LEWISTON, ID – Avista Utilities is hosting two virtual public meetings on Wednesday to gather public feedback on its plans for the next 20 years. The Spokane-based company provides energy services and electricity to 418,000 customers and natural gas to 382,000 customers in a service territory that covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.7 million.
The goal is to get public input on the company’s Integrated Resource Plan. It will help determine how much electricity will be needed and where those resources could come from while balancing reliability, cost, and environmental sustainability.
“Public input is integral to the process, and feedback from stakeholders helps shape the final plans, which are submitted to utility commissions in each state Avista serve[s],” the company says in a press release.
“As a regulated utility, Avista files an electric IRP in odd years with the public utility commissions in Washington and Idaho,” Avista says on its website. “We also file a natural gas IRP with the public utility commissions in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon every other year.”
Wednesday’s public meetings will begin with a presentation on the plan, followed by an opportunity for questions.
“Then participants will have the chance to select from a variety of topic areas to learn more and give direct feedback,” Avista says.
More information about the electric IRP plan and links to both meetings can be found at myavista.com/IRP.
Links to join both meetings on the day of the events:
Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. – Click here
Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. – Click here
