Think about us, WUTC

I read the Washington Utility and Transportation Commission’s final decision report that ended the sale of Avista to Hydro One has some interesting things to say about those that were granted petitions to intervene for the purpose of safeguarding the Avista customers and broader public interests: Energy Project, Sierra Club, NW Energy Coalition, Renewable Northwest and Natural Resources Defense Council, Alliance of Western Energy Consumers, and WNIDCL. Also, this deal was endorsed by 350 Spokane.

The following are blistering quotes from the WUTC report: “The proposed transaction does not meet even the lower bar of the no harm standard that guided our decisions in cases such as this before 2009. It most certainly does not satisfy the more demanding net benefit standard”; “Having found that the proposed transaction does not make customers better off than they could be without it we conclude as a matter of law that the proposed transaction does not provide A ‘net benefit to customers’.”

I would give them all an F. Since Avista has four other potential suitors, I would ask the WUTC to find others to negotiate on behalf of the rate payers in the next round like NW Citizens Power Coalition.

Michael Bell

Nine Mile Falls