AVISTA: Power of the people
I was beyond excited to learn that Avista has now proposed an electrical rate increase of just 1.6 percent, down from their initial proposal of 14 percent.
What ignited the fire within me was an April 1 Press article reporting huge salary increases of Avista executives, and an article underneath (which was no coincidence) that reported the heart-wrenching story of a Coeur d'Alene woman rendered homeless by the tragic death of her son.
A few short examples unless you forget: Avista's second quarter net income this year was $25 million. CEO Scott Morris receives $3 million per year ($250,000 per month) - he saw his total compensation increase by $400,000 for one year. Karen Feltes, Vice President and Corporate Secretary, earns $759,000 annually - she earns $58,000 per month. If Avista needs to trim some fat, then they can start at the top.
"A rich man has many friends, a poor man is shunned even by his neighbors," Proverbs 19:4. Avista wasn't listening to the devastation of the worst economic recession since the Depression. Then they propose an increase? Why should you be concerned about the rising number of shut -off notices when you live in a gated community and are making $250,000 per month?
"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall," Proverbs 18:11.
I then wrote letters to the editor detailing the state of our economy (like a 24 percent drop in retail sales taxes in Kootenai County), and asked for customer responses. You should have seen the stories I read, including senior citizens on social security.
The words that kept coming from customers about Avista were "arrogance," "aloof," "rude." Customers said that Avista has an attitude that we should be lucky that they are giving us power - power that comes from our own resources.
After this publicity, Avista just happened to find $17.5 million in deferred taxes in their accounts, and dropped the proposed increase to 9.3 percent.
The only entity between Avista doing anything they want (because they are a monopoly) is the Public Utilities Commission in Boise, where I then testified and passed on e-mails that readers had sent to me. It appeared that the PUC listened to my testimony though Avista attorneys still wanted their 9.3 percent increase.
Just someone was listening. The proposed electrical rate increase has now fallen from 14 percent just a few months ago, to 9.3 percent, and now to just 1.6 percent. Thanks again to readers for giving your input and to The Press for its reporting. I can assure you that without your input, that 14 percent increase would have become a reality when you got your power bill in your mailbox.
STEVE BELL
Coeur d'Alene