Electric and gas rates to rise

Avista has announced that a full settlement agreement has been reached in its Washington electric and natural gas rate case.

The company filed a general rate request February 4, 2014 to increase electric and natural gas base rates in Washington that would support the ongoing need to expand and replace the facilities and equipment used every day to serve customers. This settlement agreement would conclude the rate case and support these efforts. It is the result of all parties working together to agree on a settlement that is beneficial for the customers and Avista.

What does this mean?

If approved, the proposed settlement agreement would increase electric and natural gas base rates, as well as account for new and expiring rebates.

The overall change in customer billing rates from the settlement agreement, including the expiring and new rebates is 2.4 percent for electric customers and 5.5 percent for natural gas customers.

Residential electric customer bills based on average usage of 965 kilowatt hours per month would see a billed increase of $2.10 a month or 2.6 percent, a revised monthly bill of $82.19 and an increase in the monthly basic charge from $8.00 to $8.50.

Natural gas customers using an average of 65 therms per month will see an increase of $3.62 a month or 5.9 percent, a revised monthly bill of $64.81 and an increase in the monthly basic charge from $8.00 to $9.00.

The bill increase for each customer group (e.g. residential, commercial) may differ due to adjustments to better reflect the cost to serve each customer group.

Details of the proposed settlement and the rate-making process can be learned by visiting avistautilities.com.