Share the wealth

Tue., June 7, 2011

I find it appalling that Avista is requesting another rate increase. It’s not as if they need the money. In 2006, they raked in $73.1 million in net profit. In 2008, it was $73.6 million. In 2009, it was $87.1 million, and in 2010 they raked in a whopping $92.4 million in profits. This year will be even higher.

Avista is all about making money for the shareholders, not providing economical energy to their customers. So, here is my proposal: Make all ratepayers on the books into shareholders. Issue 10 shares of stock to all ratepayers.

And from every monthly bill, apply 1 percent to a stock purchase program for every ratepayer.

It’ll never happen, but they could easily afford this, and we would all be stockholders in this great company with a heart (cough cough). After all, we deserve a piece of the pie too.

Richard Trerise

Spokane

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

No more than 250 words
We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form: Submit your letter here
Mail: Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: editor@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-3815
Phone: (509) 459-5430