Avista reaches all-party, all issues settlement in Idaho general rate cases

Rhea-AI Summary

Avista (NYSE: AVA) has reached a settlement agreement with Idaho regulators and key stakeholders regarding electric and natural gas rate cases. The agreement will increase annual base electric revenues by $19.5M (6.3%) in September 2025 and $14.7M (4.5%) in September 2026. For natural gas, revenues will increase by $4.6M (9.2%) in 2025 and decrease by $0.2M (0.4%) in 2026. The settlement includes a 9.6% return on equity with a 50% common equity ratio. Residential electric customers using 939 kWh monthly will see a 6.7% increase ($6.95) in 2025 and 4.7% increase ($5.22) in 2026. Natural gas customers using 66 therms monthly will experience a 6.8% increase ($4.11) in 2025 with no change in 2026. This settlement represents a significant reduction from Avista's original request of 14.4% electric and 10.3% gas increases in 2025.

Positive

• Settlement agreement reached with all parties, providing regulatory clarity and stability
• Approved ROE of 9.6% and 50% equity ratio provides fair returns for shareholders
• Longer recovery periods for deferred costs help mitigate customer bill impacts
• Settlement amounts are more moderate compared to original request, showing regulatory compromise

Negative

• Significant rate increases for customers: 6.7% for electric and 6.8% for gas in 2025
• Additional electric rate increase of 4.7% scheduled for 2026
• ROE of 9.6% is lower than originally requested 10.4%
• Some customer classes face higher increases, with Large General Service seeing up to 8% increase

Insights

Utilities Financial Analyst

Avista secures positive rate case settlement that balances shareholder returns with customer impacts, providing regulatory certainty through 2026.

This settlement represents a constructive regulatory outcome for Avista, though it delivers less than their original request. The approved increases will generate $19.5 million in additional electric revenue (6.3%) and $4.6 million in natural gas revenue (9.2%) beginning September 2025, with further electric increases in 2026.

The approved ROE of 9.6% falls below Avista's requested 10.4% but remains competitive within the utility sector, where recent ROE authorizations have typically ranged between 9.4-9.8%. Combined with the 50% equity ratio, the 7.28% rate of return provides a stable foundation for Avista's ongoing infrastructure investments.

What's particularly noteworthy is the unanimous settlement among diverse stakeholders including industrial customers like Clearwater Paper and Idaho Forest Group. This consensus approach significantly reduces regulatory uncertainty and litigation risk. The phased implementation with larger increases in year one followed by smaller adjustments in year two demonstrates a balanced approach to cost recovery while moderating customer bill impacts.

The settlement represents approximately 45% of Avista's original electric request and 52% of their gas request, reflecting typical regulatory compromises. For investors, this outcome provides predictable revenue streams through 2026, supporting dividend stability and modest growth potential while maintaining regulatory goodwill in Idaho, where Avista serves over 145,000 electric and 93,000 natural gas customers.

If approved, new rates would take effect beginning Sept. 2025 and Sept. 2026

SPOKANE, Wash., June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avista (NYSE: AVA), the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Clearwater Paper Corporation, Idaho Forest Group, LLC and Walmart Inc., parties to the Company’s electric and natural gas general rate cases, have reached a settlement agreement that has been submitted to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission for its consideration, and which would resolve all issues in the proceeding.

If approved, the settlement agreement is designed to increase annual base electric revenues by $19.5 million or 6.3%, effective Sept. 1, 2025, and by $14.7 million or 4.5%, effective Sept. 1, 2026. For natural gas, the settlement agreement is designed to increase annual base natural gas revenues by $4.6 million or 9.2%, effective Sept. 1, 2025, and reduce base revenues by $0.2 million or 0.4%, effective Sept. 1, 2026.

The settlement capital structure includes a 9.6% return on equity (ROE) with a common equity ratio of 50% and a rate of return (ROR) on rate base of 7.28%.

“This settlement agreement will provide new rates in Idaho that are fair and reasonable for our customers, the Company, and our shareholders,” said Heather Rosentrater, Avista President and CEO. “This is a constructive outcome. Our customers will benefit from longer recovery periods for certain deferred costs, which mitigates the bill impact of improved recovery of our costs to serve our customers. This agreement provides us with the opportunity to earn a fair return in Idaho while we invest in and maintain our infrastructure so we can continue to provide the reliable energy our customers expect.”

