Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

June 30, 2011 For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

Commission file number 1-3701

 

 

AVISTA CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Washington   91-0462470

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1411 East Mission Avenue,

Spokane, Washington

  99202-2600
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 509-489-0500

Web site: http://www.avistacorp.com

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of July 31, 2011, 57,984,054 shares of Registrant’s Common Stock, no par value (the only class of common stock), were outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

AVISTA CORPORATION

Index

 

         Page No.  

Part I.    Financial Information:

  

Item 1.

 

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Three Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     5   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     6   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     7   
 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

     8   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     10   
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     11   
 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     12   
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     33   

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     34   

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     55   

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

     56   

Part II.    Other Information:

  

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

     57   

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

     57   

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

     57   

Signature

     58   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

From time to time, we make forward-looking statements such as statements regarding projected or future:

 

   

financial performance,

 

   

cash flows,

 

   

capital expenditures,

 

   

dividends,

 

   

capital structure,

 

   

other financial items,

 

   

strategic goals and objectives, and

 

   

plans for operations.


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These statements have underlying assumptions (many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions). Such statements are made both in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), and elsewhere. Forward-looking statements are all statements except those of historical fact including, without limitation, those that are identified by the use of words that include “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “predicts,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements (including those made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors. Many of these factors are beyond our control and they could have a significant effect on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. This could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others:

 

   

weather conditions (temperatures and precipitation levels) and their effects on energy demand and electric generation, including the effect of precipitation and temperatures on the availability of hydroelectric resources, the effect of temperatures on customer demand, and similar impacts on supply and demand in the wholesale energy markets;

 

   

the effect of state and federal regulatory decisions on our ability to recover costs and earn a reasonable return including, but not limited to, the disallowance of costs and investments, and delay in the recovery of capital investments and operating costs;

 

   

changes in wholesale energy prices that can affect, among other things, the cash requirements to purchase electricity and natural gas, the value received for sales in the wholesale energy market, the necessity to request changes in rates that are subject to regulatory approval, collateral required of us by counterparties on wholesale energy transactions and credit risk to us from such transactions, and the market value of derivative assets and liabilities;

 

   

global financial and economic conditions (including the impact on capital markets) and their effect on our ability to obtain funding at a reasonable cost;

 

   

our ability to obtain financing through the issuance of debt and/or equity securities, which can be affected by various factors including our credit ratings, interest rates and other capital market conditions;

 

   

economic conditions in our service areas, including the effect on the demand for, and customers’ payment for, our utility services;

 

   

the potential effects of legislation or administrative rulemaking, including the possible adoption of national or state laws requiring our resources to meet certain standards and placing restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate concerns over global climate changes;

 

   

changes in actuarial assumptions, interest rates and the actual return on plan assets for our pension plan, which can affect future funding obligations, pension expense and pension plan liabilities;

 

   

volatility and illiquidity in wholesale energy markets, including the availability of willing buyers and sellers, and prices of purchased energy and demand for energy sales;

 

   

unplanned outages at any of our generating facilities or the inability of facilities to operate as intended;

 

   

the outcome of pending regulatory and legal proceedings arising out of the “western energy crisis” of 2000 and 2001, including possible refunds;

 

   

the outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies;

 

   

changes in, and compliance with, environmental and endangered species laws, regulations, decisions and policies, including present and potential environmental remediation costs;

 

   

wholesale and retail competition including, but not limited to, alternative energy sources, suppliers and delivery arrangements;

 

   

the ability to comply with the terms of the licenses for our hydroelectric generating facilities at cost-effective levels;

 

   

natural disasters that can disrupt energy generation, transmission and distribution, as well as the availability and costs of materials, equipment, supplies and support services;

 

   

explosions, fires, accidents, or mechanical breakdowns that may occur while operating and maintaining

  our generation, transmission and distribution systems;

 

3


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blackouts or disruptions of interconnected transmission systems;

 

   

disruption to information systems, automated controls and other technologies that we rely on for operations, communications and customer service;

 

   

the potential for terrorist attacks, cyber security attacks or other malicious acts, that cause damage to our utility assets, as well as the national economy in general; including the impact of acts of terrorism, cyber security attacks or vandalism that damage or disrupt information technology systems;

 

   

delays or changes in construction costs, and/or our ability to obtain required permits and materials for present or prospective facilities;

 

   

changes in the long-term climate of the Pacific Northwest, which can affect, among other things, customer demand patterns and the volume and timing of streamflows to our hydroelectric resources;

 

   

changes in industrial, commercial and residential growth and demographic patterns in our service territory or the loss of significant customers;

 

   

the loss of key suppliers for materials or services;

 

   

default or nonperformance on the part of any parties from which we purchase and/or sell capacity or energy;

 

   

deterioration in the creditworthiness of our customers and counterparties;

 

   

the effect of any potential decline in our credit ratings, including impeded access to capital markets, higher interest costs, and certain covenants with ratings triggers in our financing arrangements and wholesale energy contracts;

 

   

increasing health care costs and the resulting effect on health insurance provided to our employees and retirees;

 

   

increasing costs of insurance, more restricted coverage terms and our ability to obtain insurance;

 

   

work force issues, including changes in collective bargaining unit agreements, strikes, work stoppages or the loss of key executives, availability of workers in a variety of skill areas, and our ability to recruit and retain employees;

 

   

the potential effects of negative publicity regarding business practices, whether true or not, which could result in, among other things, costly litigation and a decline in our common stock price;

 

   

changes in technologies, possibly making some of the current technology obsolete;

 

   

changes in tax rates and/or policies; and

 

   

changes in our strategic business plans, which may be affected by any or all of the foregoing, including the entry into new businesses and/or the exit from existing businesses.

Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith. We believe they are reasonable based on, without limitation, an examination of historical operating trends, our records and other information available from third parties. However, there can be no assurance that our expectations, beliefs or projections will be achieved or accomplished. Furthermore, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the effect of each such factor on our business or the extent that any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

 

4


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Avista Corporation

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts

(Unaudited)

 

      2011     2010  

Operating Revenues:

    

Utility revenues

   $ 319,973      $ 325,667   

Non-utility revenues

     40,584        35,066   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

     360,557        360,733   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

    

Utility operating expenses:

    

Resource costs

     155,776        168,184   

Other operating expenses

     68,700        58,334   

Depreciation and amortization

     26,407        24,642   

Taxes other than income taxes

     19,699        17,866   

Non-utility operating expenses:

    

Other operating expenses

     32,609        28,204   

Depreciation and amortization

     1,842        1,754   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     305,033        298,984   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     55,524        61,749   

Interest expense

     (18,272     (19,113

Interest expense to affiliated trusts

     (152     (159

Capitalized interest

     814        374   

Other expense-net

     (803     (969
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     37,111        41,882   

Income tax expense

     13,583        15,835   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     23,528        26,047   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (527     (507
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

   $ 23,001      $ 25,540   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), basic

     57,787        55,031   

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), diluted

     58,143        55,231   

Earnings per common share attributable to Avista Corporation:

    

Basic

   $ 0.40      $ 0.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 0.39      $ 0.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.275      $ 0.25   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Avista Corporation

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts

(Unaudited)

 

     2011     2010  

Operating Revenues:

    

Utility revenues

   $ 757,670      $ 749,248   

Non-utility revenues

     79,473        67,900   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

     837,143        817,148   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

    

Utility operating expenses:

    

Resource costs

     403,897        427,751   

Other operating expenses

     128,382        114,083   

Depreciation and amortization

     52,259        48,972   

Taxes other than income taxes

     44,692        39,037   

Non-utility operating expenses:

    

Other operating expenses

     63,855        54,162   

Depreciation and amortization

     3,709        3,570   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     696,794        687,575   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     140,349        129,573   

Interest expense

     (36,712     (38,228

Interest expense to affiliated trusts

     (303     (305

Capitalized interest

     1,252        694   

Other expense-net

     (1,435     (2,668
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     103,151        89,066   

Income tax expense

     37,220        33,702   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     65,931        55,364   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (1,012     (1,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

   $ 64,919      $ 54,350   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), basic

     57,565        54,950   

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), diluted

     57,780        55,171   

Earnings per common share attributable to Avista Corporation:

    

Basic

   $ 1.13      $ 0.99   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 1.12      $ 0.98   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.55      $ 0.50   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Avista Corporation

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 23,528      $ 26,047   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income:

    

Change in unfunded benefit obligation for pension and other postretirement benefit plans – net of taxes of $33 and $19, respectively

     60        36   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

     60        36   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     23,588        26,083   

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (527     (507
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Avista Corporation

   $ 23,061      $ 25,576   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

(Unaudited)

            
     2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 65,931      $ 55,364   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

    

Change in unfunded benefit obligation for pension and other postretirement benefit plans – net of taxes of $(73) and $38, respectively

     (136     72   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     (136     72   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     65,795        55,436   

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (1,012     (1,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Avista Corporation

   $ 64,783      $ 54,422   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Avista Corporation

 

Dollars in thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Assets:

     

Current Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 69,916       $ 69,413   

Accounts and notes receivable-less allowances of $44,054 and $44,883

     165,317         230,229   

Utility energy commodity derivative assets

     2,539         2,592   

Regulatory asset for utility derivatives

     38,269         48,891   

Funds held for customers

     67,104         100,543   

Materials and supplies, fuel stock and natural gas stored

     47,683         48,530   

Deferred income taxes

     25,786         28,822   

Income taxes receivable

     11,266         19,069   

Other current assets

     27,468         31,476   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     455,348         579,565   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Utility Property:

     

Utility plant in service

     3,767,321         3,713,885   

Construction work in progress

     74,107         62,051   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,841,428         3,775,936   

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     1,077,153         1,061,699   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net utility property

     2,764,275         2,714,237   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Non-current Assets:

     

Investment in exchange power-net

     20,008         21,233   

Investment in affiliated trusts

     11,547         11,547   

Goodwill

     26,112         25,935   

Long-term energy contract receivable of Spokane Energy

     67,450         62,525   

Other intangibles, property and investments-net

     65,927         74,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other non-current assets

     191,044         195,793   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred Charges:

     

Regulatory assets for deferred income tax

     87,500         90,025   

Regulatory assets for pensions and other postretirement benefits

     190,200         178,985   

Other regulatory assets

     105,525         112,830   

Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets

     13,064         15,261   

Non-current regulatory asset for utility derivatives

     6,019         15,724   

Power deferrals

     7,466         18,305   

Other deferred charges

     22,455         19,370   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred charges

     432,229         450,500   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 3,842,896       $ 3,940,095   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)

Avista Corporation

 

Dollars in thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Liabilities and Equity:

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 128,853      $ 171,707   

Customer fund obligations

     67,104        100,543   

Current portion of long-term debt

     7,363        358   

Current portion of nonrecourse long-term debt of Spokane Energy

     13,052        12,463   

Short-term borrowings

     75,000        110,000   

Utility energy commodity derivative liabilities

     40,808        51,483   

Natural gas deferrals

     13,438        22,074   

Other current liabilities

     109,331        110,547   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     454,949        579,175   

Long-term debt

     1,094,978        1,101,499   

Nonrecourse long-term debt of Spokane Energy

     39,778        46,471   

Long-term debt to affiliated trusts

     51,547        51,547   

Regulatory liability for utility plant retirement costs

     225,609        223,131   

Pensions and other postretirement benefits

     169,557        161,189   

Deferred income taxes

     493,625        495,474   

Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits

     92,898        109,703   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,622,941        2,768,189   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements)

    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

     52,367        46,722   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity:

    

Avista Corporation Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common stock, no par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 57,977,910 and 57,119,723 shares outstanding

     842,054        827,592   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (4,462     (4,326

Retained earnings

     330,543        302,518   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Avista Corporation stockholders’ equity

     1,168,135        1,125,784   

Noncontrolling Interests

     (547     (600
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     1,167,588        1,125,184   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 3,842,896      $ 3,940,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Avista Corporation

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     2011     2010  

Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 65,931      $ 55,364   

Non-cash items included in net income:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     55,968        52,542   

Provision for deferred income taxes

     5,158        8,340   

Power and natural gas cost amortizations (deferrals), net

     4,149        (15,934

Amortization of debt expense and premium

     2,217        2,181   

Equity-related AFUDC

     (1,235     (884

Other

     21,753        25,756   

Contributions to defined benefit pension plan

     (17,250     (14,000

Changes in working capital components:

    

Accounts and notes receivable

     65,736        45,230   

Materials and supplies, fuel stock and natural gas stored

     935        (16,179

Other current assets

     2,147        17,519   

Accounts payable

     (39,034     (31,976

Other current liabilities

     (3,023     (13,149
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     163,452        114,810   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing Activities:

    

Utility property capital expenditures (excluding equity-related AFUDC)

     (98,882     (80,285

Other capital expenditures

     (1,600     (950

Federal grant payments received

     6,824        —     

Cash paid by subsidiary for acquisition, net of cash received

     (199     —     

Decrease (increase) in funds held for customers

     33,439        (3,188

Other

     (3,561     (794
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (63,979     (85,217
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing Activities:

    

Net decrease in short-term borrowings

     (35,000     (2,000

Borrowings from Advantage IQ line of credit

     —          2,300   

Repayment of borrowings from Advantage IQ line of credit

     —          (5,100

Redemption and maturity of long-term debt

     (189     (145

Maturity of nonrecourse long-term debt of Spokane Energy

     (6,104     (5,570

Long-term debt and short-term borrowing issuance costs

     (2,348     (62

Issuance of common stock

     15,878        9,510   

Cash dividends paid

     (31,729     (27,535

Purchase of subsidiary noncontrolling interest

     (6,054     (2,571

Increase (decrease) in customer fund obligations

     (33,439     3,188   

Other

     15        (113
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (98,970     (28,098
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     503        1,495   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     69,413        37,035   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 69,916      $ 38,530   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

    

Cash paid during the period:

    

Interest

   $ 34,462      $ 36,653   

Income taxes

     22,650        5,072   

Non-cash financing and investing activities:

    

Accounts payable for capital expenditures

     4,218        2,746   

Utility property acquired under capital leases

     —          5,300   

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

     6,754        2,823   

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

AND REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Avista Corporation

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     2011     2010  

Common Stock, Shares:

    

Shares outstanding at beginning of period

     57,119,723        54,836,781   

Issuance of common stock

     858,187        521,045   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares outstanding at end of period

     57,977,910        55,357,826   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Common Stock, Amount:

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 827,592      $ 778,647   

Equity compensation expense

     1,804        1,518   

Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs

     15,878        9,510   

Equity transactions of consolidated subsidiaries

     (3,220     (879
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 842,054      $ 788,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss:

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ (4,326   $ (2,350

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     (136     72   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ (4,462   $ (2,278
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Retained Earnings:

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 302,518      $ 274,990   

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

     64,919        54,350   

Cash dividends paid (common stock)

     (31,729     (27,535

Valuation adjustments and other noncontrolling interests activity

     (5,165     (2,456
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 330,543      $ 299,349   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Avista Corporation stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,168,135      $ 1,085,867   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncontrolling Interests:

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ (600   $ (673

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     79        10   

Other

     (26     6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ (547   $ (657
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

   $ 1,167,588      $ 1,085,210   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests:

    

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 46,722      $ 34,833   

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     933        1,004   

Purchase of subsidiary noncontrolling interests

     (6,054     (2,571

Valuation adjustments and other noncontrolling interests activity

     10,766        4,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

   $ 52,367      $ 37,461   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Avista Corporation (Avista Corp. or the Company) for the interim periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, the statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements do not contain the detail or footnote disclosure concerning accounting policies and other matters which would be included in full fiscal year consolidated financial statements; therefore, they should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2010 Form 10-K). Please refer to the section “Acronyms and Terms” in the 2010 Form 10-K for definitions of terms. The acronyms and terms are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

Avista Corp. is an energy company engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy, as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is an operating division of Avista Corp., comprising the regulated utility operations. Avista Utilities generates, transmits and distributes electricity in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. In addition, Avista Utilities has electric generating facilities in Montana and northern Oregon. Avista Utilities also provides natural gas distribution service in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, as well as parts of northeast and southwest Oregon. Avista Capital, Inc. (Avista Capital), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avista Corp., is the parent company of all of the subsidiary companies in the non-utility businesses, except Spokane Energy, LLC. Avista Capital’s subsidiaries include Advantage IQ, Inc. (Advantage IQ), a 79.6 percent owned subsidiary as of June 30, 2011. Advantage IQ is a provider of energy efficiency and other facility information and cost management programs and services for multi-site customers and utilities throughout North America. See Note 12 for business segment information.

Basis of Reporting

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including Advantage IQ and other majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities for which the Company or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiaries. Intercompany balances were eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the Company’s proportionate share of utility plant and related operations resulting from its interests in jointly owned plants.

Taxes Other Than Income Taxes

Taxes other than income taxes include state excise taxes, city occupational and franchise taxes, real and personal property taxes and certain other taxes not based on net income. These taxes are generally based on revenues or the value of property. Utility related taxes collected from customers (primarily state excise taxes and city utility taxes) are recorded as operating revenue and expense and totaled the following amounts for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Utility taxes

   $ 13,158       $ 11,690       $ 31,281       $ 27,711   

Other Expense – Net

Other expense – net consisted of the following items for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Interest income

   $ 284      $ 300      $ 573      $ 598   

Interest on regulatory deferrals

     23        59        68        130   

Equity-related AFUDC

     392        474        1,235        884   

Net gain (loss) on investments

     (140     5        (37     (629

Other expense

     (1,597     (2,075     (3,509     (4,042

Other income

     235        268        235        391   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (803   $ (969   $ (1,435   $ (2,668
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Goodwill

Goodwill arising from acquisitions represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment using a discounted cash flow model on at least an annual basis or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. The Company completed its annual evaluation of goodwill for potential impairment as of November 30, 2010 for the other businesses and as of December 31, 2010 for Advantage IQ and determined that goodwill was not impaired at that time. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Advantage
IQ
     Other      Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
    Total  

Balance as of the December 31, 2010

   $ 20,689       $ 12,979       $ (7,733   $ 25,935   

Adjustments

     177         —           —          177   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of the June 30, 2011

   $ 20,866       $ 12,979       $ (7,733   $ 26,112   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated impairment losses are attributable to the other businesses.

