SPOKANE, WA – Avista has filed a multiyear general rate case to recover some of the expenses the company says it takes to ensure safe and reliable energy. In a letter to customers, Avista says part of its responsibility in providing its customers with an essential service is to make sure there is enough energy when it is needed.
“This means that we must continue to make important and necessary investments and upgrades to the very infrastructure that supplies and delivers your energy,” the company says.
If approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the average cost for electricity would increase by $12.94 per month beginning in December and another $6.87 per month a year later. For natural gas, monthly costs would increase by $6.36 in December and $2.04 in December of 2025.
From Avista:
Avista must continue to respond to the need for reliability and technology investments required to build the integrated energy services grid that will take us into the future. Among the projects included in today’s filing are:
- Investments in our clean energy hydroelectric projects, such as Nine Mile, Cabinet Gorge, Post Falls, and Noxon Rapids, as well as installation of new substations to meet customer capacity requirements.
- Continued investment in Avista’s Wildfire Resiliency Plan, which outlines substantial steps that Avista has taken to guard against the growing threat of wildfires including grid hardening, enhanced vegetation management, and other industry-leading best practice measures.
- Technology upgrades that support necessary business processes and operational efficiencies that allow Avista to effectively manage the utility and serve customers.
It takes hundreds of millions of dollars each year to maintain, upgrade and ensure the safety, reliability and resiliency of the equipment and facilities that serve you every day. And, once we make these investments, we need to recover the costs. Inflation is also impacting the costs of doing business and serving customers. You can learn more about these investments here .
The ongoing effort to align the rates customers pay with Avista’s costs to serve is one of the main reasons we file general rate requests.
Energy price change requests in Washington
Today, we filed a multiyear rate plan with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) that would allow Avista to recover the costs to provide service. If approved, residential customers could expect to see the following changes in their monthly bills, based on average usage:
| Effective in Dec. 2024 | Effective in Dec. 2025 | |
| Electric |
The monthly increase includes a proposed $6.00 per month increase in the basic charge to a level of $15.00 per month. |
The monthly increase includes a proposed $5.00 per month increase in the basic charge to a level of $20.00 per month. |
| Natural Gas |
The monthly increase includes a proposed $5.50 per month increase in the basic charge to a level of $15.00 per month. |
The proposed monthly increase includes a proposed $5.00 per month increase in the basic charge to a level of $20.00 a month, offset by a decrease in the volumetric, per-therm rate resulting in the $2.04 monthly increase. |
The rate case process and details about the filing
We are an investor-owned utility, and that means we are regulated by each of the states we serve. It’s important to remember that the Commission sets the rate you pay for the energy you use. There is a formal 11-month process through which price change requests are evaluated and decided upon. You can learn more about this here.
Customer Resources
When customers need help with their energy use and billing, Avista has ways to assist. In Washington, Avista recently launched My Energy Discount, a personalized monthly bill discount program to help eligible customers lower their energy bills. The program offers more inclusive eligibility guidelines, quick and easy enrollment, and a two-year discount term. In addition, billing options, such as Comfort Level Billing, preferred due date, and payment arrangements, give customers more control over how their energy costs are spread out.
For help with managing energy usage, Avista’s Energy Manager and home energy audit tools, as well as energy-saving tips, videos and money-saving rebates for energy-efficient upgrades, are available. In addition, Avista provides local community action agencies with funding for eligible customers who need emergency grants, home weatherization and heating system improvements. Customers with special health or financial circumstances can also work directly with our Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Services (CARES) team to be connected with resources for help with housing, other utilities, medical assistance, and more. For more information on assistance options, customers can visit www.myavista.com/assistance.
