Avista’s Idaho customers will see slight increase in electric bills

Rates for Avista’s Idaho electric customers will increase slightly in October.

A typical household using 910 kilowatts of electricity per month will see its bill increase by 2 percent, or $1.73 per month. The new rate takes effect Sunday.

The increase is the net result of several billing changes approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission this week.

Two of the billing changes allow the utility to collect more money from electric customers, including increasing the surcharge for energy-efficiency programs. However, customers also get two credits that help moderate the monthly increase.

The credits reflect lower wholesale costs for electricity and a credit for residential customers from the Bonneville Power Administration.