Avista can help pay bill

Cold temperatures alone can cause rising energy use and costs, but combined with the holiday season bringing visiting friends and family, more showers, cooking and other energy-using activities, customers can expect to see higher utility bills in December and January.

Knowing this, Avista wants to remind customers of the bill assistance tools available to help them.

"The most important step customers can take is to contact Avista as soon as they have a concern about paying their energy bill," said Mike Broemeling, Avista's director of customer service. "That way, we can work together on options to help them through the challenging time."

Avista offers customers a variety of payment options, including:

* Comfort-level billing that can smooth out seasonal highs and lows by dividing an energy bill into 12 equal and predictable payments for qualifying customers.

* Online statement and payments so customers can conveniently make payments electronically.

* Energy assistance programs that may provide help to customers in need.

* Energy assistance and Project Share grants can help qualifying customers, along with Avista's CARES program and our partnership with local community action agencies for weatherization, heating system improvements and financial assistance.

* Customers can monitor their energy use through online energy management tools such as the Bill Analyzer or Home Energy Adviser.

Avista also offers a number of energy efficiency programs and rebates to help customers save energy and operate their homes and businesses more efficiently.

For more information on all of Avista's bill assistance tools and energy assistance options, including eligibility and guidelines, visit www.avistautilities.com/assistance or call (800) 227-9187.