Retro (Avista's profits up 42%): Perhaps it would help if Avista were broken up into separate gas and electric companies. There is no "natural monopoly' between gas and electric. On the contrary, gas has more in common with water and sewer since they all involve pipes buried in the ground. An independent "Baby Avista" gas company could compete with its sibling electric company by promoting use of gas-powered fuel cells (maybe made by another baby Avista company), gas powered generators as well as solar and wind. Another possibility would be to have neighboring electric cooperatives in the various Avista territories annex the Avista service areas. Socialism you say? Only as socialist as the Grand Coulee Dam.

Question: Do you think the Avista monopoly should be broken up to increase competition and prices?