AVISTA: Rate hike too much

If the IPUC approves Avista’s latest rate increase request, our natural gas rates will go up by 13.5% starting Sept. 1.

The flier in my bill says they’re doing this because they want more revenue. I’d like a 13.5% raise, too—wouldn’t you? But is that a valid reason to jack up my bill?

Avista also states in the flier that “These rate adjustment filings are separate and distinct from the Settlement Stipulation filed on June 14, 2021, related to the pending general rate case filing, that, if approved, would reduce customer’s natural gas bills by an overall 4.5%, also on Sept. 1, 2021.”

So it looks to me like Avista is expecting the Settlement Stipulation to be approved, and that they will have to pay 4.5% back to their customers. In retaliation, they want to jack up our natural gas bills by 13.5%!

Please go to the IPUC website and speak up about this: www.puc.idaho.gov. Please refer to case # AVU-G-21-01-04. Fill in the form or write a letter to ask that the PUC not approve Avista’s filing for such a huge increase, especially since it appears that they’re asking the customer to reimburse Avista for paying the customer in the Settlement Stipulation.

If Avista got caught doing something financially unethical and has to return monies to their customers (the Settlement Stipulation filed on 6/14/21), why should the customer then have to reimburse Avista to cover the cost of Avista’s unethical behavior?

LAUREL WRIGHT

Hayden