Avista seeks slight decrease in Idaho electric rates

Idaho customers of Avista Utilities could get a slight break on their electric bills, beginning Oct. 1.

The utility has filed two requests for rate adjustments with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. If approved, residential electric rates would go down by 0.3 percent.

Residential customers using an average of 918 kilowatt hours per month would see their monthly bills drop from $84.72 to $84.42, a savings of 30 cents.

Utility officials are asking for a slight increase in rates reflecting higher wholesale power costs. However, the higher rate would be offset by a larger rebate from the Bonneville Power Administration’s residential exchange program. The rebate shares of the benefits of the federal Columbia River power system to the residential and small farm customers of the investor-owned utilities in the Pacific Northwest, including Avista.