Other Intangibles

Other Intangibles primarily represent the amounts assigned to client relationships related to the Advantage IQ acquisition of Cadence Network in 2008 (estimated amortization period of 12 years), Ecos in 2009 (estimated amortization period of 3 years) and The Loyalton Group in 2010 (estimated amortization period of 6 years), software development costs (estimated amortization period of 5 to 7 years) and other. Other Intangibles are included in other intangibles, property and investments – net on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amortization expense related to Other Intangibles was as follows for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended June 30,      Six months ended June 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Other intangible amortization

   $ 1,264       $ 966       $ 2,153       $ 1,907   

The following table details the future estimated amortization expense related to Other Intangibles for each of the five years ending December 31 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2011      2012      2013      2014      2015  

Estimated amortization expense

   $ 2,277       $ 4,416       $ 3,685       $ 2,941       $ 1,696   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of Other Intangibles as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
    

Client relationships

   $ 11,459      $ 11,459   

Software development costs

     20,500        19,139   

Other

     1,501        1,450   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other intangibles

     33,460        32,048   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Client relationships accumulated amortization

     (2,874     (2,156

Software development costs accumulated amortization

     (10,351     (8,985

Other accumulated amortization

     (875     (806
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accumulated amortization

     (14,100     (11,947
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other intangibles – net

   $ 19,360      $ 20,101   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Derivative Assets and Liabilities

Derivatives are recorded as either assets or liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets measured at estimated fair value. In certain defined conditions, a derivative may be specifically designated as a hedge for a particular exposure. The accounting for derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivatives and the resulting designation.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) issued accounting orders authorizing Avista Utilities to offset commodity derivative assets or liabilities with a regulatory asset or liability. This accounting treatment is intended to defer the recognition of mark-to-market gains and losses on energy commodity transactions until the period of settlement. The orders provide for Avista Utilities to not recognize the unrealized gain or loss on utility derivative commodity instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Realized gains or losses are recognized in the period of settlement, subject to approval for recovery through retail rates. Realized gains and losses, subject to regulatory approval, result in adjustments to retail rates through purchased gas cost adjustments, the Energy Recovery Mechanism (ERM) in Washington, the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) mechanism in Idaho, and periodic general rates cases. Regulatory assets are assessed regularly and are probable for recovery through future rates.

 

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Substantially all forward contracts to purchase or sell power and natural gas are recorded as derivative assets or liabilities at estimated fair value with an offsetting regulatory asset or liability. Contracts that are not considered derivatives are accounted for on the accrual basis until they are settled or realized, unless there is a decline in the fair value of the contract that is determined to be other than temporary.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Energy commodity derivative assets and liabilities, funds held for customers, deferred compensation assets, as well as derivatives related to interest rate swap agreements and foreign currency exchange contracts, are reported at estimated fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 9 for the Company’s fair value disclosures.

Regulatory Deferred Charges and Credits

The Company prepares its condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with regulatory accounting practices because:

 

   

rates for regulated services are established by or subject to approval by independent third-party regulators,

 

   

the regulated rates are designed to recover the cost of providing the regulated services, and

 

   

in view of demand for the regulated services and the level of competition, it is reasonable to assume that rates can be charged to and collected from customers at levels that will recover costs.

Regulatory accounting practices require that certain costs and/or obligations (such as incurred power and natural gas costs not currently included in rates, but expected to be recovered or refunded in the future) are reflected as deferred charges or credits on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs and/or obligations are not reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income until the period during which matching revenues are recognized.

If at some point in the future the Company determines that it no longer meets the criteria for continued application of regulatory accounting practices for all or a portion of its regulated operations, the Company could be:

 

   

required to write off its regulatory assets, and

 

   

precluded from the future deferral of costs not recovered through rates at the time such costs are incurred, even if the Company expected to recover such costs in the future.

Contingencies

The Company has unresolved regulatory, legal and tax issues which have inherently uncertain outcomes. The Company accrues a loss contingency if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss or impairment can be reasonably estimated. The Company also discloses losses that do not meet these conditions for accrual, if there is a reasonable possibility that a loss may be incurred.

NOTE 2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Effective January 1, 2010, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.” This ASU amends guidance related to the disclosures of fair value measurements. In particular, it amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820-10 to clarify existing disclosures and provides for further disaggregation within classes of assets and liabilities, and further disclosure about inputs and valuation techniques. It also requires disclosure of significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and separate disclosure of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation of Level 3 activity (this is required beginning in 2011). See Note 9 for the Company’s fair value disclosures.

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” This ASU will require enhanced disclosures for fair value measurements, including quantitative sensitivity analysis of unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements. The ASU also clarifies the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements. The Company will be required to adopt this ASU effective January 1, 2012. The Company is evaluating the impact this ASU will have on its financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

 

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NOTE 3. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company has a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the purchase of all the output of the Lancaster Plant, a 270 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle combustion turbine plant located in Idaho, owned by an unrelated third-party (Rathdrum Power LLC), through 2026. Beginning in July 2007 through the end of 2009, the majority of the rights and obligations under the PPA were conveyed to Shell Energy in connection with the sale of the majority of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations to Shell Energy. These rights and obligations were conveyed to Avista Corp. (Avista Utilities) beginning in January 2010. Effective December 1, 2010, the rights and obligations under the PPA were assigned to Avista Corp.

Avista Corp. has a variable interest in the PPA. Accordingly, Avista Corp. made an evaluation of which interest holders have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity and which interest holders have the obligation to absorb losses or receive benefits that could be significant to the entity. Avista Corp. pays a fixed capacity and operations and maintenance payment and certain monthly variable costs under the PPA. Under the terms of the PPA, Avista Corp. makes the dispatch decisions, provides all natural gas fuel and receives all of the electric energy output from the Lancaster Plant. However, Rathdrum Power LLC (the owner) controls the daily operation of the Lancaster Plant and makes operating and maintenance decisions. Rathdrum Power LLC controls all of the rights and obligations of the Lancaster Plant after the expiration of the PPA in 2026. It is estimated that the plant will have 15 to 25 years of useful life after that time. Rathdrum Power LLC bears the maintenance risk of the plant and will receive the residual value of the Lancaster Plant. Avista Corp. has no debt or equity investments in the Lancaster Plant and does not provide financial support through liquidity arrangements or other commitments (other than the PPA). Based on its analysis, Avista Corp. does not consider itself to be the primary beneficiary of the Lancaster Plant. Accordingly, neither the Lancaster Plant nor Rathdrum Power LLC is included in Avista Corp.’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company has a future contractual obligation of approximately $351 million under the PPA (representing the fixed capacity and operations and maintenance payments through 2026) and believes this would be its maximum exposure to loss. However, the Company believes that such costs will be recovered through retail rates.

The implementation of amendments to ASC 810 resulted in the Company including Spokane Energy, LLC (Spokane Energy) in its consolidated financial statements effective January 1, 2010. Spokane Energy is a special purpose limited liability company and all of its membership capital is owned by Avista Corp. Spokane Energy was formed in December 1998 to assume ownership of a fixed rate electric capacity contract between Avista Corp. and Portland General Electric Company.

Spokane Energy borrowed $145.0 million from a funding trust and paid $143.4 million to Avista Corp. to acquire its rights under the contract. The loan, which matures in January 2015, is structured so that Spokane Energy is the sole obligor. Avista Corp. has no obligation or liability related to this loan.

The cost of acquiring the energy contract is being amortized and matched with sales revenue over the life of the contract using the effective interest method. Avista Corp. acts as the servicer under the contract and performs scheduling, billing and collection functions.

Pursuant to orders from the WUTC and the IPUC, Avista Corp. fully amortized the $143.4 million received by the end of 2002.

Prior to 2010, Avista Corp. did not consolidate Spokane Energy because Spokane Energy met the definition of a qualified special purpose entity (QSPE). As the amendments to ASC 810 and 860 eliminated the concept of a QSPE, Avista Corp. evaluated Spokane Energy for consolidation as a variable interest entity and determined that it was required to consolidate the entity. This determination was based primarily on Avista Corp. controlling the activities of Spokane Energy, owning all of the member capital of Spokane Energy, and receiving the majority of the residual benefits upon liquidation of the entity.

NOTE 4. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND ADVANTAGE IQ ACQUISITIONS

Advantage IQ’s acquisition of Cadence Network in July 2008 was funded with the issuance of Advantage IQ common stock. Under the transaction agreement, the previous owners of Cadence Network can exercise a right to have their shares of Advantage IQ common stock redeemed during July 2011 or July 2012 if Advantage IQ is not liquidated through either an initial public offering or sale of the business to a third party. These rights were not exercised during July 2011. Their redemption rights expire July 31, 2012. The redemption price would be determined based on the fair market value of Advantage IQ at the time of the redemption election as determined by certain independent parties. Additionally, certain minority shareholders and option holders of Advantage IQ have the right to put their shares back to Advantage IQ at their discretion during an annual put window.

 

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The following details redeemable noncontrolling interests as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 
     

Previous owners of Cadence Network

   $ 39,355       $ 38,098   

Stock options and other outstanding redeemable stock

     13,012         8,624   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total redeemable noncontrolling interests

   $ 52,367       $ 46,722   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In January 2011, Avista Capital purchased shares held by one of the previous owners of Cadence Network for $5.6 million. The presentation of the buyback of Advantage IQ shares was corrected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2010 by reclassifying the purchase of subsidiary noncontrolling interest of $2.6 million from investing to financing activities.

On December 31, 2010, Advantage IQ acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of The Loyalton Group (Loyalton), a Minneapolis-based energy management firm providing energy procurement and price risk management solutions. The acquisition of Loyalton was funded primarily through available cash at Advantage IQ plus contingent consideration based on revenue targets over the next three years.

The acquired assets and liabilities assumed of Loyalton were recorded at their respective estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. The results of operations of Loyalton are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements beginning January 1, 2011. Pro forma disclosures reflecting the effects of the acquisition of Loyalton are not presented, as the acquisition is not material to Avista Corp.’s condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

In January 2011, Advantage IQ acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of Building Knowledge Networks (BKN), a Seattle-based real-time building energy management services provider. The acquisition of BKN was funded through available cash at Advantage IQ. Pro forma disclosures reflecting the effects of the acquisition of BKN are not presented, as the acquisition is not material to Avista Corp.’s condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 5. DERIVATIVES AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Energy Commodity Derivatives

Avista Utilities is exposed to market risks relating to changes in electricity and natural gas commodity prices and certain other fuel prices. Market risk is, in general, the risk of fluctuation in the market price of the commodity being traded and is influenced primarily by supply and demand. Market risk includes the fluctuation in the market price of associated derivative commodity instruments. Market risk may also be influenced by market participants’ nonperformance of their contractual obligations and commitments, which affects the supply of, or demand for, the commodity. Avista Utilities utilizes derivative instruments, such as forwards, futures, swaps and options in order to manage the various risks relating to these commodity price exposures. The Company has an energy resources risk policy and control procedures to manage these risks. The Company’s Risk Management Committee establishes the Company’s energy resources risk policy and monitors compliance. The Risk Management Committee is comprised of certain Company officers and other members of management. The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors periodically reviews and discusses risk assessment and risk management policies, including the Company’s material financial and accounting risk exposures and the steps management has undertaken to control them.

As part of its resource procurement and management operations in the electric business, Avista Utilities engages in an ongoing process of resource optimization, which involves the economic selection from available energy resources to serve Avista Utilities’ load obligations and the use of these resources to capture available economic value. Avista Utilities sells and purchases wholesale electric capacity and energy and fuel as part of the process of acquiring and balancing resources to serve its load obligations. These transactions range from terms of one hour up to multiple years.

Avista Utilities makes continuing projections of:

 

   

electric loads at various points in time (ranging from one hour to multiple years) based on, among other things, estimates of customer usage and weather, historical data and contract terms, and

 

   

resource availability at these points in time based on, among other things, fuel choices and fuel markets, estimates of streamflows, availability of generating units, historic and forward market information, contract terms, and experience.

 

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On the basis of these projections, Avista Utilities makes purchases and sales of electric capacity and energy and fuel to match expected resources to expected electric load requirements. Resource optimization involves generating plant dispatch and scheduling available resources and also includes transactions such as:

 

   

purchasing fuel for generation,

 

   

when economical, selling fuel and substituting wholesale electric purchases, and

 

   

other wholesale transactions to capture the value of generation and transmission resources and fuel delivery capacity contracts.

Avista Utilities’ optimization process includes entering into hedging transactions to manage risks.

As part of its resource procurement and management operations in the natural gas business, Avista Utilities makes continuing projections of its natural gas loads and assesses available natural gas resources including natural gas storage availability. Natural gas resource planning typically includes peak requirements, low and average monthly requirements and delivery constraints from natural gas supply locations to Avista Utilities’ distribution system. However, daily variations in natural gas demand can be significantly different than monthly demand projections. On the basis of these projections, Avista Utilities plans and executes a series of transactions to hedge a significant portion of its projected natural gas requirements through forward market transactions and derivative instruments. These transactions may extend as much as four natural gas operating years (November through October) into the future. Avista Utilities also leaves a significant portion of its natural gas supply requirements unhedged for purchase in short-term and spot markets. Natural gas resource optimization activities include:

 

   

wholesale market sales of surplus natural gas supplies,

 

   

optimization of interstate pipeline transportation capacity not needed to serve daily load, and

 

   

sales of excess natural gas storage capacity.

The following table presents the underlying energy commodity derivative volumes as of June 30, 2011 that are expected to settle in each respective year (in thousands of MWhs and mmBTUs):

 

      Purchases      Sales  
      Electric Derivatives      Gas Derivatives      Electric Derivatives      Gas Derivatives  

Year

   Physical
MWH
     Financial
MWH
     Physical
mmBTUs
     Financial
mmBTUs
     Physical
MWH
     Financial
MWH
     Physical
mmBTUs
     Financial
mmBTUs
 

2011

     776         730         23,430         49,100         503         258         10,877         50,899   

2012

     904         1,363         13,195         49,195         324         562         1,528         44,950   

2013

     398         1,107         6,880         46,018         254         1,013         1,533         34,617   

2014

     366         —           2,933         3,480         286         123         1,050         —     

2015

     379         —           675         450         286         —           —           —     

Thereafter

     1,315         —           —           —           1,017         —           —           —     

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

A significant portion of Avista Utilities’ natural gas supply (including fuel for power generation) is obtained from Canadian sources. Most of those transactions are executed in U.S. dollars, which avoids foreign currency risk. A portion of Avista Utilities’ short-term natural gas transactions and long-term Canadian transportation contracts are committed based on Canadian currency prices and settled within sixty days with U.S. dollars. Avista Utilities economically hedges a portion of the foreign currency risk by purchasing Canadian currency contracts when such commodity transactions are initiated. This risk has not had a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows and these differences in cost related to currency fluctuations were included with natural gas supply costs for ratemaking. The following table summarizes the foreign currency hedges that the Company has entered into as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 
     

Number of contracts

     42         29   

Notional amount (in United States dollars)

   $ 14,107       $ 10,916   

Notional amount (in Canadian dollars)

     13,736         10,989   

Derivative in other current assets

     137         116   

 

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Interest Rate Swap Agreements

Avista Corp. enters into forward-starting interest rate swap agreements to manage the risk associated with changes in interest rates and the impact on future interest payments. These interest rate swap agreements relate to the interest payments for anticipated debt issuances. These interest rate swap agreements are considered economic hedges against fluctuations in future cash flows associated with changes in interest rates. The following table summarizes the interest rate swaps that the Company has entered into as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

Entered

   Notional      Number of
Contracts
     Mandatory Cash
Settlement Date
 

May/June 2010

   $ 50,000         2         July 2012   

Under the terms of the outstanding interest rate swap agreements, the value of the interest rate swaps is determined based upon Avista Corp. paying a fixed rate and receiving a variable rate based on LIBOR for a term of ten years. Upon settlement of the interest rate swaps, the regulatory asset or liability (included as part of long-term debt) will be amortized as a component of interest expense over the life of the forecasted interest payments.

Derivative Instruments Summary

The following table presents the fair values and locations of derivative instruments recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2011 (in thousands):

 

           Fair Value  

Derivative

  

Balance Sheet Location

   Asset      Liability     Net Asset
(Liability)
 

Foreign currency contracts

   Other current assets    $ 137       $ —        $ 137   

Interest rate contracts

   Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits      —           (1,468     (1,468

Commodity contracts

   Current utility energy commodity derivative assets      13,224         (10,685     2,539   

Commodity contracts

   Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets      27,554         (14,490     13,064   

Commodity contracts

   Current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities      5,153         (45,961     (40,808

Commodity contracts

   Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits      4,012         (23,095     (19,083
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivative instruments recorded on the balance sheet

   $ 50,080       $ (95,699   $ (45,619
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the fair values and locations of derivative instruments recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

 

           Fair Value  

Derivative

  

Balance Sheet Location

   Asset      Liability     Net Asset
(Liability)
 

Foreign currency contracts

   Other current assets    $ 116       $ —        $ 116   

Interest rate contracts

   Other intangibles, property and investments-net      127         —          127   

Interest rate contracts

   Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits      —           (53     (53

Commodity contracts

   Current utility energy commodity derivative assets      6,293         (3,701     2,592   

Commodity contracts

   Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets      21,249         (5,988     15,261   

Commodity contracts

   Current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities      5,934         (57,417     (51,483

Commodity contracts

   Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits      1,386         (32,371     (30,985
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivative instruments recorded on the balance sheet

   $ 35,105       $ (99,530   $ (64,425
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exposure to Demands for Collateral

The Company’s derivative contracts often require collateral (in the form of cash or letters of credit) or other credit enhancements, or reductions or terminations of a portion of the contract through cash settlement, in the event of a downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings or changes in market prices. In periods of price volatility, the level of exposure can change significantly. As a result, sudden and significant demands may be made against the Company’s credit facilities and cash. The Company actively monitors the exposure to possible collateral calls and takes steps to minimize capital requirements.

 

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Certain of the Company’s derivative instruments contain provisions that require the Company to maintain an investment grade credit rating from the major credit rating agencies. If the Company’s credit ratings were to fall below “investment grade,” it would be in violation of these provisions, and the counterparties to the derivative instruments could request immediate payment or demand immediate and ongoing collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a liability position as of June 30, 2011 was $70.0 million. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements were triggered on June 30, 2011, the Company would be required to post $38.6 million of collateral to its counterparties.

Credit Risk

Credit risk relates to the potential losses that the Company would incur as a result of non-performance by counterparties of their contractual obligations to deliver energy or make financial settlements. The Company often extends credit to counterparties and customers and is exposed to the risk that it may not be able to collect amounts owed to the Company. Changes in market prices may dramatically alter the size of credit risk with counterparties, even when conservative credit limits are established. Credit risk includes potential counterparty default due to circumstances:

 

   

relating directly to it,

 

   

caused by market price changes, and

 

   

relating to other market participants that have a direct or indirect relationship with such counterparty.

Should a counterparty, customer or supplier fail to perform, the Company may be required to honor the underlying commitment or to replace existing contracts with contracts at then-current market prices. The Company seeks to mitigate credit risk by:

 

   

entering into bilateral contracts that specify credit terms and protections against default,

 

   

applying credit limits and duration criteria to existing and prospective counterparties,

 

   

actively monitoring current credit exposures, and

 

   

conducting some of its transactions on exchanges with clearing arrangements that essentially eliminate counterparty default risk.

These credit policies include an evaluation of the financial condition and credit ratings of counterparties, collateral requirements or other credit enhancements, such as letters of credit or parent company guarantees. The Company also uses standardized agreements that allow for the netting or offsetting of positive and negative exposures associated with a single counterparty or affiliated group.

