Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Avista’s ethics on display

In The Spokesman-Review article of March 22, Vice President Kelly Norwood is quoted as saying, on the subject of the chairman’s pay, “The rest is paid by shareholders and comes out of company profits.”

And where do the profits come from? Most from the rates paid by, you guessed it, customers. Norwood must think the customers, and maybe even the regulators, are stupid enough to fall for that.

If this shows the typical self-serving logic and lack of ethics prevalent in the corporate world, should anyone be surprised? Reminds me of the “it doesn’t cost anything, it’s government money” school of logic.

I suggest the regulators cut Avista’s “rate of return” by the inflation-adjusted decline that the average customer has endured over the last 10 years, instead of granting yet another rate hike.

Larry Blanchard

Spokane Valley

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
letters@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-5098
Phone
(509) 459-5403

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy