Avista’s Eastern Washington customers will get break on their winter heating bills, pay more for electricity

Lower wholesale prices for natural gas will give Avista Utilities customers a break on their heating bills this winter.

However, Eastern Washington customers will also see a modest increase in the cost of electricity.

Under changes approved Thursday by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the average natural gas bill for a typical household will fall by 4.9 percent, or about $3.04 a month, for a revised monthly bill of $58.81.

Electric customers will see their rates go up by 2.7 percent. A typical household will pay about $2.29 more per month, for a revised bill of $86.20.

The new rates take effect on Tuesday.