457 on February 11 at 11:27 p.m.
Avista gives us five bucks and the city takes it away in the sewer increase.
12 bucks for trash
12 bucks for water
45 bucks for sewer
how the hell can i be using the sewer enough to warrant that cost when my water consumption is four bucks a month.? i mean water is what goes down the sewer.
I don’t know if you have been down to the sewer treatment plant but it is the same old one we have always had.
I would rather deal with Avista over a past due bill then the city any day of the week.
thanks Avista for the 5 bucks, i need it for my sewer costs.