The Company has concentrations of suppliers and customers in the electric and natural gas industries including:

 

   

electric utilities,

 

   

electric generators and transmission providers,

 

   

natural gas producers and pipelines,

 

   

financial institutions, and

 

   

energy marketing and trading companies.

In addition, the Company has concentrations of credit risk related to geographic location as it operates in the western United States and western Canada. These concentrations of counterparties and concentrations of geographic location may impact the Company’s overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, because the counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in conditions.

As is common industry practice, Avista Utilities maintains margin agreements with certain counterparties. Margin calls are triggered when exposures exceed predetermined contractual limits or when there are changes in a counterparty’s creditworthiness. Price movements in electricity and natural gas can generate exposure levels in excess of these contractual limits. Margin calls are periodically made and/or received by Avista Utilities. Negotiating for collateral in the form of cash, letters of credit, or performance guarantees is common industry practice.

 

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NOTE 6. PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all regular full-time employees at Avista Utilities. Individual benefits under this plan are based upon the employee’s years of service, date of hire and average compensation as specified in the plan. The Company’s funding policy is to contribute at least the minimum amounts that are required to be funded under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, but not more than the maximum amounts that are currently deductible for income tax purposes. The Company contributed $21 million in cash to the pension plan in 2010. The Company expects to contribute $26 million in cash to the pension plan in 2011 ($17.3 million was contributed in the six months ended June 30, 2011).

The Company also has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) that provides additional pension benefits to executive officers of the Company. The SERP is intended to provide benefits to executive officers whose benefits under the pension plan are reduced due to the application of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the deferral of salary under deferred compensation plans. The liability and expense for this plan are included as pension benefits in the tables included in this Note.

The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for substantially all of its retired employees. The Company accrues the estimated cost of postretirement benefit obligations during the years that employees provide services.

The Company established a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to provide employees with tax-advantaged funds to pay for allowable medical expenses upon retirement. The amount earned by the employee is fixed on the retirement date based on the employee’s years of service and the ending salary. The liability and expense of this plan are included as other postretirement benefits.

The Company provides death benefits to beneficiaries of executive officers who die during their term of office or after retirement. Under the plan, an executive officer’s designated beneficiary will receive a payment equal to twice the executive officer’s annual base salary at the time of death (or if death occurs after retirement, a payment equal to twice the executive officer’s total annual pension benefit). The liability and expense for this plan are included as other postretirement benefits.

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit costs for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Post-
retirement Benefits
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Three months ended June 30:

        

Service cost

   $ 3,303      $ 2,878      $ 639      $ 219   

Interest cost

     6,017        5,823        1,091        631   

Expected return on plan assets

     (5,775     (5,347     (357     (341

Transition obligation recognition

     —          —          124        126   

Amortization of prior service cost

     125        163        (37     (37

Net loss recognition

     2,298        1,842        1,239        190   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 5,968      $ 5,359      $ 2,699      $ 788   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30:

        

Service cost

   $ 6,245      $ 5,756      $ 866      $ 421   

Interest cost

     12,126        11,646        2,010        1,250   

Expected return on plan assets

     (11,366     (10,694     (800     (682

Transition obligation recognition

     —          —          250        252   

Amortization of prior service cost

     244        326        (74     (74

Net loss recognition

     4,403        3,633        1,674        528   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 11,652      $ 10,667      $ 3,926      $ 1,695   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NOTE 7. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

In February 2011, Avista Corp. entered into a new committed line of credit with various financial institutions in the total amount of $400.0 million with an expiration date of February 2015 that replaced its $320.0 million and $75.0 million committed lines of credit.

The committed line of credit is secured by non-transferable First Mortgage Bonds of the Company issued to the agent bank that would only become due and payable in the event, and then only to the extent, that the Company defaults on its obligations under the committed line of credit.

 

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The committed line of credit agreement contains customary covenants and default provisions. The credit agreement has a covenant which does not permit the ratio of “consolidated total debt” to “consolidated total capitalization” of Avista Corp. to be greater than 65 percent at any time. As of June 30, 2011, the Company was in compliance with this covenant.

Balances outstanding under the Company’s revolving committed lines of credit were as follows as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Balance outstanding at end of period

   $ 75,000       $ 110,000   

Letters of credit outstanding at end of period

   $ 19,023       $ 27,126   

Advantage IQ

In April 2011, Advantage IQ entered into a new $40.0 million three-year committed line of credit agreement with a financial institution that replaced its $15.0 million committed credit agreement that had an expiration date of May 2011. The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of Advantage IQ’s assets. There were no borrowings outstanding under Advantage IQ’s credit agreements as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

NOTE 8. LONG-TERM DEBT

The following details long-term debt outstanding as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

Maturity
Year

  

Description

   Interest
Rate
  June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

2012

   Secured Medium-Term Notes    7.37%   $ 7,000      $ 7,000   

2013

   First Mortgage Bonds    1.68%     50,000        50,000   

2018

   First Mortgage Bonds    5.95%     250,000        250,000   

2018

   Secured Medium-Term Notes    7.39%-7.45%     22,500        22,500   

2019

   First Mortgage Bonds    5.45%     90,000        90,000   

2020

   First Mortgage Bonds    3.89%     52,000        52,000   

2022

   First Mortgage Bonds    5.13%     250,000        250,000   

2023

   Secured Medium-Term Notes    7.18%-7.54%     13,500        13,500   

2028

   Secured Medium-Term Notes    6.37%     25,000        25,000   

2032

   Secured Pollution Control Bonds (1)    (1)     66,700        66,700   

2034

   Secured Pollution Control Bonds (2)    (2)     17,000        17,000   

2035

   First Mortgage Bonds    6.25%     150,000        150,000   

2037

   First Mortgage Bonds    5.70%     150,000        150,000   

2040

   First Mortgage Bonds    5.55%     35,000        35,000   
       

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Total secured long-term debt

       1,178,700        1,178,700   

2023

   Unsecured Pollution Control Bonds    6.00%     4,100        4,100   
  

Capital leases and other long-term debt

       5,461        5,500   
  

Settled interest rate swaps

       (512     (951
  

Unamortized debt discount

       (1,708     (1,792
       

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Total

       1,186,041        1,185,557   
  

Secured Pollution Control Bonds held by Avista Corporation (1) (2)

       (83,700     (83,700
  

Current portion of long-term debt

       (7,363     (358
       

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Total long-term debt

     $ 1,094,978      $ 1,101,499   
       

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) In December 2010, $66.7 million of the City of Forsyth, Montana Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Avista Corporation Colstrip Project) due 2032, which had been held by Avista Corp. since 2008, were refunded by a new bond issue (Series 2010A). The new bonds were not offered to the public and were purchased by Avista Corp. due to market conditions. The Company expects that at a later date, subject to market conditions, these bonds will be remarketed to unaffiliated investors. So long as Avista Corp. is the holder of these bonds, the bonds will not be reflected as an asset or a liability on Avista Corp.’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(2) In December 2010, $17.0 million of the City of Forsyth, Montana Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds, (Avista Corporation Colstrip Project) due 2034, which had been held by Avista Corp. since 2009, were refunded by a new bond issue (Series 2010B). The new bonds were not offered to the public and were purchased by Avista Corp. due to market conditions. The Company expects that at a later date, subject to market conditions, the bonds will be remarketed to unaffiliated investors. So long as Avista Corp. is the holder of these bonds, the bonds will not be reflected as an asset or a liability on Avista Corp.’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

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Nonrecourse Long-Term Debt

Nonrecourse long-term debt (including current portion) represents the long-term debt of Spokane Energy. To provide funding to acquire a long-term fixed rate electric capacity contract from Avista Corp., Spokane Energy borrowed $145.0 million from a funding trust in December 1998. The long-term debt has scheduled monthly installments and interest at a fixed rate of 8.45 percent with the final payment due in January 2015. Spokane Energy bears full recourse risk for the debt, which is secured by the fixed rate electric capacity contract and $1.6 million of funds held in a trust account.

NOTE 9. FAIR VALUE

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and short-term borrowings are reasonable estimates of their fair values. Long-term debt (including current portion, but excluding capital leases), nonrecourse long-term debt and long-term debt to affiliated trusts are reported at carrying value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table sets forth the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments not reported at estimated fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Carrying
Value
     Estimated
Fair Value
     Carrying
Value
     Estimated
Fair Value
 

Long-term debt

   $ 1,099,100       $ 1,173,289       $ 1,099,100       $ 1,139,765   

Nonrecourse long-term debt

     52,830         59,029         58,934         64,795   

Long-term debt to affiliated trusts

     51,547         43,799         51,547         37,114   

These estimates of fair value of long-term debt and long-term debt to affiliated trusts were primarily based on available market information. Due to the unique nature of the long-term fixed rate electric capacity contract securing the long-term debt of Spokane Energy (nonrecourse long-term debt), the estimated fair value of nonrecourse long-term debt was determined based on a discounted cash flow model using available market information.

U.S. GAAP defines a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 – Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.

Level 3 – Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally unobservable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.

Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The determination of the fair values incorporates various factors that not only include the credit standing of the counterparties involved and the impact of credit enhancements (such as cash deposits and letters of credit), but also the impact of Avista Corp.’s nonperformance risk on its liabilities.

 

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The following table discloses by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s assets and liabilities measured and reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 at fair value on a recurring basis (dollars in thousands):

 

     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Counterparty
Netting (1)
    Total  

June 30, 2011

             

Assets:

             

Energy commodity derivatives

   $ —         $ 32,911       $ 17,032       $ (34,340   $ 15,603   

Foreign currency derivatives

     —           137         —           —          137   

Funds held for customers (2)

     67,104         —           —           —          67,104   

Funds held in trust account of Spokane Energy

     1,600         —           —           —          1,600   

Deferred compensation assets:

             

Fixed income securities (3)

     2,355         —           —           —          2,355   

Equity securities (3)

     6,484         —           —           —          6,484   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 77,543       $ 33,048       $ 17,032       $ (34,340   $ 93,283   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

             

Energy commodity derivatives

   $ —         $ 84,544       $ 9,687       $ (34,340   $ 59,891   

Interest rate swaps

     —           1,468         —           —          1,468   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Energy commodity derivatives

   $ —         $ 86,012       $ 9,687       $ (34,340   $ 61,359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

             

Assets:

             

Energy commodity derivatives

   $ —         $ 15,124       $ 19,739       $ (17,010   $ 17,853   

Interest rate swaps

     —           127         —           —          127   

Foreign currency derivatives

     —           116         —           —          116   

Funds held for customers (2)

     100,543         —           —           —          100,543   

Funds held in trust account of Spokane Energy

     1,600         —           —           —          1,600   

Deferred compensation assets:

             

Fixed income securities (3)

     1,854         —           —           —          1,854   

Equity securities (3)

     6,211         —           —           —          6,211   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 110,208       $ 15,367       $ 19,739       $ (17,010   $ 128,304   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

             

Energy commodity derivatives

   $ —         $ 93,198       $ 6,280       $ (17,010   $ 82,468   

Interest rate swaps

     —           53         —           —          53   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ —         $ 93,251       $ 6,280       $ (17,010   $ 82,521   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The Company is permitted to net derivative assets and derivative liabilities with the same counterparty when a legally enforceable master netting agreement exists.
(2) Represents amounts held in money market funds.
(3) These assets are trading securities.

Avista Utilities enters into forward contracts to purchase or sell a specified amount of energy at a specified time, or during a specified period, in the future. These contracts are entered into as part of Avista Utilities’ management of loads and resources and certain contracts are considered derivative instruments. The difference between the amount of derivative assets and liabilities disclosed in respective levels and the amount of derivative assets and liabilities disclosed on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is due to netting arrangements with certain counterparties. The Company uses quoted market prices and forward price curves to estimate the fair value of utility derivative commodity instruments included in Level 2. In particular, electric derivative valuations are performed using broker quotes, adjusted for periods in between quotable periods. Natural gas derivative valuations are estimated using New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) pricing for similar instruments, adjusted for basin differences, using broker quotes. Where observable inputs are available for substantially the full term of the contract, the derivative asset or liability is included in Level 2. The Company also has certain contracts that, primarily due to the length of the respective contract, require the use of internally developed forward price estimates, which include significant inputs that may not be observable or corroborated in the market. These derivative contracts are included in Level 3. Refer to Note 5 for further discussion of the Company’s energy commodity derivative assets and liabilities.

 

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Deferred compensation assets and liabilities represent funds held by the Company in a Rabbi Trust for an Executive Deferral Plan. These funds consist of actively traded equity and bond funds with quoted prices in active markets. The balance disclosed in the table above excludes cash and cash equivalents of $1.2 million as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

The following table presents activity for energy commodity derivative assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Assets     Liabilities  
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Three months ended June 30:

        

Balance as of April 1

   $ 20,009      $ 30,788      $ (5,680   $ (4,896

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in net income

     —          —          —          —     

Included in other comprehensive income

     —          —          —          —     

Included in regulatory assets/liabilities (1)

     (2,977     3,116        (592     434   

Purchases

     —          —          —          —     

Issuances

     —          —          —          —     

Settlements

     —          (53     989        81   

Transfers from other categories (2)

     —          —          (4,404     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance as of June 30

   $ 17,032      $ 33,851      $ (9,687   $ (4,381
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Six months ended June 30:

        

Balance as of January 1

   $ 19,739      $ 57,276      $ (6,280   $ (7,806

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):

        

Included in net income

     —          —          —          —     

Included in other comprehensive income

     —          —          —          —     

Included in regulatory assets/liabilities (1)

     (2,707     (21,076     (948     3,344   

Purchases

     —          —          —          —     

Issuances

     —          —          —          —     

Settlements

     —          (2,349     1,945        81   

Transfers from other categories (2)

     —          —          (4,404     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance as of June 30

   $ 17,032      $ 33,851      $ (9,687   $ (4,381
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) The WUTC and the IPUC issued accounting orders authorizing Avista Utilities to offset commodity derivative assets or liabilities with a regulatory asset or liability. This accounting treatment is intended to defer the recognition of mark-to-market gains and losses on energy commodity transactions until the period of settlement. The orders provide for Avista Utilities to not recognize the unrealized gain or loss on utility derivative commodity instruments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Realized gains or losses are recognized in the period of settlement, subject to approval for recovery through retail rates. Realized gains and losses, subject to regulatory approval, result in adjustments to retail rates through purchased gas cost adjustments, the ERM in Washington, the PCA mechanism in Idaho, and periodic general rates cases.
(2) A derivative contract was reclassified from Level 2 to Level 3 during the three months ended June 30, 2011 due to a particular unobservable input becoming more significant to the fair value measurement.

 

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NOTE 10. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO AVISTA CORPORATION

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to Avista Corporation for the three and six months ended June 30 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Numerator:

        

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

   $ 23,001      $ 25,540      $ 64,919      $ 54,350   

Subsidiary earnings adjustment for dilutive securities

     (96     (43     (170     (78
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net income attributable to Avista Corporation for computation of diluted earnings per common share

   $ 22,905      $ 25,497      $ 64,749      $ 54,272   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

        

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding-basic

     57,787        55,031        57,565        54,950   

Effect of dilutive securities:

        

Contingent stock awards

     306        127        159        145   

Stock options

     50        73        56        76   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding-diluted

     58,143        55,231        57,780        55,171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Potential shares excluded in calculation

     —          198        —          198   

Earnings per common share attributable to Avista Corporation:

        

Basic

   $ 0.40      $ 0.46      $ 1.13      $ 0.99   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 0.39      $ 0.46      $ 1.12      $ 0.98   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Certain stock options were excluded from the calculation because they were antidilutive as the exercise price of the stock options was higher than the average market price of Avista Corp. common stock during the respective period.

NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the course of its business, the Company becomes involved in various claims, controversies, disputes and other contingent matters, including the items described in this Note. Some of these claims, controversies, disputes and other contingent matters involve litigation or other contested proceedings. For all such matters, the Company intends to vigorously protect and defend its interests and pursue its rights. However, no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of any particular matter because litigation and other contested proceedings are inherently subject to numerous uncertainties. For matters that affect Avista Utilities’ operations, the Company intends to seek, to the extent appropriate, recovery of incurred costs through the ratemaking process.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Inquiry

In April 2004, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the contested Agreement in Resolution of Section 206 Proceeding (Agreement in Resolution) between Avista Corp. doing business as Avista Utilities, Avista Energy and the FERC’s Trial Staff which stated that there was: (1) no evidence that any executives or employees of Avista Utilities or Avista Energy knowingly engaged in or facilitated any improper trading strategy during 2000 and 2001; (2) no evidence that Avista Utilities or Avista Energy engaged in any efforts to manipulate the western energy markets during 2000 and 2001; and (3) no finding that Avista Utilities or Avista Energy withheld relevant information from the FERC’s inquiry into the western energy markets for 2000 and 2001 (Trading Investigation). The Attorney General of the State of California (California AG), the California Electricity Oversight Board, and the City of Tacoma, Washington challenged the FERC’s decisions approving the Agreement in Resolution, which are now pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit).

In May 2004, the FERC provided notice that Avista Energy was no longer subject to an investigation reviewing certain bids above $250 per MW in the short-term energy markets operated by the California Independent System Operator (CalISO) and the California Power Exchange (CalPX) from May 1, 2000 to October 2, 2000 (Bidding Investigation). That matter is also pending before the Ninth Circuit, after the California AG, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) filed petitions for review in 2005.

 

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Based on the FERC’s order approving the Agreement in Resolution in the Trading Investigation and order denying rehearing requests, the Company does not expect that this proceeding will have any material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Furthermore, based on information currently known to the Company regarding the Bidding Investigation and the fact that the FERC Staff did not find any evidence of manipulative behavior, the Company does not expect that this matter will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

California Refund Proceeding

In July 2001, the FERC ordered an evidentiary hearing to determine the amount of refunds due to California energy buyers for purchases made in the spot markets operated by the CalISO and the CalPX during the period from October 2, 2000 to June 20, 2001 (Refund Period). Proposed refunds are based on the calculation of mitigated market clearing prices for each hour. The FERC ruled that if the refunds required by the formula would cause a seller to recover less than its actual costs for the Refund Period, sellers may document these costs and limit their refund liability commensurately. In September 2005, Avista Energy submitted its cost filing claim pursuant to the FERC’s August 2005 order. The filing was initially accepted by the FERC, but in March 2011, the FERC ordered Avista Energy to remove any return on equity in a compliance filing with the CalISO, which Avista Energy did in April 2011. A challenge to Avista Energy’s cost filing by the California AG, the CPUC, PG&E and SCE was denied in July 2011 as a collateral attack on the FERC’s prior orders accepting Avista Energy’s cost filing. In July 2011, the California AG, the CPUC, PG&E and SCE filed a petition for review of the FERC’s orders regarding Avista Energy’s cost filing at the Ninth Circuit.

