Docket Numbers: UE-200900, UG-200901, and UE-200894
Customers invited to comment on Avista rate case
LACEY, Wash. – Avista customers will have the opportunity to provide comments to state regulators on the company’s proposed electric and natural gas rate change.
WHAT
Virtual-only public hearing comment
WHO
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
WHEN and WHERE
Wednesday, June 16
6 p.m.
Participate by Microsoft Teams (encouraged, if possible).
Participate by phone: call (253) 372-2181 and use conference ID: 328 665 042#
Translation services are available at no cost to you. If possible, please inform the commission at least one business day prior to the meeting by calling 360-664-1140, or by sending an email to paige.doyle@utc.wa.gov.
If you are unable to participate during the virtual meeting, you can submit comments:
- Online at www.utc.wa.gov,
- via telephone at 888-333-9882,
- by email at comments@utc.wa.gov, or
- by mail to P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504.
BACKGROUND
- In April, commission staff recommended a small rate decrease for electric and natural gas customers. The recommendation does include increases for Avista’s electric and natural gas revenues, but when offset by the return of approximately $89 million in tax benefits to customers, leads to the overall rate decreases.
- Under staff’s proposal, an average residential electric customer using 914 kilowatt-hours a month would pay $0.89 less, for an average monthly bill of $81.44, a 1.1% decrease.
- A typical residential natural gas customer using 67 therms a month would pay $0.11 less, for an average monthly bill of $56.42, a 0.2% decrease.
The three-member commission, which is not bound by the company’s request or staff’s recommendation, will make a final decision on the utility’s rates this fall. New rates would go into effect Oct. 1.
The commission has received twelve public comments to date on Avista’s rate increase proposal – all opposed.
Spokane-based Avista serves more than 242,000 electric and more than 153,000 natural gas customers in eastern Washington.
The UTC is the state agency that regulates private, investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities in Washington. It is the commission’s responsibility to ensure regulated companies provide safe and reliable service to customers at reasonable rates, while allowing them the opportunity to earn a fair profit.
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