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Residential and small-farm customers of Spokane-based Avista Corp. could see a reduction in their utility bills beginning this spring if a proposed settlement of a longstanding dispute between Avista and the Bonneville Power Administration is approved.
Avista representatives say the company has reached the proposed settlement with BPA over a balancing-account issue related to Avista's 1981 residential exchange program contract with the federal power-marketing agency that expired 20 years later.
Though the issue is complex, Avista spokesman Hugh Imhof says, "The bottom line is we will get an annual benefit of about $10 million for 2009," as opposed to a previously announced $2.3 million, with similar amounts anticipated each year over the foreseeable future. What it will mean for customers, he says, is a reduction on their bills of probably around 3.6 percent reduction.
That's assuming the BPA approves the settlement. The agency was accepting public comment on the tentative agreement through today, Feb. 26, and - barring objections that might delay the process - is expected to issue a record of decision on the matter around the end of March. If that timetable holds up, Avista customers likely would see the agreement reflected in their bills in May, company representatives say.
"We wanted to get...