The 2001 bankruptcy of PG&E resulted in a default on its payment obligations to the CalPX. As a result, Avista Energy has not been paid for all of its energy sales during the Refund Period. Those funds are now in escrow accounts and will not be released until the FERC issues an order directing such release in the California refund proceeding. The CalISO continues to work on its compliance filing for the Refund Period, which will show “who owes what to whom.” In July 2011, the FERC accepted the preparatory rerun compliance filings by the CalPX and CalISO, and responded to the CalPX request for guidance on issues related to completing the final determination of “who owes what to whom.” The FERC directs both the CalISO and the CalPX to prepare and submit to the FERC their final refund rerun compliance filings. The FERC’s order also directs the CalPX to pay past due principal amounts to governmental entities. As of June 30, 2011, Avista Energy’s accounts receivable outstanding related to defaulting parties in California were fully offset by reserves for uncollected amounts and funds collected from the defaulting parties.

Many of the orders that the FERC has issued in the California refund proceedings were appealed to the Ninth Circuit. In October 2004, the Ninth Circuit ordered that briefing proceed in two rounds. The first round was limited to three issues: (1) which parties are subject to the FERC’s refund jurisdiction in light of the exemption for government-owned utilities in section 201(f) of the FPA; (2) the temporal scope of refunds under section 206 of the FPA; and (3) which categories of transactions are subject to refunds. The second round of issues and their corresponding briefing schedules have not yet been set by the Ninth Circuit.

In September 2005, the Ninth Circuit held that the FERC did not have the authority to order refunds for sales made by municipal utilities in the California refund proceeding. In August 2006, the Ninth Circuit upheld October 2, 2000 as the refund effective date for the FPA section 206 refund proceeding, but remanded to the FERC its decision not to consider an FPA section 309 remedy for tariff violations prior to that date. A FERC hearing on that issue is scheduled to commence in March 2012. A May 2011 FERC order denied a motion filed by Avista Energy and Avista Utilities asking that the companies be dismissed from any further proceedings involving alleged tariff violations under FPA section 309. Avista Energy and Avista Utilities sought rehearing of that ruling in June 2011. As noted above, in Docket No. EL02-115, Avista Energy and Avista Utilities were absolved of any wrongdoing related to allegations of tariff violations during 2000 and 2001 and have argued that the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel preclude relitigation of the same issues. The California AG, the CPUC, PG&E and SCE also filed for rehearing of the FERC’s May 2011 order, arguing that it improperly denies them a market-wide remedy for the pre-refund period. They also filed a petition for review of the May 2011 order at the Ninth Circuit.

Because the resolution of the California refund proceeding remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent of the Company’s liability, if any. However, based on information currently known, the Company does not expect that the refunds ultimately ordered for the Refund Period will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. This is primarily due to the fact that the FERC orders have stated that any refunds will be netted against unpaid amounts owed to the respective parties and the Company does not believe that refunds would exceed unpaid amounts owed to the Company.

 

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Pacific Northwest Refund Proceeding

In July 2001, the FERC initiated a preliminary evidentiary hearing to develop a factual record as to whether prices for spot market sales of wholesale energy in the Pacific Northwest between December 25, 2000 and June 20, 2001 were just and reasonable. In June 2003, the FERC terminated the Pacific Northwest refund proceedings, after finding that the equities do not justify the imposition of refunds. In August 2007, the Ninth Circuit found that the FERC, in denying the request for refunds, had failed to take into account new evidence of market manipulation in the California energy market and its potential ties to the Pacific Northwest energy market and that such failure was arbitrary and capricious and, accordingly, remanded the case to the FERC, stating that the FERC’s findings must be reevaluated in light of the evidence. In addition, the Ninth Circuit concluded that the FERC abused its discretion in denying potential relief for transactions involving energy that was purchased by the California Department of Water Resources (CERS) in the Pacific Northwest and ultimately consumed in California. The Ninth Circuit expressly declined to direct the FERC to grant refunds. The Ninth Circuit denied petitions for rehearing by various parties, and remanded the case to the FERC in April 2009.

In May 2009, the California AG filed a complaint against both Avista Energy and Avista Utilities seeking refunds on sales made to CERS during the period January 18, 2001 to June 20, 2001 under section 309 of the FPA (the Brown Complaint). The sales at issue are limited in scope and are duplicative of claims already at issue in the Pacific Northwest proceeding, discussed above. In August 2009, the City of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle filed a motion asking the FERC to summarily re-price sales of energy in the Pacific Northwest during 2000 and 2001. In October 2009, Avista Corp. filed, as part of the Transaction Finality Group, an answer to that motion and, in addition, made its own recommendations for further proceedings in this docket. Those pleadings are pending before the FERC.

Both Avista Utilities and Avista Energy were buyers and sellers of energy in the Pacific Northwest energy market during the period between December 25, 2000 and June 20, 2001 and, if refunds were ordered by the FERC, could be liable to make payments, but also could be entitled to receive refunds from other FERC-jurisdictional entities. The opportunity to make claims against entities not subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction may be limited based on existing law. The Company cannot predict the outcome of this proceeding or the amount of any refunds that Avista Utilities or Avista Energy could be ordered to make or could be entitled to receive. Therefore, the Company cannot predict the potential impact the outcome of this matter could ultimately have on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

California Attorney General Complaint (the “Lockyer Complaint”)

In May 2002, the FERC conditionally dismissed a complaint filed in March 2002 by the California AG that alleged violations of the FPA by the FERC and all sellers (including Avista Corp. and its subsidiaries) of electric power and energy into California. The complaint alleged that the FERC’s adoption and implementation of market-based rate authority was flawed and, as a result, individual sellers should refund the difference between the rate charged and a just and reasonable rate. In May 2002, the FERC issued an order dismissing the complaint. In September 2004, the Ninth Circuit upheld the FERC’s market-based rate authority, but held that the FERC erred in ruling that it lacked authority to order refunds for violations of its reporting requirement. The Court remanded the case for further proceedings.

In March 2008, the FERC issued an order establishing a trial-type hearing to address “whether any individual public utility seller’s violation of the FERC’s market-based rate quarterly reporting requirement led to an unjust and unreasonable rate for that particular seller in California during the 2000-2001 period.” Purchasers in the California markets were given the opportunity to present evidence that “any seller that violated the quarterly reporting requirement failed to disclose an increased market share sufficient to give it the ability to exercise market power and thus cause its market-based rates to be unjust and unreasonable.” In March 2010, the Presiding Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) granted the motions for summary disposition and found that a hearing was “unnecessary” because the California AG, CPUC, PG&E and SCE “failed to apply the appropriate test to determine market power during the relevant time period.” The judge determined that “[w]ithout a proper showing of market power, the California Parties failed to establish a prima facie case.” In May 2011, the FERC affirmed “in all respects” the ALJ’s decision. In June 2011, the California AG, CPUC, PG&E and SCE filed for rehearing of that order.

Based on information currently known to the Company’s management, and the ALJ’s granting of Avista Utilities and Avista Energy’s summary disposition motion, the Company does not expect that this matter will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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Colstrip Generating Project Complaint

In March 2007, two families that own property near the holding ponds from Units 3 & 4 of the Colstrip Generating Project (Colstrip) filed a complaint against the owners of Colstrip and Hydrometrics, Inc. in Montana District Court. Avista Corp. owns a 15 percent interest in Units 3 & 4 of Colstrip. The plaintiffs allege that the holding ponds and remediation activities have adversely impacted their property. They allege contamination, decrease in water tables, reduced flow of streams on their property and other similar impacts to their property. They also seek punitive damages, attorney’s fees, an order by the court to remove certain ponds, and the forfeiture of profits earned from the generation of Colstrip. In September 2010, the owners of Colstrip filed a motion with the court to enforce a settlement agreement that would resolve all issues between the parties. Under the settlement, Avista Corp.’s portion of payment (which was accrued in 2010) to the plaintiffs was not material to its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The plaintiffs have contested the existence of any settlement, and filed a response to the motion, with the matter to be decided by the court. Although the final resolution of this complaint remains uncertain, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect this complaint will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Harbor Oil Inc. Site

Avista Corp. used Harbor Oil Inc. (Harbor Oil) for the recycling of waste oil and non-PCB transformer oil in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In June 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 provided notification to Avista Corp. and several other parties, as customers of Harbor Oil, that the EPA had determined that hazardous substances were released at the Harbor Oil site in Portland, Oregon and that Avista Corp. and several other parties may be liable for investigation and cleanup of the site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly referred to as the federal “Superfund” law, which provides for joint and several liability. The initial indication from the EPA is that the site may be contaminated with PCBs, petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents and heavy metals. Six potentially responsible parties, including Avista Corp., signed an Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA on May 31, 2007 to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS), which is expected to be finalized in 2011. The actual cleanup, if any, will not occur until the RI/FS is complete. Based on the review of its records related to Harbor Oil, the Company does not believe it is a major contributor to this potential environmental contamination based on the small volume of waste oil it delivered to the Harbor Oil site. However, there is currently not enough information to allow the Company to assess the probability or amount of a liability, if any, being incurred. The Company has accrued its share of the RI/FS ($0.5 million) for this matter.

Spokane River Licensing

The Company owns and operates six hydroelectric plants on the Spokane River. Five of these (Long Lake, Nine Mile, Upper Falls, Monroe Street, and Post Falls) are under one 50-year FERC license issued in June 2009 and are referred to as the Spokane River Project. The sixth, Little Falls, is operated under separate Congressional authority and is not licensed by the FERC. The license incorporated the 4(e) conditions that were included in the December 2008 Settlement Agreement with the United States Department of Interior and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, as well as the mandatory conditions that were agreed to in the Idaho 401 Water Quality Certifications and in the amended Washington 401 Water Quality Certification.

As part of the Settlement Agreement with the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE), the Company participated in the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process for the Spokane River and Lake Spokane, the reservoir created by Long Lake Dam. On May 20, 2010, the EPA approved the TMDL and on May 27, 2010, the DOE filed an amended 401 Water Quality Certification with the FERC for inclusion into the license. The amended 401 Water Quality Certification includes the Company’s level of responsibility, as defined in the TMDL, for low dissolved oxygen levels in Lake Spokane. The Company has until May 27, 2012 to develop mitigation strategies to address the low levels of dissolved oxygen. It is not possible to provide cost estimates at this time because the mitigation measures have not been fully identified or approved by the DOE. On July 16, 2010, the City of Post Falls and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board filed an appeal with the United States District Court for the District of Idaho with respect to the EPA’s approval of the TMDL. The Company, the City of Coeur d’Alene, Kaiser Aluminum and the Spokane River Keeper subsequently moved to intervene in the appeal. The EPA, the City of Post Falls and the Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board are currently in settlement negotiations in an attempt to resolve the appeal and obtain the necessary permits to operate their waste water treatment facilities.

The IPUC and the WUTC approved the recovery of licensing costs through the general rate case settlements in 2009. The Company will continue to seek recovery, through the ratemaking process, of all operating and capitalized costs related to implementing the license for the Spokane River Project.

 

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Cabinet Gorge Total Dissolved Gas Abatement Plan

Dissolved atmospheric gas levels in the Clark Fork River exceed state of Idaho and federal water quality standards downstream of the Cabinet Gorge Hydroelectric Generating Project (Cabinet Gorge) during periods when excess river flows must be diverted over the spillway. In 2002, the Company submitted a Gas Supersaturation Control Program (GSCP) to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (Idaho DEQ) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This submission was part of the Clark Fork Settlement Agreement for licensing the use of Cabinet Gorge. The GSCP provided for the opening and modification of possibly two diversion tunnels around Cabinet Gorge to allow streamflow to be diverted when flows are in excess of powerhouse capacity. In 2007, engineering studies determined that the tunnels would not sufficiently reduce Total Dissolved Gas (TDG). In consultation with the Idaho DEQ and the USFWS, the Company developed an addendum to the GSCP. The GSCP addendum abandons the concept to reopen the two diversion tunnels and requires the Company to evaluate a variety of different options to abate TDG. In March 2010, the FERC approved the GSCP addendum of preliminary design for alternative abatement measures. In the second quarter of 2011, the Company completed preliminary feasibility assessments for several alternative abatement measures and determined that two alternatives will be considered for continued development. Further analysis and review of these alternatives will be completed through early 2012. The Company will continue to seek recovery, through the ratemaking process, of all operating and capitalized costs related to this issue.

Fish Passage at Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Rapids

In 1999, the USFWS listed bull trout as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Clark Fork Settlement Agreement describes programs intended to help restore bull trout populations in the project area. Using the concept of adaptive management and working closely with the USFWS, the Company is evaluating the feasibility of fish passage at Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Rapids. The results of these studies will help the Company and other parties determine the best use of funds toward continuing fish passage efforts or other bull trout population enhancement measures. In the fall of 2009, the Company selected a contractor to design a permanent upstream passage facility at Cabinet Gorge. The Company anticipates that the design and cost estimates will be completed by the end of 2012 with construction taking place in 2013 and 2014.

In January 2010, the USFWS proposed to revise its 2005 designation of critical habitat for the bull trout. The proposed revisions include the lower Clark Fork River as critical habitat. In April 2010, the Company submitted comments recommending the lower Clark Fork River be excluded from critical habitat designation based in part on the bull trout recovery efforts the Company is already undertaking. The Company will continue to seek recovery, through the ratemaking process, of all operating and capitalized costs related to fish passage at Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Rapids.

Aluminum Recycling Site

In October 2009, the Company (through its subsidiary Pentzer Venture Holdings II, Inc. (Pentzer)) received notice from the DOE proposing to find Pentzer liable for a release of hazardous substances under the Model Toxics Control Act, under Washington state law. Pentzer owns property that adjoins land owned by the Union Pacific Railroad (UPR). UPR leased their property to operators of a facility designated by DOE as “Aluminum Recycling – Trentwood.” Operators of the UPR property maintained piles of aluminum “black dross,” which can be designated as a state-only dangerous waste in Washington State. In the course of its business, the operators placed a portion of the aluminum dross pile on the property owned by Pentzer. Pentzer does not believe it is a contributor to any environmental contamination associated with the dross pile, and submitted a response to the DOE’s proposed findings in November 2009. In December 2009, Pentzer received notice from the DOE that it had been designated as a potentially liable party for any hazardous substances located on this site. UPR completed a RI/FS Work Plan in June 2010. At that time, UPR requested a contribution from Pentzer towards the cost of performing the RI/FS and also an access agreement to investigate the material deposited on the Pentzer property. Pentzer concluded an access agreement with UPR in October 2010. UPR commenced the remedial investigation during the fourth quarter of 2010, which is expected to be completed in 2011. Based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect this issue will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Injury from Overhead Electric Line (Munderloh v. Avista)

On March 4, 2010, the plaintiff and his wife filed a complaint against Avista Corp. in Spokane County Superior Court. Plaintiffs allege that while the plaintiff was employed by a third party as a laborer at their construction site, he came into contact with Avista Corp.’s electric line, was injured and suffered economic and non-economic damages. Plaintiffs further allege that Avista Corp. was at fault for failing to relocate the overhead electric line which it controlled and operated adjacent to the construction site. In addition to economic and non-economic damages, plaintiffs also seek damages for loss of consortium, attorney’s fees and costs, prejudgment interest and punitive damages. Avista Corp. filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, which is scheduled for hearing in September 2011. Trial has been scheduled to begin in February 2012. The plaintiffs have not yet provided a statement specifying damages. Because the resolution of this claim remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect this complaint will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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Damages from Fire in Stevens County, Washington

In August 2010, a fire in Stevens County, Washington occurred during a wind storm. The apparent cause of the fire may be a tree located outside of Avista Corp.’s right-of-way that came in contact with an electric line owned by Avista Corp. The fire area is a rural farm and timber landscape. The fire destroyed two residences and six outbuildings. The Company is not aware of any personal injuries resulting from the fire. Although no lawsuits have been filed, Avista Corp. has received several claims and it is possible that additional claims may be made and lawsuits may be filed against the Company. Because the resolution of this issue remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect this complaint will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Other Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company has various other legal claims and contingent matters outstanding. The Company believes that any ultimate liability arising from these actions will not have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. It is possible that a change could occur in the Company’s estimates of the probability or amount of a liability being incurred. Such a change, should it occur, could be significant.

NOTE 12. INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The business segment presentation reflects the basis used by the Company’s management to analyze performance and determine the allocation of resources. Avista Utilities’ business is managed based on the total regulated utility operation. Advantage IQ is a provider of energy efficiency and cost management programs and services for multi-site customers throughout North America. The Other category, which is not a reportable segment, includes sheet metal fabrication, venture fund investments and real estate investments, Spokane Energy, as well as certain other operations of Avista Capital.

 

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The following table presents information for each of the Company’s business segments (dollars in thousands):

 

     Avista
Utilities
     Advantage
IQ
     Other     Total
Non-
Utility
     Intersegment
Eliminations (1)
    Total  

For the three months ended June 30, 2011:

               

Operating revenues

   $ 320,423       $ 29,821       $ 10,763      $ 40,584       $ (450   $ 360,557   

Resource costs

     155,776         —           —          —           —          155,776   

Other operating expenses

     68,700         24,424         8,635        33,059         (450     101,309   

Depreciation and amortization

     26,407         1,638         204        1,842         —          28,249   

Income from operations

     49,841         3,759         1,924        5,683         —          55,524   

Interest expense (2)

     17,138         125         1,165        1,290         (4     18,424   

Income taxes

     12,056         1,336         191        1,527         —          13,583   

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

     21,034         1,841         126        1,967         —          23,001   

Capital expenditures

     49,228         961         165        1,126         —          50,354   

For the three months ended June 30, 2010:

               

Operating revenues

   $ 326,117       $ 25,214       $ 15,451      $ 40,665       $ (6,049   $ 360,733   

Resource costs

     168,184         —           —          —           —          168,184   

Other operating expenses

     58,334         20,453         13,800        34,253         (6,049     86,538   

Depreciation and amortization

     24,642         1,500         254        1,754         —          26,396   

Income from operations

     57,091         3,261         1,397        4,658         —          61,749   

Interest expense (2)

     17,878         26         1,429        1,455         (61     19,272   

Income taxes

     14,667         1,194         (26     1,168         —          15,835   

Net income (loss) attributable to Avista Corporation

     24,064         1,514         (38     1,476         —          25,540   

Capital expenditures

     37,733         433         52        485         —          38,218   

For the six months ended June 30, 2011:

               

Operating revenues

   $ 758,570       $ 58,979       $ 20,494      $ 79,473       $ (900   $ 837,143   

Resource costs

     403,897         —           —          —           —          403,897   

Other operating expenses

     128,382         48,430         16,325        64,755         (900     192,237   

Depreciation and amortization

     52,259         3,302         407        3,709         —          55,968   

Income from operations

     129,340         7,247         3,762        11,009         —          140,349   

Interest expense (2)

     34,495         135         2,762        2,897         (377     37,015   

Income taxes

     34,310         2,590         320        2,910         —          37,220   

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

     61,151         3,548         220        3,768         —          64,919   

Capital expenditures

     98,882         1,276         324        1,600         —          100,482   

For the six months ended June 30, 2010:

               

Operating revenues

   $ 750,148       $ 49,156       $ 30,525      $ 79,681       $ (12,681   $ 817,148   

Resource costs

     427,751         —           —          —           —          427,751   

Other operating expenses

     114,083         39,710         27,133        66,843         (12,681     168,245   

Depreciation and amortization

     48,972         3,024         546        3,570         —          52,542   

Income from operations

     120,305         6,422         2,846        9,268         —          129,573   

Interest expense (2)

     35,706         53         2,895        2,948         (121     38,533   

Income taxes

     31,627         2,338         (263     2,075         —          33,702   

Net income (loss) attributable to Avista Corporation

     51,840         2,960         (450     2,510         —          54,350   

Capital expenditures

     80,285         701         249        950         —          81,235   

Total Assets:

               

As of June 30, 2011

   $ 3,528,530       $ 197,790       $ 116,576      $ 314,366       $ —        $ 3,842,896   

As of December 31, 2010

   $ 3,589,235       $ 221,086       $ 129,774      $ 350,860       $ —        $ 3,940,095   

 

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(1) Intersegment eliminations reported as operating revenues and resource costs represent intercompany purchases and sales of electric capacity and energy. Intersegment eliminations reported as interest expense represent intercompany interest.
(2) Including interest expense to affiliated trusts.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Avista Corporation

Spokane, Washington

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Corporation”) as of June 30, 2011, and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and of comprehensive income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, and of equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests, and cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 25, 2011, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements, which included an explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of accounting guidance for variable interest entities. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/    Deloitte & Touche LLP

Seattle, Washington

August 5, 2011

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business Segments

We have two reportable business segments as follows:

 

   

Avista Utilities – an operating division of Avista Corp. that comprises our regulated utility operations. Avista Utilities generates, transmits and distributes electricity and distributes natural gas. The utility also engages in wholesale purchases and sales of electricity and natural gas.

