Short Reports

Avista Corp.’s natural gas customers in Idaho have until Friday to send in comments on the utility’s proposed 8.58 percent rate hike. Written comments will be accepted by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission in lieu of a public hearing. The rate hike would cost average customers about $3.20 per month. It would provide Avista with about $2.7 million in additional annual revenue. Avista has about 46,800 natural gas customers from Grangeville north to the Canadian border. Details of the request can be viewed online at www.puc.state.id.us. Testimony should be sent by fax, (208) 334-3762, or e-mail, mwalter@puc.state.id.us

The Moscow-Latah County Economic Development Council is seeking a new executive director. Robb Parish, the organization’s outgoing director, said he hopes to have the position filled by Dec. 1. Applications will be considered through Oct. 31. Parish said he is stepping down from the EDC to work on other University of Idaho projects.

Nissan Motor Co.’s new boss is living up to his nickname: “Le Cost Killer.” Carlos Ghosn announced plans Monday to shut down three assembly plants in Japan and slash Nissan’s worldwide work force by 14 percent in an attempt to return Japan’s second-largest automaker to profitability. Of the 21,000 jobs being cut in the three-year restructuring, about 1,400 positions will be eliminated in the United States, where offices will be closed in New York and Washington, D.C.

J.C. Penney Co. Inc. will sell its credit-card receivables operation to GE Capital in a deal that will help cut the troubled retailer’s debt.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.