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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Avista asks state regulators rate adjustments

From staff reports

Avista is asking Washington regulators for several rate adjustments that, if approved, would raise electric rates slightly and decrease natural gas rates.

The Spokane-based utility has asked for the new rates to be effective Nov. 1.

Utility officials said the requested changes are based on yearly fluctuations in wholesale power costs and credits from the federal hydropower system that benefit residential utility customers in the Northwest.

If approved, a typical household using 938 kilowatt hours of electricity per month would see its bill increase from $85.08 to $86.50 per month, a $1.42 increase.

A typical household using 65 therms if natural gas per month would see its bill decrease from $57.33 to $56.27 per month, a $1.06 decrease.

The requested changes are separate from Avista’s request to raise base electric and natural gas rates in 2018 and 2019, which is pending before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.