 

   

Advantage IQ – an indirect subsidiary of Avista Corp. (79.6 percent owned as of June 30, 2011) provides energy efficiency and cost management programs and services for multi-site customers and utilities throughout North America. Advantage IQ’s primary product lines include expense management services for utility, telecom and lease needs as well as strategic energy management and efficiency services that include procurement, conservation, performance reporting, financial planning and energy efficiency program management for commercial enterprises and utilities.

We have other businesses, including sheet metal fabrication, venture fund investments and real estate investments, Spokane Energy (see Note 3), as well as certain other operations of Avista Capital. These activities do not represent a reportable business segment and are conducted by various direct and indirect subsidiaries of Avista Corp., including Advanced Manufacturing and Development (AM&D), doing business as METALfx.

The following table presents net income (loss) attributable to Avista Corp. for each of our business segments (and the other businesses) for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

     Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
     2011      2010     2011      2010  

Avista Utilities

   $ 21,034       $ 24,064      $ 61,151       $ 51,840   

Advantage IQ

     1,841         1,514        3,548         2,960   

Other

     126         (38     220         (450
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Avista Corporation

   $ 23,001       $ 25,540      $ 64,919       $ 54,350   
          
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Executive Level Summary

Overall

Net income attributable to Avista Corp. was $23.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a decrease from $25.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The decrease in net income was primarily due to lower earnings at Avista Utilities (primarily due to an increase in other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes, partially offset by an increase in gross margin), partially offset by an increase in earnings at Advantage IQ and the other businesses.

Net income attributable to Avista Corp. was $64.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase from $54.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increase in year-to-date net income was primarily due to an increase in earnings at Avista Utilities (primarily due to colder weather, lower power supply costs and the implementation of general rate increases, partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes) and partially due to an increase in earnings at Advantage IQ and the other businesses. The first quarter of 2011 was significantly colder than the first quarter of 2010, which was one of the warmest January to March periods on record in our service territory.

Avista Utilities

Avista Utilities is our most significant business segment. Our utility financial performance is dependent upon, among other things:

 

   

weather conditions,

 

   

regulatory decisions, allowing our utility to recover costs, including purchased power and fuel costs, on a timely basis, and to earn a reasonable return on investment,

 

   

the price of natural gas in the wholesale market, including the effect on the price of fuel for generation,

 

   

the price of electricity in the wholesale market, including the effects of weather conditions, natural gas prices and other factors affecting supply and demand, and

 

   

the ability to obtain financing through the issuance of debt and/or equity securities, which can be affected by various factors including our credit ratings, interest rates and other capital market conditions.

 

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In our utility operations, we continue to regularly review the need for rate changes in each jurisdiction to improve the recovery of costs and capital investments in our generation, transmission and distribution systems. General rate increases went into effect in Idaho on October 1, 2010, in Washington effective December 1, 2010 and in Oregon effective March 15, 2011 and June 1, 2011. We filed general rate increase requests in Washington in May 2011 and in Idaho in July 2011.

Our utility net income was $21.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a decrease from $24.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The decrease in utility net income was due to an increase in other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes. The increase in other operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in maintenance costs (including planned major maintenance at Colstrip), pension and other postretirement benefit costs, labor and outside services. These increases in expenses were partially offset by an increase in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) due to general rate increases and higher retail loads caused by colder weather.

Our utility net income was $61.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase from $51.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were positively impacted by an increase in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs). The increase in gross margin was primarily due to higher retail loads caused by colder weather and power supply costs below the amount included in base retail rates, as well as general rate increases. The increase in gross margin was partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes.

We are continuing to invest in generation, transmission and distribution systems to enhance service reliability for our customers and replace aging infrastructure. Utility capital expenditures were $98.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. We expect utility capital expenditures to be about $250 million for the full year of 2011. These estimates of capital expenditures are subject to continuing review and adjustment (see discussion at “Avista Utilities Capital Expenditures”).

Advantage IQ

Advantage IQ had net income attributable to Avista Corp. of $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, an increase from $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Advantage IQ had net income attributable to Avista Corp. of $3.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase from $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increase for both periods of 2011 as compared to 2010 was primarily due to strong growth in energy management services, moderate growth from expense management, as well as the acquisition of The Loyalton Group (Loyalton) effective December 31, 2010. The acquisition of Loyalton was funded primarily through available cash at Advantage IQ plus contingent consideration based on revenue targets over the next three years. Advantage IQ’s earnings potential continues to be moderated by low short-term interest rates, which limits interest revenue on funds held for customers.

The acquisition of Cadence Network in July 2008 was funded with the issuance of Advantage IQ common stock. Under the transaction agreement, the previous owners of Cadence Network can exercise a right to have their shares of Advantage IQ common stock redeemed by Advantage IQ during July 2011 or July 2012 if Advantage IQ is not liquidated through either an initial public offering or sale of the business to a third party. Their redemption rights expire July 31, 2012. These redemption rights were not exercised in July 2011. The redemption price would be determined based on the fair market value of Advantage IQ at the time of the redemption election as determined by certain independent parties. As of June 30, 2011, there were redeemable noncontrolling interests of $39.4 million related to these redemption rights. Should the previous owners of Cadence Network exercise their redemption rights, Advantage IQ will seek the necessary funding through its credit facility, a capital request from existing owners, an infusion of capital from potential new investors or a combination of these sources. In January 2011, Avista Capital purchased shares held by one of the previous owners of Cadence Network for $5.6 million.

We may seek to monetize all or part of our investment in Advantage IQ in the future, regardless of whether Advantage IQ’s minority owner redemption rights are exercised. The value of a potential monetization depends on future market conditions, growth of the business and other factors. This may provide access to public market capital and provide potential liquidity to Avista Corp. and the other owners of Advantage IQ. There can be no assurance that such a transaction will be completed.

Other Businesses

Net income attributable to Avista Corp. for these operations was $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss of less than $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Net income attributable to Avista Corp. for these operations was $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss of $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The improvement in results for both periods of 2011 as compared to 2010 was due in part to increased earnings at METALfx. On a year-to-date basis, a decrease in the net loss on investments also contributed to the improvement in results.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We need to access long-term capital markets from time to time to finance capital expenditures, repay maturing long-term debt and obtain additional working capital. Our ability to access capital on reasonable terms is subject to numerous factors, many of which, including market conditions, are beyond our control. If we are unable to obtain capital on reasonable terms, it may limit or eliminate our ability to finance capital expenditures and repay maturing long-term debt. Our liquidity needs could exceed our short-term credit availability and lead to defaults on various financing arrangements. We would also likely be prohibited from paying dividends on our common stock.

In February 2011, we entered into a new committed line of credit with various financial institutions in the total amount of $400.0 million with an expiration date of February 2015 that replaced our $320.0 million and $75.0 million committed lines of credit that had expiration dates in April 2011. As of June 30, 2011, there were $75.0 million of cash borrowings and $19.0 million in letters of credit outstanding. As of June 30, 2011, we had $306.0 million of available liquidity under our committed line of credit.

We are planning, subject to market conditions, to remarket $83.7 million of Pollution Control Bonds in 2011. We are currently the holder of all bonds to be remarketed and, accordingly, would receive the proceeds.

In the six months ended June 30, 2011, we issued $15.9 million of common stock, including $12.1 million under a sales agency agreement. As of June 30, 2011, we had 0.5 million shares available to be issued under this agreement.

We expect to issue up to $25 million of common stock in 2011 (including issuances during the first six months of the year) in order to maintain our capital structure at an appropriate level for our business. After considering the issuances of common stock during 2011, we expect net cash flows from operating activities, together with cash available under our $400.0 million committed line of credit agreement to provide adequate resources to fund:

 

   

capital expenditures,

 

   

dividends, and

 

   

other contractual commitments.

Avista Utilities – Regulatory Matters

General Rate Cases

We regularly review the need for electric and natural gas rate changes in each state in which we provide service. We will continue to file for rate adjustments to:

 

   

provide for recovery of operating costs and capital investments, and

 

   

move our earned returns closer to those allowed by regulators.

With regards to the timing and plans for future filings, the assessment of our need for rate relief and the development of rate case plans takes into consideration short-term and long-term needs, as well as specific factors that can affect the timing of rate filings. Such factors include, but are not limited to, in-service dates of major capital investments and the timing of changes in major revenue and expense items. We filed general rate cases in Washington in May 2011 and in Idaho in July 2011. The following is a summary of our authorized rates of return in each jurisdiction:

 

Jurisdiction and service

   Implementation
Date
     Authorized
Overall  Rate
of Return
    Authorized
Return on
Equity
    Authorized
Equity
Level
 
         
         

Washington electric and natural gas

     December 2010         7.9     10.2     46.5

Idaho electric and natural gas

     October 2010         (1     (1     (1

Oregon natural gas

     March 2011         8.0     10.1     50.0

 

(1) The rate adjustment implemented on October 1, 2010 resulting from the Idaho electric and natural gas general rate case settlement did not have a specific authorized rate of return, return on equity or equity level. The prior rate case settlement implemented in August 2009 had an authorized rate of return of 8.5 percent, a return on equity of 10.5 percent and authorized equity level of 50.0 percent.

Washington General Rate Cases

In November 2010, the WUTC approved an all-party settlement stipulation in our general rate case filed in March 2010. As agreed to in the settlement stipulation, electric rates for Washington customers increased by an average of 7.4 percent, which was designed to increase annual revenues by $29.5 million. Natural gas rates for Washington customers increased by an average of 2.9 percent, which was designed to increase annual revenues by $4.6 million. The new electric and natural gas rates became effective on December 1, 2010.

 

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On May 16, 2011, we filed electric and natural gas general rate cases with the WUTC. We have requested an overall electric rate increase of 9.1 percent and an overall natural gas rate increase of 4.0 percent. The filings are designed to increase annual base electric revenues by $38.3 million and increase annual base natural gas revenues by $6.2 million. Our requests are based on a proposed overall rate of return of 8.23 percent, with a common equity ratio of 48.04 percent and a 10.9 percent return on equity. The process can take up to 11 months for the WUTC to issue a decision.

Idaho General Rate Cases

In September 2010, the IPUC approved a settlement agreement in our general rate case filed in March 2010. The new electric and natural gas rates became effective on October 1, 2010. As agreed to in the settlement, base electric rates for our Idaho customers increased by an average of 9.3 percent, which was designed to increase annual revenues by $21.2 million. Base natural gas rates for our Idaho customers increased by an average of 2.6 percent, which was designed to increase annual revenues by $1.8 million.

The settlement agreement includes a rate mitigation plan under which the impact on customers of the new rates is reduced by amortizing $11.1 million ($17.5 million when grossed up for income taxes and other revenue-related items) of previously deferred state income taxes over a two-year period as a credit to customers. While our cash collections from customers are reduced by this amortization during the two-year period, the mitigation plan has no impact on our net income. Retail rates will increase on October 1, 2011 and October 1, 2012 as the previous deferred state income tax balance is amortized.

On July 5, 2011, we filed electric and natural gas general rate cases with the IPUC. We have requested an overall electric rate increase of 3.7 percent and an overall natural gas rate increase of 2.7 percent. The filings are designed to increase annual base electric revenues by $9.0 million and increase annual base natural gas revenues by $1.9 million. Our requests are based on a proposed overall rate of return of 8.49 percent, with a common equity ratio of 50.15 percent and a 10.9 percent return on equity. The process can generally take up to 7 months for the IPUC to issue a decision.

Oregon General Rate Cases

In March 2011, the OPUC approved an all-party settlement stipulation in our general rate case that was filed in September 2010. The settlement provides for an overall rate increase of 3.1 percent for our Oregon customers, designed to increase annual revenues by $3.0 million. Part of the rate increase became effective March 15, 2011, with the remaining increase effective June 1, 2011. An additional rate adjustment designed to increase revenues by $0.6 million will occur on June 1, 2012 to recover capital costs associated with certain reinforcement and replacement projects upon a demonstration that such projects are complete and the costs were prudently incurred.

Purchased Gas Adjustments

Effective November 1, 2010, natural gas rates increased 4.6 percent in Washington and 4.3 percent in Idaho, while decreasing 3.2 percent in Oregon. PGAs are designed to pass through changes in natural gas costs to our customers with no change in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) or net income. In Oregon, we absorb (gain or loss) 10 percent of the difference between actual and projected gas costs for supply that is not hedged. Total net deferred natural gas costs were a liability of $13.4 million as of June 30, 2011, a decrease from $22.1 million as of December 31, 2010.

Oregon Senate Bill 408

Oregon Senate Bill 408 (OSB 408) was repealed by Oregon Senate Bill 967 in May 2011. Income taxes will be reviewed in general rate cases, but there will no longer be annual true-ups of the difference between actual and authorized amounts of income taxes as previously required under OSB 408. The 2009 tax report is the last year subject to a rate adjustment under OSB 408. In April 2011, the OPUC approved a settlement stipulation to refund $1.2 million (including interest), which was previously accrued, to Oregon customers for the 2009 tax report year.

Power Cost Deferrals and Recovery Mechanisms

The Energy Recovery Mechanism (ERM) is an accounting method used to track certain differences between actual power supply costs, net of the margin on wholesale sales and sales of fuel, and the amount included in base retail rates for our Washington customers. In the 2010 Washington general rate case settlement, the parties agreed that there would be no deferrals under the ERM in 2010. Deferrals under the ERM resumed in 2011. Total net deferred power costs under the ERM were a liability of $2.2 million as of June 30, 2011.

The difference in net power supply costs under the ERM primarily results from changes in:

 

   

short-term wholesale market prices and sales and purchase volumes,

 

   

the level of hydroelectric generation,

 

   

the level of thermal generation (including changes in fuel prices), and

 

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retail loads.

Under the ERM, we absorb the cost or receive the benefit from the initial amount of power supply costs in excess of or below the level in retail rates, which is referred to as the deadband. The annual (calendar year) deadband amount is currently $4.0 million. We incur the cost of, or receive the benefit from, 100 percent of this initial power supply cost variance. We share annual power supply cost variances between $4.0 million and $10.0 million with customers. There is a 50 percent customers/50 percent Company sharing when actual power supply expenses are higher (surcharge to customers) than the amount included in base retail rates within this band. There is a 75 percent customers/25 percent Company sharing when actual power supply expenses are lower (rebate to customers) than the amount included in base retail rates within this band. To the extent that the annual power supply cost variance from the amount included in base rates exceeds $10.0 million, 90 percent of the cost variance is deferred for future surcharge or rebate. We absorb into power supply costs the remaining 10 percent of the annual variance beyond $10.0 million. The following is a summary of the ERM:

 

Annual Power Supply

Cost Variability

   Deferred for Future
Surcharge or Rebate
to Customers
    Expense or Benefit
to the Company
 

+/- $0 – $4 million

     0     100

+ between $4 million – $10 million

     50     50

- between $4 million – $10 million

     75     25

+/- excess over $10 million

     90     10

Under the ERM, we make an annual filing on or before April 1 of each year to provide the opportunity for the WUTC staff and other interested parties to review the prudence of and audit the ERM deferred power cost transactions for the prior calendar year. In 2011, we made our filing indicating that there were not any deferrals under the ERM for 2010. The ERM provides for a 90-day review period for the filing; however, the period may be extended by agreement of the parties or by WUTC order. Additionally, we must make a filing (no sooner than June 2011), to allow all interested parties the opportunity to review the ERM, and make recommendations to the WUTC related to the continuation, modification or elimination of the ERM.

We have a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) mechanism in Idaho that allows us to modify electric rates on October 1 of each year with IPUC approval. Under the PCA mechanism, we defer 90 percent of the difference between certain actual net power supply expenses and the amount included in base retail rates for our Idaho customers. The October 1 rate adjustments recover or rebate power supply costs deferred during the preceding July-June twelve-month period. Total net power supply costs deferred under the PCA mechanism were a regulatory asset of $7.5 million as of June 30, 2011.

Natural Gas Transmission

In response to natural gas pipeline incidents (not within our service territory), members of the United States Congress are proposing various additional regulations to address public safety concerns. Regulations have been proposed to require automatic shut-off valves on pipeline mains; increase installation of excess flow valves on gas service piping, increase “high consequence area” boundaries as well as to provide additional scrutiny on existing emergency preparedness plans, quality assurance plans and damage prevention programs and broader federal oversight including broader use of fines and penalties to pipeline operators.

In addition, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued an Advisory Bulletin in January 2011 to remind operators of gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities of their responsibilities, under federal integrity management regulations, to perform detailed threat and risk analyses especially with regards to their pipelines maximum allowable operating pressures. While we believe that we operate our pipeline systems in a safe manner, we cannot predict the impact of any future regulations or inspections of our natural gas system.

Results of Operations

The following provides an overview of changes in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. More detailed explanations are provided, particularly for operating revenues and operating expenses, in the business segment discussions (Avista Utilities, Advantage IQ and the other businesses) that follow this section.

Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010

Utility revenues decreased $5.7 million, after elimination of intracompany revenues of $23.8 million. Including intracompany revenues, electric revenues increased $3.9 million and natural gas revenues increased $14.1 million. Retail electric revenues increased $12.9 million due to general rate increases and an increase in volumes caused by colder weather. In addition, sales of fuel increased $13.0 million (reflecting lower usage of our thermal generating plants and sales of natural gas fuel not used in generation). These increases in electric revenues were partially offset by a decrease in wholesale electric revenues of $22.9 million (due to a decrease in wholesale prices and volumes). Retail natural gas revenues increased $7.5 million due to an increase in volumes caused by colder weather and prices from rate increases, while wholesale natural gas revenues increased $7.6 million (due to increased volumes and wholesale prices).

 

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Non-utility revenues increased $5.5 million to $40.6 million primarily as a result of Advantage IQ’s revenues increasing $4.6 million due to moderate growth in expense management and energy management services, as well as the acquisition of Loyalton effective December 31, 2010. Revenues from our other businesses increased $0.9 million, primarily due to increased sales at METALfx.

Utility resource costs decreased $12.4 million, after elimination of intracompany resource costs of $23.8 million. Including intracompany resource costs, electric resource costs increased $1.4 million and natural gas resource costs increased $9.9 million. The increase in electric resource costs was primarily due to an increase in other fuel costs (reflecting an increase in thermal generation optimization and lower usage of our thermal plants) and the amortization of deferred power supply costs, partially offset by a decrease in fuel costs (due to lower thermal generation) and power purchased (due in part to higher hydroelectric generation). The increase in natural gas resource costs was primarily due to an increase in natural gas purchased and a decrease in the amortization of the deferred natural gas cost liability.

Utility other operating expenses increased $10.4 million primarily due to increased maintenance expenses (including planned major maintenance at Colstrip), pensions and other postretirement benefits, labor and outside services.

Utility depreciation and amortization increased $1.8 million driven by additions to utility plant.

Utility taxes other than income taxes increased $1.8 million primarily reflecting higher retail revenue related taxes, as well as increased property taxes.

Non-utility other operating expenses increased $4.4 million primarily reflecting an increase of $4.0 million for Advantage IQ reflecting increased costs necessary for current and future business growth and the acquisition of Loyalton.

Interest expense decreased $0.8 million primarily due to refinancing transactions completed in December 2010 that lowered our effective rate on long-term debt. This was partially offset by higher interest rates on short-term borrowings.

Income taxes decreased $2.3 million and our effective tax rate was 36.6 percent for the second quarter of 2011 compared to 37.8 percent for the second quarter of 2010. This decrease was due to a decrease in income before income taxes. The effective tax rate decreased due to regulatory accounting treatment impacting the timing of recognition for deferred state income taxes.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010

Utility revenues increased $8.4 million, after elimination of intracompany revenues of $40.8 million. Including intracompany revenues, electric revenues increased $23.6 million and natural gas revenues increased $25.6 million. Retail electric revenues increased $38.1 million due to general rate increases and an increase in volumes caused by colder weather. In addition, sales of fuel increased $35.3 million (reflecting lower usage of our thermal generating plants and sales of natural gas fuel not used in generation). These increases in electric revenues were partially offset by a decrease in wholesale electric revenues of $50.5 million (due to a decrease in wholesale prices and volumes). Retail natural gas revenues increased $35.6 million due to an increase in volumes caused by colder weather and prices from rate increases, while wholesale natural gas revenues decreased $9.5 million (primarily due to decreased wholesale prices).

Non-utility revenues increased $11.6 million to $79.5 million primarily as a result of Advantage IQ’s revenues increasing $9.8 million due to moderate growth in expense management and energy management services, as well as the acquisition of Loyalton effective December 31, 2010. Revenues from our other businesses increased $1.8 million, primarily due to increased sales at METALfx.

Utility resource costs decreased $23.9 million, after elimination of intracompany resource costs of $40.8 million. Including intracompany resource costs, electric resource costs increased $6.6 million and natural gas resource costs increased $10.3 million. The increase in electric resource costs was primarily due to an increase in other fuel costs (reflecting an increase in thermal generation optimization and lower usage of our thermal plants) and the amortization of deferred power supply costs, partially offset by a decrease in fuel costs (due to lower thermal generation) and power purchased (due in part to higher hydroelectric generation). The decrease in natural gas resource costs was primarily due to a decrease in the amortization of the deferred natural gas cost liability.

 

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Utility other operating expenses increased $14.3 million primarily due to increased maintenance expenses (including planned major maintenance at Colstrip), pensions and other postretirement benefits, labor and outside services.

Utility depreciation and amortization increased $3.3 million driven by additions to utility plant.

Utility taxes other than income taxes increased $5.7 million primarily reflecting higher retail revenue related taxes, as well as increased property taxes.

Non-utility other operating expenses increased $9.7 million primarily reflecting an increase of $8.7 million for Advantage IQ reflecting increased costs necessary for current and future business growth and the acquisition of Loyalton.

Interest expense decreased $1.5 million primarily due to refinancing transactions completed in December 2010 that lowered our effective rate on long-term debt. This was partially offset by higher interest rates on short-term borrowings.

Other expense-net decreased $1.2 million primarily due to net losses on investments of less than $0.1 million in the first half of 2011 compared to net losses of $0.6 million in the first half of 2010. The decrease was also partially due to an increase in equity-related AFUDC of $0.4 million.

Income taxes increased $3.5 million and our effective tax rate was 36.1 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 37.8 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2010. This increase in expense was due to an increase in income before income taxes. The effective tax rate decreased due to regulatory accounting treatment impacting the timing of recognition for deferred state income taxes.

Avista Utilities

Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010

Net income for Avista Utilities was $21.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a decrease from $24.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Avista Utilities’ income from operations was $49.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $57.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The decrease in net income and income from operations was primarily due to an increase in other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes, partially offset by an increase in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs).

The following table presents our operating revenues, resource costs and resulting gross margin for the three months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Electric      Natural Gas      Intracompany      Total  
     2011      2010      2011      2010      2011     2010      2011      2010  

Operating revenues

   $ 226,277       $ 222,356       $ 117,901       $ 103,761       $ (23,755   $ —         $ 320,423       $ 326,117   

Resource costs

     91,608         90,166         87,923         78,018         (23,755     —           155,776         168,184   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

   $ 134,669       $ 132,190       $ 29,978       $ 25,743       $ —        $ —         $ 164,647       $ 157,933   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Avista Utilities’ operating revenues decreased $5.7 million and resource costs decreased $12.4 million, which resulted in an increase of $6.7 million in gross margin. The gross margin on electric sales increased $2.5 million and the gross margin on natural gas sales increased $4.2 million. The increase in electric and natural gas gross margin was due to general rate increases and colder weather that increased retail loads.

Intracompany revenues and resource costs represent purchases and sales of natural gas between our natural gas distribution operations and our electric generation operations (as fuel for our generation plants). The magnitude of these transactions in prior years was immaterial, but increased significantly in 2010 with the addition of the natural gas-fired Lancaster Plant to our electric resource mix. All transactions for 2010 were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010. These transactions are eliminated in the presentation of Avista Utilities total results and in the consolidated financial statements.

 

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The following table presents our utility electric operating revenues and megawatt-hour (MWh) sales for the three months ended June 30 (dollars and MWhs in thousands):

 

     Electric Operating
Revenues
     Electric Energy
MWh sales
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Residential

   $ 67,136       $ 60,844         766         758   

Commercial

     65,998         61,819         731         724   

Industrial

     30,600         28,202         534         527   

Public street and highway lighting

     1,714         1,657         6         7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total retail

     165,448         152,522         2,037         2,016   

Wholesale

     14,691         37,639         773         1,047   

Sales of fuel

     40,620         27,595         —           —     

Other

     5,518         4,600         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 226,277       $ 222,356         2,810         3,063   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Retail electric revenues increased $12.9 million due to an increase in total MWhs sold (increased revenues $1.7 million) primarily due to an increase in use per customer as a result of colder weather, and an increase in revenue per MWh (increased revenues $11.2 million). The increase in revenue per MWh was primarily due to the Washington and Idaho general rate increases.

Wholesale electric revenues decreased $22.9 million due to a decrease in sales prices (decreased revenues $17.7 million) and a decrease in sales volumes (decreased revenues $5.2 million).

When electric wholesale market prices are below the cost of operating our natural gas-fired thermal generating units, we sell the natural gas purchased for generation in the wholesale market as sales of fuel. These revenues increased $13.0 million due to an increase in sales of natural gas fuel as part of thermal generation resource optimization and lower usage of our thermal generation plants in 2011 as compared to 2010. This was due in part to increased hydroelectric generation. In the second quarter of 2011, $6.5 million of these sales were made to our natural gas operations and are reflected as intracompany revenues and resource costs.

The net margin on wholesale sales and sales of fuel is applied to reduce or increase resource costs as accounted for under the ERM and the PCA mechanism.

The following table presents our utility natural gas operating revenues and therms delivered for the three months ended June 30 (dollars and therms in thousands):

 

     Natural Gas
Operating Revenues
     Natural Gas
Therms Delivered
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Residential

   $ 40,608       $ 36,311         36,332         33,879   

Commercial

     20,337         17,290         22,053         19,591   

Interruptible

     598         679         1,040         1,066   

Industrial

     1,061         853         1,392         1,169   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total retail

     62,604         55,133         60,817         55,705   

Wholesale

     52,015         44,458         124,989         115,350   

Transportation

     1,637         1,754         35,526         32,793   

Other

     1,645         2,416         99         90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 117,901       $ 103,761         221,431         203,938   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Retail natural gas revenues increased $7.5 million due to an increase in volumes (increased revenues $5.3 million) and higher retail rates (increased revenues $2.2 million). We sold more retail natural gas in the second quarter of 2011 as compared to second quarter of 2010 primarily due to colder weather. The increase in retail rates reflects purchased gas adjustments, as well as general rate increases.

Wholesale natural gas revenues increased $7.6 million due to an increase in prices (increased revenues $3.6 million) and volumes (increased revenues $4.0 million). Wholesale sales reflect the sale of natural gas in excess of load requirements as part of the natural gas procurement and resource optimization process. Additionally, we engage in optimization of available interstate pipeline transportation and storage capacity through wholesale purchases and sales of natural gas. In the second quarter of 2011, $17.3 million of these sales were made to our electric generation operations and are reflected as intracompany revenues and resource costs. Differences between revenues and costs from sales of resources in excess of retail load requirements and from resource optimization are accounted for through the PGA mechanisms.

 

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The following table presents our average number of electric and natural gas retail customers for the three months ended June 30:

 

     Electric
Customers
     Natural Gas
Customers
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Residential

     315,952         314,297         284,165         282,199   

Commercial

     39,557         39,482         33,538         33,442   

Interruptible

     —           —           35         37   

Industrial

     1,372         1,378         253         254   

Public street and highway lighting

     453         447         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total retail customers

     357,334         355,604         317,991         315,932   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents our utility resource costs for the three months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2011     2010  

Electric resource costs:

    

Power purchased

   $ 29,236      $ 35,309   

Power cost amortizations, net

     2,284        (4,851

Fuel for generation

     12,875        21,333   

Other fuel costs

     39,312        29,384   

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     3,724        4,698   

Other electric resource costs

     4,177        4,293   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total electric resource costs

     91,608        90,166   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Natural gas resource costs:

    

Natural gas purchased

     88,279        80,422   

Natural gas cost amortizations, net

     (2,087     (4,741

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     1,731        2,337   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total natural gas resource costs

     87,923        78,018   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Intracompany resource costs

     (23,755     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total resource costs

   $ 155,776      $ 168,184   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power purchased decreased $6.1 million due to a decrease in the volume of power purchases (decreased costs $9.3 million), partially offset by an increase in wholesale prices (increased costs $3.2 million). The decrease in the volume of the power purchases was due in part to an increase in hydroelectric generation.

Net amortization of deferred power costs was $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to net deferrals of $4.9 million for the second quarter of 2010. During the second quarter of 2011, we recovered (collected as revenue) $4.3 million of previously deferred power costs in Idaho through the PCA surcharge. The Washington ERM surcharge was eliminated in February 2010, since the previous balance of deferred power costs had been recovered. During the second quarter of 2011 actual power supply costs were above the amount included in base retail rates in both Washington and Idaho. As such, we deferred $1.5 million in Idaho and $0.6 million in Washington.

Fuel for generation decreased $8.5 million primarily due to a decrease in thermal generation. This was due in part to an increase in hydroelectric generation.

Other fuel costs increased $9.9 million. This represents fuel that was purchased for generation but was later sold when conditions indicated that it was not economical to use the fuel for generation as part of the resource optimization process. The associated revenues are reflected as sales of fuel.

The expense for natural gas purchased increased $7.9 million due to an increase in the total therms purchased (increased costs $7.0 million) and an increase in the price of natural gas (increased costs $0.9 million). Total therms purchased increased due to an increase in retail loads (resulting from colder weather) and an increase in wholesale sales with the balancing of loads and resources as part of the natural gas procurement process. We engage in optimization of available interstate pipeline transportation and storage capacity through wholesale purchases and sales of natural gas. During the second quarter of 2011, natural gas resource costs were reduced by $2.1 million reflecting the rebate of a deferred liability for natural gas costs through the purchased gas adjustments.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010

Net income for Avista Utilities was $61.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase from $51.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Avista Utilities’ income from operations was $129.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $120.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increase in net income and income from operations was primarily due to an increase in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs), partially offset by an increase in other operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and taxes other than income taxes.

 

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The following table presents our operating revenues, resource costs and resulting gross margin for the six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Electric      Natural Gas      Intracompany      Total  
     2011      2010      2011      2010      2011     2010      2011      2010  

Operating revenues

   $ 498,228       $ 474,613       $ 301,133       $ 275,535       $ (40,791   $ —         $ 758,570       $ 750,148   

Resource costs

     228,657         222,045         216,031         205,706         (40,791     —           403,897         427,751   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

   $ 269,571       $ 252,568       $ 85,102       $ 69,829       $ —        $ —         $ 354,673       $ 322,397   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Avista Utilities’ operating revenues increased $8.4 million and resource costs decreased $23.9 million, which resulted in an increase of $32.3 million in gross margin. The gross margin on electric sales increased $17.0 million and the gross margin on natural gas sales increased $15.3 million. The increase in electric gross margin was due to colder weather that increased retail loads, power supply costs below the amount included in base retail rates (due to improved hydroelectric generation and lower purchased power and fuel costs) and general rate increases. During the first half of 2011, we recognized a benefit of $4.7 million under the ERM in Washington compared to an expense of $2.8 million for the first half of 2010. The increase in our natural gas gross margin was primarily due to colder weather that increased retail loads and partially due to general rate increases.

Intracompany revenues and resource costs represent purchases and sales of natural gas between our natural gas distribution operations and our electric generation operations (as fuel for our generation plants). The magnitude of these transactions in prior years was immaterial, but increased significantly in 2010 with the addition of the natural gas-fired Lancaster Plant to our electric resource mix. All transactions for 2010 were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2010. These transactions are eliminated in the presentation of Avista Utilities total results and in the consolidated financial statements.

The following table presents our utility electric operating revenues and megawatt-hour (MWh) sales for the six months ended June 30 (dollars and MWhs in thousands):

 

     Electric Operating
Revenues
     Electric Energy
MWh sales
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Residential

   $ 170,381       $ 147,423         1,941         1,808   

Commercial

     136,187         126,669         1,506         1,471   

Industrial

     60,049         54,549         1,048         1,009   

Public street and highway lighting

     3,473         3,372         13         13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total retail

     370,090         332,013         4,508         4,301   

Wholesale

     33,742         84,201         1,369         1,966   

Sales of fuel

     84,993         49,707         —           —     

Other

     9,403         8,692         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 498,228       $ 474,613         5,877         6,267   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Retail electric revenues increased $38.1 million due to an increase in total MWhs sold (increased revenues $17.0 million) primarily due to an increase in use per customer as a result of colder weather, and an increase in revenue per MWh (increased revenues $21.1 million). Compared to 2010, residential electric use per customer increased 7 percent and commercial use per customer increased 2 percent. The increase in revenue per MWh was primarily due to the Washington and Idaho general rate increases.

Wholesale electric revenues decreased $50.5 million due to a decrease in sales prices (decreased revenues $35.7 million) and a decrease in sales volumes (decreased revenues $14.8 million). The decrease in sales volumes was primarily due to decreased wholesale power optimization and higher than expected retail sales caused by colder weather.

When electric wholesale market prices are below the cost of operating our natural gas-fired thermal generating units, we sell the natural gas purchased for generation in the wholesale market as sales of fuel. These revenues increased $35.3 million due to an increase in sales of natural gas fuel as part of thermal generation resource optimization and lower usage of our thermal generation plants in 2011 as compared to 2010. This was due in part to increased hydroelectric generation. In the first half of 2011, $12.9 million of these sales were made to our natural gas operations and are reflected as intracompany revenues and resource costs.

The net margin on wholesale sales and sales of fuel is applied to reduce or increase resource costs as accounted for under the ERM and the PCA mechanism.

 

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The following table presents our utility natural gas operating revenues and therms delivered for the six months ended June 30 (dollars and therms in thousands):

 

     Natural Gas
Operating Revenues
     Natural Gas
Therms Delivered
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Residential

   $ 127,785       $ 105,035         121,790         104,584   

Commercial

     64,921         52,359         72,385         60,721   

Interruptible

     1,427         1,495         2,498         2,369   

Industrial

     2,343         2,010         3,050         2,791   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total retail

     196,476         160,899         199,723         170,465   

Wholesale

     97,038         106,576         239,519         237,903   

Transportation

     3,441         3,319         80,122         72,479   

Other

     4,178         4,741         332         281   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 301,133       $ 275,535         519,696         481,128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Retail natural gas revenues increased $35.6 million due to an increase in volumes (increased revenues $28.8 million) and higher retail rates (increased revenues $6.8 million). We sold more retail natural gas in the first half of 2011 as compared to first half of 2010 primarily due to colder weather. Compared to 2010, residential natural gas use per customer increased 16 percent and commercial use per customer increased 19 percent. The increase in retail rates reflects purchased gas adjustments, as well as general rate increases.

Wholesale natural gas revenues decreased $9.5 million due to a decrease in prices (decreased revenues $10.2 million), partially offset by an increase in volumes (increased revenues $0.7 million). Wholesale sales reflect the sale of natural gas in excess of load requirements as part of the natural gas procurement and resource optimization process. Additionally, we engage in optimization of available interstate pipeline transportation and storage capacity through wholesale purchases and sales of natural gas. In the first half of 2011, $27.9 million of these sales were made to our electric generation operations and are reflected as intracompany revenues and resource costs. Differences between revenues and costs from sales of resources in excess of retail load requirements and from resource optimization are accounted for through the PGA mechanisms.

