Avista Utilities spent nearly $10 million on energy efficiency programs in Idaho during 2014 and 2015, spending that reduced overall demand for electricity and ultimately saved customers money by delaying the need for new generation plants, the utility says.

Residential customers paid 0.245 cents per kilowatt hour for the programs. An independent contractor hired by Avista to review the programs said they saved 31,000 megawatts of electricity over the two-year period.

Energy efficiency programs go through a review by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to make sure that the costs were prudently incurred. Customers can comment on the program through Jan. 31.

Comments can be submitted to www.puc.idaho.gov by clicking on “Comments & Questions About a Case.” Fill in the case number (AVU-E-16-06) and enter your comments. Comments can also be mailed to P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074.