The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will hold a virtual public hearing Aug. 27 to receive public comments.

SPOKANE, Wash. – July 10, 2026: Avista customers have an opportunity to provide public comment on the company’s four-year general rate case filed in Jan. 2026 with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC or Commission). The Commission will hold a virtual public hearing on Aug. 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to receive comments from the public.

How to participate

The Commission will hold public hearings to examine the requested rate changes. The Commission has the authority to set final rates that may be different from Avista’s request based on the results of the investigation, stakeholder input, and customer feedback.

Customers may also contact the Commission with questions or submit written comments. Comments should include the customer’s name and mailing address, the company name (Avista), and Dockets UE-260007 and UG-260008.

To submit a comment

• Fill out the Online Comment Form. Go to utc.wa.gov and click on “Submit a public comment.”
• Email comments@utc.wa.gov;
• Write the UTC at: P.O Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250; or
• Call 1-888-333-9882

The Commission is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to participants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the public comment hearing, please contact the Commission at comments@utc.wa.gov or 888-333-9882 before August 20, 2026.

For more information about the proposed rate change, conservation tips, energy efficiency programs, energy assistance programs and bill payment plans, visit myavista.com or contact Avista at 1-800-227-9187 or by mail at P.O. Box 3727, Spokane, WA 99220.

Background

On Jan. 16, 2026, Avista filed a four-year rate plan request with the Commission to increase electric and natural gas base rates. If approved, electric and natural gas rates would incrementally increase over the next four years effective Jan. 1, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030. The Commission has up to 11 months to review the filing and should issue its decision in December 2026.

If approved as requested, electric revenues would increase as follows:

• January 1, 2027: 13.9% or $111.0 million
• January 1, 2028: 4.7% or $42.5 million
• January 1, 2029: 3.5% or $33.5 million
• January 1, 2030: 2.8% or $27.9 million

If approved as requested, natural gas revenues would increase as follows:

• January 1, 2027: 4.7% or $12.4 million
• January 1, 2028: 2.4% or $6.5 million
• January 1, 2029: 2.1% or $5.9 million
• January 1, 2030: 1.1% or $3.1 million

Avista’s request is driven by the need to recover increased operating and maintenance costs and fund critical investments, including:

• Power supply costs – Rising costs to generate and purchase electricity
• Infrastructure upgrades – Modernizing substations, such as the Metro 115 kV substation, replacing aging natural gas pipes, and improving hydroelectric projects
• Wildfire safety – Continued investment in Avista’s Wildfire Resiliency Plan, which outlines substantial steps that Avista has taken to guard against the growing threat of wildfires.
• Technology improvements – Technology upgrades that support necessary business processes and operational efficiencies that allow Avista to effectively manage the utility and serve customers.

The request is based on a proposed rate of return (ROR) of 7.50% with a common equity ratio of 48.5% and a 10.2% return on equity (ROE) starting in 2027. In 2029, the proposed ROR would increase to 7.67% with a 10.5% ROE. Customers pay for these returns to service debt expenses and provide the opportunity for shareholders to earn a fair return on their investment in funding Avista’s infrastructure and operations.

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 429,000 customers and natural gas to 386,000 customers. Our service territory covers 34,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.5 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 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 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025.

Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation.

SOURCE: Avista Corporation

2623

Contact:
Media: Lena Funston (509) 495-8090 lena.funston@avistacorp.com
Avista 24/7 Media Access (509) 495-4174

To unsubscribe from Avista’s news release distribution, send a reply message to dalila.sheehan@avistacorp.com.