Avista’s Power Play Misfires

Avista Corp, an investor owned electric and gas utility for northern Idaho, made a financial push to unseat two incumbents that failed. Both Avista and Idaho Power gave $1,000 to Pam Stout, the Tea Party opponent to Rep. George Eskridge, former Bonneville Power Administration district manager. But Avista went a step further giving $15,000 to three political action committees that helped Stout and Danielle Ahrens who challenged Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, the Spokane Spokesman-Review reported. Eskridge, who co-chaired an interim committee on energy, clashed with the investor-owned utilities on renewable energy issues. Keough’s only issue for Avista was a 10 year-old bill that would have set up a consumer advocate before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Idaho Power even gave her $1,000/ Rocky Barker , Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Do you suppose Avista is having second thoughts re: keeping its well-powdered nose out of North Idaho politics in the future?