The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office on Monday challenged electric and gas rate increases proposed by Avista, saying the Spokane, WA, based utility’s request is not justified and that, in fact, the company might be charging its customers too much for service.
Avista’s request, filed with the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) in January 2009 would increase the electric rates of its residential customers by 18.5 percent. Overall, the proposed request would generate an additional $74.7 million in revenues – $69.8 million from electric customers and $4.9 million from gas customers (a 2.4 percent overall increase).
But if the UTC approves all of Public Counsel’s recommendations, Avista’s electric revenues would be reduced approximately $12 million below current levels, resulting in lower electric rates. Revenues from gas rates would only rise by approximately $400,000. Avista serves 230,364 electric customers and 143,673 natural gas customers mostly living in Eastern Washington. Proceedings to cross-examine expert witnesses are scheduled to begin Oct. 6.
Excerpted from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General press release.
By THOMAS CONTENT