Residential Customer Bills
If the settlement is approved, a residential electric customer using an average of 939 kilowatt hours per month would see a 6.7% billed increase of $6.95 per month for a revised monthly bill of $111.25 effective Sept. 1, 2025, and a 4.7% billed increase of $5.22 per month for a revised monthly bill of $116.47 effective Sept. 1, 2026.

A residential natural gas customer using an average of 66 therms per month would see a billed 6.8% increase of $4.11 per month for a revised monthly bill of $64.74 effective Sept. 1, 2025, and no rate change effective Sept. 1, 2026.

2025 & 2026 Electric Revenue Impact by Rate Schedule
Rate Schedule	Description	2025 Billing Change		2026 Billing Change
Residential Service	Schedule 1	6.7%		4.7%
General Service	Schedules 11 & 12	6.7%		4.8%
Large General Service	Schedules 21 & 22	8.0%		5.6%
Extra Large General Service	Schedule 25	6.5%		4.6%
Extra Large General Service 25P	Schedule 25P	1.6%		1.2%
Pumping Service	Schedules 31 & 32	8.0%		5.6%
Street & Area Lights	Schedules 41 - 49	4.6%		3.3%
Total		6.6%		4.6%

2025 & 2026 Natural Gas Revenue Impact by Rate Schedule
Rate Schedule	Description	2025 Billing Change		2026 Billing Change
General Service	Schedule 101	6.7%		0.0%
Large General Service	Schedules 111 & 112	0.0%		- 1.1%
Interruptible Service	Schedules 131 & 132	0.0%		0.0%
Transportation Service	Schedule 146	0.0%		- 2.6%
Total		5.4%		- 0.2%

The actual percentage rate change will vary by customer rate schedule and will depend on how much energy a customer uses.

Avista serves more than 145,000 electric and 93,000 natural gas customers in Idaho.

Avista’s Original Request
Avista’s original request was designed to increase annual base revenues by $43.0 million (or 14.4% on a billed basis) effective on Sept. 1, 2025, and $17.7 million (or 5.2% on a billed basis) effective on Sept. 1, 2026. For natural gas, the rate request was designed to increase annual revenues by $8.8 million (or 10.3% on a billed basis) effective on Sept. 1, 2025, and $1.0 million (or 1.0% on a billed basis) effective on Sept. 1, 2026.

The electric and natural gas requests were based on a proposed rate of return (ROR) on rate base of 7.68% with a common equity ratio of 50% and a 10.4% return on equity (ROE).

Customer Resources
To assist customers in managing their energy bills, Avista offers services for customers such as comfort level billing, payment arrangements and Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Services (CARES), which provide assistance to medically vulnerable customers through referrals to area agencies and churches for help with housing, utilities, medical assistance and other needs. Avista provides energy efficiency and outreach programs that include rebates and incentives as well as tips and resources to help customers manage their energy use and energy bills. Customers can learn more at www.myavista.com.

About Avista Corp.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 422,000 customers and natural gas to 383,000 customers. Our service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.7 million. AERC is an Avista subsidiary that, through its subsidiary AEL&P, provides retail electric service to 18,000 customers in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska. Our stock is traded under the ticker symbol “AVA”. For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

SOURCE: Avista Corporation

-2516-

Contact:
Media: Lena Funston (509) 495-8090, lena.funston@avistacorp.com
Investors: Stacey Walters (509) 495-2046, stacey.walters@avistacorp.com
Avista 24/7 Media Access (509) 495-4174

FAQ

What rate increases did Avista (AVA) negotiate in the Idaho settlement agreement?

Avista negotiated electric rate increases of 6.3% in September 2025 and 4.5% in September 2026, plus natural gas increases of 9.2% in 2025 and a decrease of 0.4% in 2026.

How will Avista's 2025 rate increase affect Idaho residential customers?

Idaho residential customers using 939 kWh monthly will see their electric bill increase by $6.95 (6.7%) to $111.25, while natural gas customers using 66 therms will pay $4.11 (6.8%) more monthly.

What return on equity (ROE) was approved in Avista's 2025 Idaho settlement?

The settlement approved a 9.6% return on equity with a 50% common equity ratio and a 7.28% rate of return on rate base.

How does Avista's approved 2025 rate increase compare to their original request?

The approved increases (6.3% electric, 9.2% gas) are significantly lower than Avista's original requests of 14.4% for electric and 10.3% for gas service.

How many customers will be affected by Avista's Idaho rate increase?

The rate changes will affect more than 145,000 electric customers and 93,000 natural gas customers in Idaho.