Avista asks for small rate adjustments

Avista Utilities is asking for a slight decrease in electric rates and a slight increase in natural gas rates for its Washington customers, citing changing power costs. The Spokane-based utility asked the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to approve the new rates effective Nov. 1. If the rates are approved, a typical household using 965 kilowatt hours of electricity per month could see its monthly bill decrease from $80.09 to $79.03, a 1.3 percent decline. A typical household using 65 therms of natural gas per month could expect it bill to increase from $61.19 to $61.96, a 1.3 percent increase. The electrical rate decrease is related to a Bonneville Power Administration program that provides the Northwest’s residential utility customers with a share of the benefits from federal hydropower dams. The benefit shows up as a credit on customers’ bill. Company officials said the request for higher natural gas rates is related to higher wholesale costs caused by colder than normal temperatures throughout the U.S. last winter. Neither request would impact Avista’s corporate earnings, officials said.