Avista CEO’s pay fell in 2015

Scott Morris, Avista’s chairman and chief executive, received $3.6 million in total compensation last year.

His compensation dropped about 35 percent from 2014, when he received about $5.5 million in total compensation.

The decrease reflects a smaller cash bonus and a smaller gain in the value of his company pension plan, based on actuarial tables.

Morris’ base salary was $804,000 last year; he also received a $704,000 cash bonus. The remainder of his total compensation is based on future stock awards, company contributions to his 401(k) account and changes in pension plan values.

Information about Avista’s executive compensation was released Friday in the company’s preliminary proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Total compensation for Avista’s other four top executives in 2015 was:

• Mark Thies, senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer: $1.4 million.
• Dennis Vermillion, senior vice president and environmental compliance officer: $1.4 million.
• Marian Durkin, senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer: $1.2 million.
• Karen Feltes, senior vice president and corporate secretary: $1.2 million.

A typical household pays about 25 cents per month through rates for Avista’s top five executives’ salaries and cash awards, said Jessie Wuerst, a company spokeswoman.