In brief: Panel considers Avista rates

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will conduct a hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday regarding a proposed settlement of the Avista Utilities rate case that, if approved, will result in a net decrease in customers’ bills. 

The hearing will take place in the Driftwood Bay room of North Idaho College’s Student Union Building, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

In July, Avista applied for an average 3.7 percent increase in electric rates and an average 2.7 percent increase in natural gas rates. The proposed settlement would grant a 1.1 percent increase in base electric rates and a 1.6 percent increase in natural gas rates, but because of several credits that would take effect on the proposed Oct. 1 effective date, customers would actually see a net decrease in power costs. 

The average decrease for residential electric customers would be about 2.4 percent, and the average reduction for residential natural gas customers would be about 1 percent.  As part of the proposed settlement, Avista would agree not to seek another increase in base rates that would become effective before April 1, 2013.  

Gravel pit topic of hearing

The Bonner County Planning Department will hold a 6 p.m. public hearing Tuesday on a proposed sand and gravel pit two miles north of Athol.

The David L. Haman Trust is seeking a conditional use permit for the open pit mine on 160 acres adjacent to U.S. Highway 95. The mine would operate for about 50 years, reaching a depth of 240 feet, according to the permit application.

Neighbors are concerned about traffic, noise, dust and potential impacts to water supplies and property values from the proposed gravel pit, said Shari Lorz, who lives near the property. The planning department has received about 60 letters on the proposed project.