20090915Press Release.pdf

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A VISTA UTILITIES
Exhibit "E"
Press Release
September 14, 2009
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Contact:
Media: Debbie Simock [phone], debbie.simockßùavistacorp.com
Investors: Jason Lang [phone], jason.langßùavistacorp.com
Avista 24/7 Media Access [phone]
2009 SEPf 5 AM 9: 36
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
Avista Requesting to Reduce Natural Gas Prices for Washington and
Idaho Customers to Lowest Level Since 2003
SPOKANE, Wash. - Sept. 14,2009,1:30 p.m. PDT: Natural gas prices for Avista's (NYSE:AVA)
residential and small commercial customers in Washington and Idaho wil decrease by 20.2 percent
and 17.0 percent respectively, if the utility commissions in both states approve the company's annual
Purchase Gas Cost Adjustment (PGA) fied today. Avista has requested a Nov. 1 effective date.
This is the third time in 2009 that Avista has requested to decrease rates for its 145,500 natural gas
customers in Washington and 73,000 Idaho customers. If approved, natural gas rates for Washington
and Idaho residential customers will have decreased by about 25 percent since the beginning of this
year.
If the request is approved, an Avista residential customer in Washington using an average 70 therms
per month could expect their bil to decrease by $16.06 for a revised monthly bil of $63.37. A
residential customer in Idaho using an average 66 therms per month could expect their bil to
decrease by $12.74 for a revised monthly bill of $62.21. Large commercial and industrial customers in
both states could expect decreases over 20 percent.
"Our customers will see their natural gas rates at the lowest level in six years which is especially good
news with the heating season approaching. However, it's stii important to make wise energy choices
to help manage winter heating bils," said Kevin Christie, Avista's director of gas supply.
Steep declines in wholesale natural gas prices caused by lower demand and an abundance of natural
gas supplies have driven natural gas prices to their lowest level in several years. However, Christie
cautioned that the market remains volatile and wholesale prices could increase again over the coming
year.
Avista follows a flexible, diversified natural gas purchasing plan and leverages the company's
underground natural gas storage facility. For a portion of customers' natural gas needs, Avista
purchases lower-cost gas during spring and summer months and places it in underground
storage for use during the heating season when wholesale gas prices are typically highest.
Currently about 75 percent of an Avista customer's monthly bil is the actual cost of natural gas
which Avista does not mark up. This portion of a customer's bil is typically adjusted annually- up
or down - in PGA filings.
The remaining 25 percent covers the cost of delivering natural gas - the equipment and people
needed to provide safe and reliable delivery of service. The Washington Utilties and
Transportation Commission (WUTC) is currently reviewing Avista's request to increase this
portion of a customer's monthly bil to recover investments made in its natural gas system.
Customers can take advantage of a number of biling options, energy efficiency programs,
incentives and rebates offered by Avista to help them proactively manage their natural gas
usage. Comfort Level Billing is an option that gives qualifying customers the opportunity to
smooth seasonal energy bil highs and lows by averaging energy bils over 12 months.
Information is available at ww.everylittlebit.com.
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 353,000 homes and businesses and natural gas to 313,000 homes
and businesses in three Western states, serving more than 492,000 customers. Avista's
primary, non-regulated subsidiary is Advantage IQ. Avista stock is traded under the ticker
symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit ww.avistacorp.com.
Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation.
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 1 O-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2009.
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