According to the company, the new customer rates will be implemented in two phases.
A residential customer using an average of 46 therms per month can see an increase of about $1.31 per month, or 2.3%, for a revised monthly bill of approximately $59.45, effective from 15 March 2011.
Included in the rate change is an increase in the monthly basic charge from $6.50 to $7.
An increase of about $0.63 per month, or 1.1%, will become effective from 1 June for a revised monthly bill of about $60.08.
According to the company, overall rate increases for commercial and industrial customers vary between 0.6% and 3.3%, depending on the rate schedule.
Avista is involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses.
