End the Avista monopoly

You would never know it looking at your Avista bill that natural gas prices have dropped about 50 percent during the last year, from about $5 per thousand British thermal units to $2.50. Prices have dropped due to a glut in production.

A bill reduction never happened, however. Appointed commissioners are again asleep at the switch. So what’s happening to the extra money? It is going out in increased salaries and benefits for corporate executives and for increased dividend payments to Wall Street stockholders. Currently, producers are also trying to restrict supply to drive up prices (sounds like OPEC).

The last time there was a temporary spike in natural gas prices, in 2001 to $15 per thousand BTUs, Avista got a temporary surcharge of 20 percent, which lasted for about 10 years.

It is time to change Avista from a for-profit monopoly utility into a Public Utility District like those in Seattle and other areas. There is no reason for a private corporation to be in charge of a basic need of heat and power.

David Smith

Post Falls