Readers of The Spokesman-Review are likely already aware that Avista began installing smart meters for its Washington customers last year. Designed to align both with changes in the industry and with customer expectations, it’s one of the largest investments in our company’s history. We believe this transition is the right thing for everyone and, as an electrical engineer, I think I’m in a unique position to talk about why. More than half of the 150 million electric meters currently installed in the U.S. are smart meters. And that number is growing. Smart meters are now becoming the utility industry standard. In fact, the old analog style isn’t even being manufactured anymore – in part because the new technology has long been proven to be safe, secure and reliable.

We have an opportunity once every 10 years for our state to make any changes in Washington’s redistricting process. Now, in the 2020 legislative session, is our last chance to modify the process until 2030. The League of Women Voters of Washington urges support of House Bill 2575, which includes reforms to increase transparency and accountability of the Washington redistricting commission. The Washington House of Representatives passed HB 2575 (57-41) on Wednesday. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. This bill regarding Washington state’s redistricting process has widespread support. In addition to discussions with our 2,400 League of Women Voters of Washington members, public forums on redistricting with over 1,600 people from across Washington were held. Though many individuals had varying opinions about the redistricting maps, nearly everyone shared similar ideas about the kind of map-drawing process they would trust.

Teacher salary increases are a welcome relief, but our representatives aren’t doing their job bringing our funding formulas into the 21st century. Fortunately, Reclaim Idaho is picking up the Legislature’s slack.

Property taxes have been a focus of the Idaho Legislative Leadership this session. What is needed is meaningful tax reform that rebalances our broken system.

February is American Heart month. This acknowledges heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, in spite of the incredible amount of resources put toward lessening its impact. Heart disease claims as many lives each year as cancer, lower respiratory diseases and accidents combined, and the treatment of cardiovascular disease accounts for one in every six health care dollars spent.