Executive Brings Strong Background in Energy Industry to the Board

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) has announced the appointment of Michael L. Noel of Prescott, Ariz., to the company's board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2004. He will stand for election to the board by a vote of company shareholders at Avista Corp.'s annual meeting in May 2004.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990629/AVALOGO )

Noel spent 30 years as an executive with Edison International, serving as senior vice president and chief financial officer for the corporation and for its Southern California Edison Company subsidiary. He also held officer positions within Edison Mission Energy Company and Mission Land Company, also subsidiaries of Edison International, an international electric power generator, distributor and structured finance provider headquartered in Rosemead, Calif.

Noel, 62, is president of Noel Consulting Company, Inc., a financial consulting firm which he founded in 1998, and serves as an independent financial consultant to Saber Partners, a financial advisory services firm. In that capacity, he is currently assisting the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

The addition of Noel brings to 11 the number of directors on Avista's board, the maximum number authorized.

"Mike Noel brings a wealth of experience to our board in the areas of corporate finance, investment funds, utilities and banking," said Gary G. Ely, board chairman, president and chief executive officer for Avista Corp. "These are skills that will aid Avista as we continue to execute our strategic plan with a focus on growing our energy business."

Noel earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California in 1973, where he graduated first in his class. He received a bachelor's degree in finance from California State University at Long Beach.

Active in a variety of professional and civic organizations, Noel currently serves as the chairman of the board for the HighMark Funds and also serves on the board for SCAN Health Plan. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and is active in the United Way of Yavapai County, Ariz. His prior board affiliations include companies involved in banking, investment management and technology.

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 a company operating division that provides electric and natural gas service to customers in four western states. Avista's non-regulated subsidiaries include Avista Advantage and Avista Energy. Avista Corp.'s stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA" and its Internet address is www.avistacorp.com

NOTE: Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE  Avista Corporation
    -0-                             11/12/2003
    /CONTACT:  Media, Patrick Lynch, +1-509-495-4246, or
pat.lynch@avistacorp.com; or Investors, Angela Teed, +1-509-495-2930, or
angela.teed@avistacorp.com, both for Avista Corporation/
    /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990629/AVALOGO
                       AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
                       PRN Photo Desk, 1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840/
    /Web site:  http://www.avistacorp.com /
    (AVA)

CO:  Avista Corporation
ST:  Washington
IN:  OIL
SU:  PER

JP-JO 
-- SFW014 --
4545 11/12/2003 08:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com