The following table presents our average number of electric and natural gas retail customers for the six months ended June 30:

 

     Electric
Customers
     Natural Gas
Customers
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Residential

     316,551         314,714         284,666         282,526   

Commercial

     39,566         39,476         33,587         33,466   

Interruptible

     —           —           35         37   

Industrial

     1,370         1,374         251         253   

Public street and highway lighting

     453         447         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total retail customers

     357,940         356,011         318,539         316,282   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents our utility resource costs for the six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2011     2010  

Electric resource costs:

    

Power purchased

   $ 83,797      $ 88,950   

Power cost amortizations, net

     13,044        (1,139

Fuel for generation

     28,843        66,292   

Other fuel costs

     86,524        52,146   

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     7,686        9,577   

Other electric resource costs

     8,763        6,219   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total electric resource costs

     228,657        222,045   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Natural gas resource costs:

    

Natural gas purchased

     216,577        214,007   

Natural gas cost amortizations, net

     (8,895     (14,795

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     8,349        6,494   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total natural gas resource costs

     216,031        205,706   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Intracompany resource costs

     (40,791     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total resource costs

   $ 403,897      $ 427,751   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Power purchased decreased $5.2 million due to a decrease in the volume of power purchases (decreased costs $9.5 million), partially offset by an increase in wholesale prices (increased costs $4.3 million). The decrease in the volume of the power purchases was due in part to an increase in hydroelectric generation.

 

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Net amortization of deferred power costs was $13.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $1.1 million of net deferrals for the six months ended June 30, 2010. During the first half of 2011, we recovered (collected as revenue) $9.4 million of previously deferred power costs in Idaho through the PCA surcharge. The Washington ERM surcharge was eliminated in February 2010, since the previous balance of deferred power costs had been recovered. During the first half of 2011 actual power supply costs were below the amount included in base retail rates in both Washington and Idaho. This was due to improved hydroelectric generation and lower purchased power and fuel costs. As such, we deferred $1.5 million in Idaho and $2.1 million in Washington for future rebate to customers.

Fuel for generation decreased $37.4 million primarily due to a decrease in thermal generation. This was due in part to an increase in hydroelectric generation.

Other fuel costs increased $34.4 million. This represents fuel that was purchased for generation but was later sold when conditions indicated that it was not economical to use the fuel for generation as part of the resource optimization process. The associated revenues are reflected as sales of fuel.

The expense for natural gas purchased increased $2.6 million due to an increase in the total therms purchased (increased costs $15.2 million), offset by a decrease in the price of natural gas (decreased costs $12.6 million). Total therms purchased increased due to an increase in retail loads (resulting from colder weather) and a slight increase in wholesale sales with the balancing of loads and resources as part of the natural gas procurement process. We engage in optimization of available interstate pipeline transportation and storage capacity through wholesale purchases and sales of natural gas. During the first half of 2011, natural gas resource costs were reduced by $8.9 million reflecting the rebate of a deferred liability for natural gas costs through the purchased gas adjustments.

Advantage IQ

Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010

Advantage IQ’s net income attributable to Avista Corp. was $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Operating revenues increased $4.6 million and operating expenses increased $4.1 million. The increase in net income attributable to Avista Corp. and operating revenues was primarily due to strong growth in energy management services, moderate growth in expense management, as well as the acquisition of Loyalton effective December 31, 2010. The increase in operating expenses primarily reflects increased costs necessary for current and future business growth and the acquisition of Loyalton. As of June 30, 2011, Advantage IQ had 542 customers representing 368,000 billed sites in North America. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, Advantage IQ managed bills totaling $4.6 billion, an increase of $0.4 billion, or 10 percent, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010

Advantage IQ’s net income attributable to Avista Corp. was $3.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Operating revenues increased $9.8 million and operating expenses increased $9.0 million. The increase in net income attributable to Avista Corp. and operating revenues was primarily due to strong growth in energy management services, moderate growth in expense management, as well as the acquisition of Loyalton effective December 31, 2010. The increase in operating expenses primarily reflects increased costs necessary for current and future business growth and the acquisition of Loyalton. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, Advantage IQ managed bills totaling $9.5 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion, or 14 percent, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increase was due to an increase in both the average value of each bill processed and the number of accounts managed.

Other Businesses

Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010

Net income attributable to Avista Corp. from these operations was $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss of less than $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Operating revenues decreased $4.7 million and operating expenses decreased $5.2 million. The decrease in operating revenues and operating expenses was primarily due to the assignment of the Lancaster power purchase agreement (PPA) to Avista Corp. in December 2010. The improvement in results for these businesses was primarily due to increased earnings at METALfx, which had net income of $0.5 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2010.

 

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Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010

Net income attributable to Avista Corp. from these operations was $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss of $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Operating revenues decreased $10.0 million and operating expenses decreased $10.9 million. The decrease in operating revenues and operating expenses was primarily due to the assignment of the Lancaster PPA to Avista Corp. in December 2010. The improvement in results for these businesses was primarily due to increased earnings at METALfx, which had net income of $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Changes in these estimates and assumptions are considered reasonably possible and may have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and thus actual results could differ from the amounts reported and disclosed herein. Our critical accounting policies that require the use of estimates and assumptions were discussed in detail in the 2010 Form 10-K and have not changed materially from that discussion.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Review of Cash Flow Statement

Overall During the six months ended June 30, 2011, positive cash flows from operating activities of $163.5 million were used to fund the majority of our cash requirements. These cash requirements included utility capital expenditures of $98.9 million and dividends of $31.7 million. We were also able to reduce short-term borrowings by $35.0 million.

Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities was $163.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $114.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Net cash provided by working capital components was $26.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, compared to $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. The net cash provided during the six months ended June 30, 2011 primarily reflects positive cash flows from accounts receivable (representing a seasonal decrease in receivables outstanding). These positive cash flows were partially offset by net cash outflows related to accounts payable.

The net cash provided during the six months ended June 30, 2010 primarily reflected positive cash flows from:

 

   

accounts receivable (representing a seasonal decrease in receivables outstanding), and

 

   

other current assets (primarily representing a decrease in income taxes receivable).

These positive cash flows were partially offset by net cash outflows from accounts payable (primarily related to a seasonal decrease in accounts payable for natural gas purchases and power purchased), an increase in natural gas stored and a seasonal increase in construction materials and supplies.

Net amortization of deferred power and natural gas costs was $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to net deferrals of $15.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Contributions to our defined benefit pension plan were $17.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $14.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Cash paid for interest decreased to $34.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, compared to $36.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities was $64.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, a decrease compared to $85.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Utility property capital expenditures increased for the six months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010, and funds held from customers at Advantage IQ decreased by $33.4 million (compared to an increase of $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010). Typically, funds held from customers represents one day of deposits from customers, which are disbursed the following business day. As December 31, 2010 was a business holiday, Advantage IQ was holding two days of deposits from customers at the end of 2010.

Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities was $99.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $28.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, our short-term borrowings decreased $35.0 million. Cash dividends paid increased to $31.7 million (or 55 cents per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from $27.5 million (or 50 cents per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2010. We issued $15.9 million of common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2011, including $12.1 million under a sales agency agreement. Additionally, customer funds obligations at Advantage IQ decreased by $33.4 million (see explanation under “Investing Activities”).

 

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During the six months ended June 30, 2010, our short-term borrowings decreased $2.0 million. We issued $9.5 million of common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2010, including $8.8 million under a sales agency agreement.

Overall Liquidity

Our consolidated operating cash flows are primarily derived from the operations of Avista Utilities. The primary source of operating cash flows for our utility operations is revenues from sales of electricity and natural gas. Significant uses of cash flows from our utility operations include the purchase of power, fuel and natural gas, and payment of other operating expenses, taxes and interest, with any excess being available for other corporate uses such as capital expenditures and dividends.

We design operating and capital budgets to control operating costs and optimize capital expenditures, particularly for our regulated utility operations. In addition to operating expenses, we have continuing commitments for capital expenditures for construction, improvement and maintenance of utility facilities.

Over time, our operating cash flows usually do not fully support the amount required for utility capital expenditures. As such, from time to time, we need to access capital markets in order to fund these needs as well as fund maturing debt. See further discussion at “Capital Resources.”

We periodically file for rate adjustments for recovery of operating costs and capital investments to provide the opportunity to move our earned returns closer to those allowed by regulators. See further details in the section “Avista Utilities – Regulatory Matters.”

For our utility operations, when power and natural gas costs exceed the levels currently recovered from retail customers, net cash flows are negatively affected. Factors that could cause purchased power and natural gas costs to exceed the levels currently recovered from our customers include, but are not limited to, higher prices in wholesale markets when we buy energy or an increased need to purchase power in the wholesale markets. Factors beyond our control that could result in an increased need to purchase power in the wholesale markets include, but are not limited to:

 

   

increases in demand (either due to weather or customer growth),

 

   

low availability of streamflows for hydroelectric generation,

 

   

unplanned outages at generating facilities, and

 

   

failure of third parties to deliver on energy or capacity contracts.

We monitor the potential liquidity impacts of increasing energy commodity prices and other increased operating costs for our utility operations. We believe that we have adequate liquidity to meet the increased cash needs of higher energy commodity prices and other increased operating costs through our $400.0 million committed line of credit.

As of June 30, 2011, we had $306.0 million of available liquidity under our committed line of credit. With our $400.0 million credit facility that expires in February 2015, we believe that we have adequate liquidity to meet our needs for the next 12 months.

Our utility has regulatory mechanisms in place that provide for the deferral and recovery of the majority of power and natural gas supply costs. However, if prices rise above the level currently allowed in retail rates in periods when we are buying energy, deferral balances will increase, which will negatively affect our cash flow and liquidity until such costs, with interest, are recovered from customers.

Credit and Nonperformance Risk

Our contracts for the purchase and sale of energy commodities can require collateral in the form of cash or letters of credit. Price movements and/or a downgrade in our credit ratings may impact further the amount of collateral required. See “Credit Ratings” for further information. For example, in addition to limiting our ability to conduct transactions, if our credit ratings were lowered to below “investment grade” and energy prices decreased by 15 percent in the first year and 20 percent in subsequent years, we estimate, based on our positions outstanding at June 30, 2011, that we would potentially be required to post additional collateral of up to $116 million. The additional collateral amount is higher than the amount disclosed in Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements because this analysis includes contracts that are not considered derivatives and due to the assumptions about potential energy price changes.

Under the terms of interest rate swap agreements that we enter into periodically, we may be required to post cash collateral depending on fluctuations in the fair value of the instrument. This has not historically been significant to our liquidity position. As of June 30, 2011, we had two interest rate swap agreements outstanding with a notional amount totaling $50 million and a mandatory cash settlement date of July 2012. We have not posted any collateral under these interest rate swap agreements.

 

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Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) was enacted into law in July 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act establishes regulatory jurisdiction by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for certain swaps (which include a variety of derivative instruments) and the users of such swaps, that previously had been largely exempted from regulation.

A variety of rules must be adopted by federal agencies (including the CFTC, SEC and the FERC) to implement the Dodd-Frank Act. These rules being developed and implemented will clarify the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on Avista Corp., which may be significant.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, “Swap Dealers” and “Major Swap Participants” generally will be required to collect minimum initial and variation margin from their counterparties for non-cleared swaps, however the requirement varies with the type of counterparty and the regulator of the “Major Swap Participant” or “Swap Dealer.” Avista Corp. should be categorized as a counterparty that is a non-financial end user for the purposes of Dodd-Frank, i.e., as a non-financial entity that engages in derivatives to hedge commercial risk. Under a proposed rule issued by the CFTC, swap dealers and major swap participants subject to regulation by the CFTC would not be required to collect initial or variation margin from counterparties that are non-financial end users. However, five federal regulators of banks issued a proposed rule that swap dealers and major swap participants subject to their jurisdiction would be required to collect initial and variation margin from non-financial entities, but would have the discretion to set thresholds for posting (unsecured credit limits). The SEC has not yet issued a proposed rule with respect to security-based swap dealers or security-based major swap participants. However, notwithstanding levels of margin required by regulation (or the lack thereof), concern remains that swap dealer and major swap participant counterparties will pass along their increased capital and interdealer margin costs through higher prices and reductions in thresholds for posting.

The Dodd-Frank Act also requires swaps to be cleared and traded on exchanges or swap execution facilities. Such clearing requirements would result in a significant change from our current practice of bilaterally negotiated credit terms. An exemption to mandatory clearing is available under Dodd-Frank for counterparties that are non-financial end users, however the cost of entering into a non-cleared swap that is available as a cleared swap may be greater.

We will continue to monitor developments including certain proposals to delay various implementation steps defined in the Act. We cannot predict the impact the Dodd-Frank Act may ultimately have on our operations.

Capital Resources

Our consolidated capital structure, including the current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings, and excluding noncontrolling interests, consisted of the following as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2011     December 31, 2010  
   Amount      Percent
of total
    Amount      Percent
of total
 

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 7,363         0.3   $ 358         —  

Current portion of nonrecourse long-term debt

     13,052         0.5        12,463         0.5   

Short-term borrowings

     75,000         3.1        110,000         4.5   

Long-term debt to affiliated trusts

     51,547         2.1        51,547         2.1   

Nonrecourse long-term debt

     39,778         1.6        46,471         1.9   

Long-term debt

     1,094,978         44.7        1,101,499         45.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     1,281,718         52.3        1,322,338         54.0   

Total Avista Corporation stockholders’ equity

     1,168,135         47.7        1,125,784         46.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,449,853         100.0   $ 2,448,122         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

We need to finance capital expenditures and additional funds for operations from time to time. The cash requirements needed to service our indebtedness, both short-term and long-term, reduces the amount of cash flow available to fund capital expenditures, purchased power, fuel and natural gas costs, dividends and other requirements. Our stockholders’ equity increased $42.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2011 primarily due to net income and the issuance of common stock, partially offset by dividends.

We generally fund capital expenditures with a combination of internally generated cash and external financing. The level of cash generated internally and the amount that is available for capital expenditures fluctuates depending on a variety of factors. Cash provided by our utility operating activities is expected to be the primary source of funds for operating needs, dividends and capital expenditures for 2011. Borrowings under our $400.0 million committed line of credit will supplement these funds to the extent necessary.

 

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We are planning to issue up to $25 million of common stock in 2011 (including issuances during the first six months of the year) in order to maintain our capital structure at an appropriate level for our business. In the six months ended June 30, 2011, we issued $15.9 million of common stock, including $12.1 million under a sales agency agreement. As of June 30, 2011, we had 0.5 million shares available to be issued under this agreement.

In February 2011, we entered into a new committed line of credit with various financial institutions in the total amount of $400.0 million with an expiration date of February 2015 that replaced our $320.0 million and $75.0 million committed lines of credit that had expiration dates in April 2011.

Our committed line of credit agreement contains customary covenants and default provisions, including a covenant which does not permit our ratio of “consolidated total debt” to “consolidated total capitalization” to be greater than 65 percent at any time. As of June 30, 2011, we were in compliance with this covenant with a ratio of 52.3 percent.

Balances outstanding and interest rates of borrowings (excluding letters of credit) under our revolving committed lines of credit were as follows as of and for the six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2011     2010  

Balance outstanding at end of period

   $ 75,000      $ 85,000   

Letters of credit outstanding at end of period

   $ 19,023      $ 24,115   

Maximum balance outstanding during the period

   $ 110,000      $ 100,000   

Average balance outstanding during the period

   $ 71,191      $ 67,110   

Average interest rate during the period

     1.32     0.59

Average interest rate at end of period

     1.48     0.53

Any default on the line of credit or other financing arrangements of Avista Corp. or any of our significant subsidiaries could result in cross-defaults to other agreements of such entity, and/or to the line of credit or other financing arrangements of any other of such entities. Any defaults could also induce vendors and other counterparties to demand collateral. In the event of any such default, it would be difficult for us to obtain financing on reasonable terms to pay creditors or fund operations. We would also likely be prohibited from paying dividends on our common stock. Avista Corp. does not guarantee the indebtedness of any of its subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2011, Avista Corp. and its subsidiaries were in compliance with all of the covenants of their financing agreements.

Avista Utilities Capital Expenditures

We expect utility capital expenditures to be $250 million for 2011, and between $230 million and $240 million for each of 2012 and 2013. These estimates of capital expenditures are subject to continuing review and adjustment. Actual capital expenditures may vary from our estimates due to factors such as changes in business conditions, construction schedules and environmental requirements.

Future generation resource decisions may be further impacted by legislation for restrictions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and renewable energy requirements as discussed at “Environmental Issues and Other Contingencies.”

Advantage IQ Credit Agreement

In April 2011, Advantage IQ entered into a new $40.0 million three-year committed line of credit agreement with a financial institution that replaced its $15.0 million committed credit agreement that had an expiration date of May 2011. The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of Advantage IQ’s assets. There were no borrowings outstanding under Advantage IQ’s credit agreements as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

Advantage IQ Redeemable Stock

In 2007, Advantage IQ amended its employee stock incentive plan to provide an annual window at which time holders of common stock can put their shares back to Advantage IQ providing the shares are held for a minimum of six months. Stock is reacquired at fair market value at the date of reacquisition. As the repurchase feature is at the discretion of the minority shareholders and option holders, there were redeemable noncontrolling interests of $13.0 million as of June 30, 2011 for the intrinsic value of stock options outstanding, as well as outstanding redeemable stock. In 2009, the Advantage IQ employee stock incentive plan was amended such that, on a prospective basis, not all options granted under the plan have the put right. Additionally, there were redeemable noncontrolling interests of $39.4 million related to the Cadence Network acquisition, as the previous owners can exercise a right to put their stock back to Advantage IQ in July 2011 or July 2012 if Advantage IQ is not liquidated through either an initial public offering or sale of the business to a third party. Their redemption rights expire July 31, 2012. These redemption rights were not exercised in July 2011. Should the previous owners of Cadence Network exercise their redemption rights, Advantage IQ will seek the necessary funding through its credit facility, a capital request from existing owners, an infusion of capital from potential new investors or a combination of these sources. In January 2011, Avista Capital purchased shares held by one of the previous owners of Cadence Network for $5.6 million.

 

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Pension Plan

As of June 30, 2011, our pension plan had assets with a fair value that was less than the benefit obligation under the plan. We contributed $21 million to the pension plan in 2010. We expect to contribute $26 million to the pension plan in 2011 ($17.3 million was contributed in the six months ended June 30, 2011). We expect to contribute a total of $110 million to the pension plan in the period 2012 through 2015. The final determination of pension plan contributions for future periods is subject to multiple variables, most of which are beyond our control, including further changes to the fair value of pension plan assets and changes in actuarial assumptions (in particular the discount rate used in determining the benefit obligation).

Credit Ratings

Our access to capital markets and our cost of capital are directly affected by our credit ratings. In addition, many of our contracts for the purchase and sale of energy commodities contain terms dependent upon our credit ratings. See “Credit and Nonperformance Risk” and “Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.” The following table summarizes our credit ratings as of August 5, 2011:

 

     Standard & Poor’s (1)    Moody’s (2)

Avista Corporation

     

Corporate/Issuer rating

   BBB    Baa2

Senior secured debt

   BBB+    A3

Senior unsecured debt

   BBB    Baa2

Rating outlook

   Stable    Stable

 

(1) Standard & Poor’s lowest level of “investment grade” credit rating is BBB-. Ratings were upgraded in March 2011.
(2) Moody’s lowest level of “investment grade” credit rating is Baa3. Ratings were upgraded in March 2011.

