Spokane7
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August 27, 2011 in Idaho
Avista bills in Idaho may drop
Settlement would raise rates but initiate credits
Avista Corp. has reached a proposed settlement over the company’s request for higher electric and natural gas rates for Idaho customers.
If approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the settlement would result in a 1.1 percent increase in base electric rates and a 1.6 percent increase in natural gas rates effective Oct. 1.
However, the bottom line for customers is a net decrease in power costs, based on several credits that would take effect at the same time, said Jessie Wuerst, an Avista spokeswoman.
Customers will get a credit on their power bills reflecting lower wholesale rates for energy, Wuerst said. A recent settlement with Bonneville Power Administration also boosts a credit to residential and small farm electric customers, aimed at spreading the benefits from the federal hydropower system across the Northwest.
“While there’s a slight increase in the base rate … when you factor everything together, there’s a net decrease,” Wuerst said.
If the settlement is approved, a typical residential customer would see a 2.1 percent reduction in his or her electric bill. Bills would drop $1.78 per month to $82.02 based on 956 kilowatt-hours of electricity used.
A typical natural gas customer would save 27 cents each month, for a monthly bill of $60.49 based on 62 therms of natural gas.
Miners to return to Lucky Friday 
greyhound2 on August 28 at 4:22 p.m.
This settlement is insufficient because _________________ ________________________________________________. _______________________________________________. It takes ______ Avista executives to change a light bulb. One to hold the bulb and ____ to ___________________________. (You fill in the blanks.)
Avista needs to be changed from a greedy predatory private for-profit monopoly corporation to a Public Uititily District, where ratepayers have some voice in its operations. There are many examples, such as Seattle and other areas which have, at least, some abilty to curb the gouging. Or, you can continue to be on the wrong end of the stick and be happy to be the bottomless well for over-paid executives and vampire stockholders.