A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Each security rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each security rating agency has its own methodology for assigning ratings, and, accordingly, each rating should be considered in the context of the applicable methodology, independent of all other ratings. The rating agencies provide ratings at the request of Avista Corporation and charge us fees for their services.

Dividends

The Board of Directors considers the level of dividends on our common stock on a regular basis, taking into account numerous factors including, without limitation:

 

   

our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition,

 

   

the success of our business strategies, and

 

   

general economic and competitive conditions.

Our net income available for dividends is primarily derived from our regulated utility operations.

The payment of dividends on common stock is restricted by provisions of certain covenants applicable to preferred stock (when outstanding) contained in our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

Contractual Obligations

Our future contractual obligations have not changed materially from the amounts disclosed in the 2010 Form 10-K, with the following exceptions:

In June 2011, we entered (through a request for proposals issued in February 2011) into a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to acquire all of the power produced by a wind project being developed in Whitman County, Washington. It is expected that the wind project will have a nameplate capacity of approximately 100 megawatts and produce approximately 40 average megawatts with deliveries beginning in the second half of 2012. The power purchased from the project will help to meet our renewable portfolio standards requirements under Washington state law, as well as provide a new energy resource to serve our system retail load requirements. This contract was entered in the ordinary course of our utility business and we believe the cost of the PPA will be recovered through retail rates.

 

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As of June 30, 2011, we had $75.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our committed line of credit. There were $110.0 million in borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2010.

Redeemable noncontrolling interests increased to $52.4 million as of June 30, 2011 from $46.7 million as of December 31, 2010 due to the increase in the value, partially offset by the redemption of noncontrolling interests.

Economic Conditions

The general economic data, on both national and local levels, contained in this section are based, in part, on independent government and industry publications, reports by market research firms or other independent sources. While we believe that these publications and other sources are reliable, we have not independently verified such data and can make no representation as to its accuracy.

Economic growth in the region we serve has slowed dramatically in the last four years. However, we have experienced customer growth, although this growth is less than we had been experiencing in recent years prior to the economic downturn. Employment improved in most of our service area after enduring significant cutbacks in the construction, forest products, mining and manufacturing sectors. Non-farm employment growth for June 2011 compared to June 2010 was 0.4 percent in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and 1.2 percent Medford, Oregon. It was only 0.2 percent in the Spokane area with positives in the retail trade and health sectors, offset by weakness in state and local government jobs. U.S. nonfarm sector jobs grew by 1.0 percent in the same twelve-month period. The unemployment rate declined in June 2011 from the year earlier level in Medford, was stable in Spokane, but rose in Coeur d’Alene. The Spokane rate was 9.1 percent in both June 2011 and June 2010. Medford declined from 12.6 percent to 11.7 percent while Coeur d’Alene went from 9.9 percent to 10.5 percent. The U.S. rate declined from 9.6 percent to 9.3 percent in the same period. The housing market in our service area is showing modest improvement when measured by foreclosure rates; however two of three metropolitan areas are above the national average. The June 2011 national rate was 0.17 percent with 0.29 percent in Kootenai County, Idaho and 0.24 percent in Jackson County, Oregon. The Spokane housing market had a foreclosure rate of only 0.09 percent.

Environmental Issues and Other Contingencies

We are subject to environmental regulation by federal, state and local authorities. The generation, transmission, distribution, service and storage facilities in which we have ownership interests are designed and operated in compliance with applicable environmental laws. Furthermore, we conduct periodic reviews and audits of pertinent facilities and operations to ensure compliance and to respond to or anticipate emerging environmental issues. The Company’s Board of Directors has a committee to oversee environmental issues.

We monitor legislative and regulatory developments at all levels of government for environmental issues, particularly those with the potential to alter the operation and productivity of our generating plants and other assets.

Environmental laws and regulations may:

 

   

increase the operating costs of generating plants,

 

   

increase the lead time and capital costs for the construction of new generating plants,

 

   

require modification of our existing generating plants,

 

   

require existing generating plant operations to be curtailed or shut down,

 

   

reduce the amount of energy available from our generating plants,

 

   

restrict the types of generating plants that can be built, and

 

   

require construction of specific types of generation plants at higher cost.

Compliance with environmental laws and regulations could result in increases to capital expenditures and operating expenses. We intend to seek recovery of any such costs through the ratemaking process.

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Initiatives

Concerns about long-term global climate changes could have a significant effect on our business. Our operations could also be affected by changes in laws and regulations intended to mitigate the risk of global climate changes, including restrictions on the operation of our power generation resources and obligations imposed on the sale of natural gas. Changing temperatures and precipitation, including snowpack conditions, affect the availability and timing of streamflows, which impacts hydroelectric generation. Extreme weather events could increase service interruptions, outages and maintenance costs. Changing temperatures could also increase or decrease customer demand.

 

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Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards could result in significant compliance costs. Such standards could also preclude us from developing, operating or contracting with certain types of generating plants.

We continue to monitor and evaluate the possible adoption of international, national, regional, or state GHG emission legislation and regulations. In particular, climate change legislation was passed in the state of Washington, which includes a bill establishing GHG emissions reduction targets and another requiring that regulated sources report GHG emission from facilities that emit more than 10,000 metric tons of GHGs per year. As the U.S. Congress has not enacted any comprehensive climate change legislation, for the foreseeable future climate change regulations are expected to emerge from the EPA and individual states.

Although we are actively monitoring developments for climate change policies and restrictions on GHG emissions, it is important to note that we have relatively low GHG emissions as compared to other investor-owned utilities in the U.S. With 60 percent of our electric generation resource mix derived from renewable sources (including hydroelectric, biomass and wind contracts) and a majority of our thermal generation fueled with natural gas, plus a commitment to energy efficiency, we are among the lowest carbon-emitting utilities in the nation.

Our Climate Policy Council (an interdisciplinary team of management and other employees) works to:

 

   

facilitate internal and external communications regarding climate change issues,

 

   

analyze policy impacts, anticipate opportunities and evaluate strategies for Avista Corp., and

 

   

develop recommendations on climate related policy positions and action plans.

National Legislation

Climate change legislation has been proposed in the U.S. Congress; however, recent actions in the U.S. Senate and the outcome of the November 2010 elections indicate that climate change legislation is unlikely at this time. We continue to monitor the situation for new developments that could affect our business.

Recent EPA Initiatives Related to Climate Change

After a public comment and review period, in December 2009, the EPA issued an “endangerment finding” regarding GHG emissions from motor vehicles under section 202(a) of Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA found that the current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride – in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. The EPA also found that the combined emissions of these well-mixed greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines contribute to the GHG pollution which threatens public health and welfare. The EPA’s findings are currently being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On April 1, 2010, the EPA and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration announced a joint final rule establishing GHG emission standards for mobile sources. The GHG emission standards for mobile sources became effective on January 2, 2011. The EPA has concluded that the CAA requires the agency to regulate GHG emissions from stationary sources through its preconstruction and operating permit programs on the date when EPA regulations require any source (mobile or stationary) to meet GHG emission limits. The EPA’s final decision has been challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In May 2010, the EPA finalized a rule establishing an applicability threshold for regulating GHG emissions from stationary sources through the preconstruction and operating permit programs.

The EPA issued a series of rules on December 23, 2010 to narrow the CAA permitting requirement so that facilities with GHG emissions below the levels set in the tailoring rule do not need permits as well as to give the EPA authority to issue GHG permits in states that need to revise their permitting regulations to cover GHG emissions. On January 2, 2011, rules took effect requiring that permits issued under the CAA for new large stationary sources begin to address GHG emissions, as well as require Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to control these emissions. On July 20, 2011, the EPA finalized a rule that defers, for a period of three years, the GHG permitting requirements for carbon dioxide for utilities, boilers and other industrial facilities using biomass. The EPA also has announced a schedule for issuing regulations controlling GHG emissions from electric generating units. According to this schedule, the EPA will propose standards for natural gas, oil and coal-fired electric generating units by September 30, 2011, and issue final standards by May 26, 2012. The EPA agreed to this schedule as part of a settlement, as modified, with several states, local governments and environmental organizations that sued the EPA over its failure to update emissions standards for power plants and refineries as required by Section 111 of the CAA. Section 111 requires the EPA to issue NSPS that set emissions limits for new facilities and address emissions from existing facilities. These rules could significantly impact the costs of modifying existing thermal plants as well as building new thermal generation sources. We cannot determine or estimate the costs of compliance with such measures at this time.

 

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In September 2009, the EPA finalized a rule that requires facilities emitting over 25,000 metric tons of GHG a year to report their emissions to the EPA beginning in January 2011 for 2010 emissions. The rule became effective on December 29, 2009. On March 18, 2011, the EPA issued a rule extending the deadline for reporting 2010 GHG emissions data to September 30, 2011. Based on rule applicability criteria, Colstrip, Coyote Springs 2, and the Rathdrum CT are required to report GHGs. These facilities currently report carbon dioxide to the EPA under the Acid Rain Program and it is expected that the operators of Colstrip and Coyote Springs 2 will be responsible for any additional GHG reporting. Based on our evaluation of historical emissions from 2004-2010, none of our other electrical generation facilities meet the threshold requirements. The rule also requires that natural gas distribution system throughput be reported. Monitoring methods, per the rule, are currently in place and development of a GHG Monitoring Plan for covered facilities was in place prior to the April 1, 2010 deadline for required monitoring method implementation. The purpose of the plan is to document the process and procedures for collecting and reviewing the data needed to estimate annual GHG emissions. On March 22, 2010, the EPA proposed to amend its reporting rule to include several new source categories, including reporting of GHG fugitive emissions from electric power transmission and distribution systems, fugitive emissions from natural gas distribution systems, and fugitive emissions from natural gas storage facilities. Reporting for these additional sources is required by March 31, 2012 for 2011 emissions. We will report on natural gas distribution system fugitives and the operator of the natural gas storage facility, of which we are a part owner, will report on fugitives from that facility. On May 13, 2010, the EPA issued a final rule on GHG emissions reporting for stationary sources. As stated above, Colstrip, Coyote Springs 2 and the Rathdrum CT are required to report GHG emissions, even under modified rule. We continue to monitor developments.

State Activities

The states of Washington and Oregon have statutory targets to reduce GHG emissions. Washington’s targets are intended to reduce GHG emission to 1990 levels by 2020; to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035; and to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Oregon’s targets would reduce GHG emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Both states enacted their targets expecting that they would be met through a combination of renewable energy standards, and assorted “complementary policies,” such as land-use policies, energy efficiency codes for buildings, renewable fuel standards and vehicle emission standards. However, neither state has adopted any comprehensive requirements aimed at achieving these targets.

Washington and Oregon continue to participate in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), along with the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah and Montana, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The WCI has adopted a regional cap-and-trade program with an overall regional goal for reducing GHG emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The WCI’s program design includes cap-and-trade regulation of the electricity sector in 2012 and of emissions associated with the distribution of natural gas by 2015. Neither Washington, nor Oregon has enacted legislation establishing the WCI’s program requirements.

In 2009, the Governor of Washington issued an Executive Order (09-05) directing the Washington Department of Ecology to estimate GHG emissions by sector and source and to identify potential reduction requirements for them in preparation for the eventual imposition of state and/or federal GHG regulations. The Department of Ecology has identified “facilities” that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of GHG annually and has forecasted that those facilities will need to reduce their emissions by 9.2 percent in order for the state to achieve its GHG emissions reduction target for 2020. Our natural gas distribution system has been specifically identified as a “facility” along with our thermal plants and contracts with thermal plants. Fossil-fueled generation outside of the state has also been generically identified as a “facility” for the purposes of potentially regulating emissions associated with the importation of power to serve our Washington loads. The state of Washington has yet to identify how it might impose and enforce emission reductions. Nevertheless, the State will make significant progress in meeting its greenhouse gas emission targets in light of the enactment of SB 5769, which requires the only coal-fired generation facility operating in the state to completely cease operations in 2025. In addition, the Department of Ecology has adopted regulations to ensure that Washington’s State Implementation Plan comports with the requirements of the EPA’s regulation of GHG emissions. We will continue to monitor actions by the department as it may proceed to adopt additional regulations under its Clean Air Act authorities. Washington and Oregon apply a GHG emissions performance standard to electric generation facilities used to serve loads in their jurisdiction. The emissions performance standard prevents utilities from constructing or purchasing generation facilities, or entering into long-term contracts (five years or more) to purchase energy produced by plants that have emission levels higher than 1,100 pounds of GHG per MWh until 2012, at which time it will be reviewed and may be lowered by administrative rule to reflect the emissions profile of the latest commercially available combined-cycle combustion turbine.

 

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Initiative Measure 937 (I-937), the Energy Independence Act, was passed into law through the 2006 General Election in Washington. I-937 requires investor-owned, cooperative, and government-owned electric utilities with over 25,000 customers to acquire qualified renewable energy resources and/or renewable energy credits in incremental amounts until those resources or credits equal 15 percent of the utility’s total retail load in 2020. I-937 also requires these utilities to meet biennial energy conservation targets, the first of which must be met in 2012. Furthermore, by January 1, 2012, electric utilities subject to I-937’s mandates must have acquired enough incremental renewable energy and/or renewable energy credits to meet 3 percent of their load. Failure to comply with renewable energy and energy efficiency standards will result in penalties of at least $50 per MWh being assessed against a utility for each MWh it is deficient in meeting a standard. A utility would be deemed to comply with the renewable energy standard if it invests at least 4 percent of its total annual retail revenue requirement on the incremental costs of renewable energy resources and/or renewable energy credits.

Electric Integrated Resource Plan

Our most recent Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) was filed with the WUTC and the IPUC in the third quarter 2009. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K for a discussion of the 2009 IPP.

We are required to file an IRP every two years. We will file an IRP in August 2011, and our resource strategy will change somewhat from the 2009 IRP based upon market, legislative and regulatory developments.

In June 2011, we entered (through a request for proposals issued in February 2011) into a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Palouse Wind, LLC (Palouse Wind), an affiliate of First Wind Energy, LLC. Under the PPA, we will acquire all of the power and renewable attributes produced by a wind project being developed by Palouse Wind in Whitman County, Washington. It is expected that the wind project will have a nameplate capacity of approximately 100 megawatts and produce approximately 40 average megawatts with deliveries beginning in the second half of 2012. We decided to enter this PPA due, in part, to recent market changes reducing the cost of renewable resource projects and tax incentives for the construction of renewable resource projects that remain in effect through 2012. We acquired the development rights for a separate wind generation site near Reardan, Washington in 2008 and continue to study that site in preparation for later development. We plan to meet the state of Washington’s renewable energy standards until 2016 with a combination of qualified upgrades at our existing hydroelectric generation plants and the purchase of a small amount of renewable energy credits from 2012 through 2015. The power purchased from Palouse Wind will help to meet our Washington renewable energy requirements beginning in 2016, as well as provide a new energy resource to serve our system retail load requirements. The amount of renewable resources in our future IRPs could change if the cost effectiveness of those resources changes or if a new or modified renewable energy standards are enacted at either the state or federal levels.

As part of our IRP, we included estimates of climate change into the retail load forecast. The recent trend has been a warming climate compared to the 30-year normal. Trends in heating and cooling degree days for Spokane are roughly equal to the scientific community’s predictions for this geographic area, implying one degree of warming every 25 years. Incorporating the warming trend finds that in 20 years summer load would be approximately 26 aMW higher than the 30-year average. In the winter, loads would be approximately 40 aMW lower in 2029, for a net impact of a 14 aMW load decrease. Our projected system load for 2010 in the IRP was 1,101 aMW. We do not expect this trend to have a material impact on our results of operations. Estimated costs of GHG emission credits were also included in the development of the IRP market prices.

Clean Air Act

We must comply with the requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) in operating our thermal generating plants. The CAA currently requires a Title V operating permit for Colstrip (which is in the process of being renewed and is expected to be completed in 2011), Coyote Springs 2 (which will expire in 2013), the Kettle Falls GS (which will be renewed in 2012), and the Rathdrum CT (which was renewed in 2011). Boulder Park and the Northeast CT currently require only minor source operating permits based on their limited operation and emissions. The CAA also requires Acid Rain Program monitoring, reporting and emissions trading for Colstrip, Coyote Springs 2 and the Rathdrum CT. We continue to monitor legislative and regulatory developments for Federal programs within the CAA such as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP or MACT).

Mercury Emissions

In 2006, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (Montana DEQ) adopted final rules for the control of mercury emissions from coal-fired plants. The new rules set strict mercury emission limits by 2010, and establish a recurring ten-year review process to ensure facilities are keeping pace with advancing technology in mercury emission control. The rules also provide for temporary alternate emission limits provided certain provisions are met, and they allocate mercury emission credits in a manner that rewards the cleanest facilities. The joint owners of Colstrip believe, based upon current results, that the plant will be able to comply with the Montana law without utilizing the temporary alternate emissions limit provision. In addition, on March 21, 2011, the EPA issued a proposed MACT standard to control hazardous air pollutants including mercury from coal-fired power plants. The proposed rule is based upon the EPA’s analysis of the top 12 percent of the best performers in the industry. As a result, the proposed federal standard is slightly less stringent than the Montana DEQ rule. We have not determined to what extent or if there will be any material impacts to Colstrip at this time.

 

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National Ambient Air Quality Standards

We continue to monitor legislative and regulatory developments at both the state and national levels for potential further restrictions on National Ambient Air Quality Standards. New, more stringent ambient air quality standards were adopted or are being adopted by the EPA for nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter. We have thermal power plants in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. Even under the new standards, the EPA and the states have designated most of the western states in which we operate as attainment areas for the new standards. We do not anticipate any material impacts on our thermal plants from these new standards.

Coal Ash Management/Disposal

Currently, coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) are not regulated by the EPA as a hazardous waste. Under a proposed rule issued in 2010, the EPA is reconsidering the classification of CCBs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The draft rules included two options: to require management of CCBs as a hazardous waste under Subtitle C of the RCRA; or to regulate coal ash under Subtitle D, for non-hazardous solid wastes. Should the EPA determine to regulate CCBs as a hazardous waste under the RCRA, such action could have a significant impact on future operations of Colstrip. The EPA has not indicated a clear schedule for final rulemaking.

Fisheries

A number of species of fish in the Northwest, including the Snake River sockeye salmon and fall chinook salmon, the Kootenai River white sturgeon, the upper Columbia River steelhead, the upper Columbia River spring chinook salmon and the bull trout, are listed as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Thus far, measures that were adopted and implemented to save the Snake River sockeye salmon and fall chinook salmon have not directly impacted generation levels at any of our hydroelectric facilities (which are on different river systems with the greater Columbia River Basin). We purchase power under long-term contracts with certain PUDs with hydroelectric generation projects on the Columbia River that are directly impacted by ongoing mitigation measures for salmon and steelhead. The reduction in generation at these projects is relatively minor, resulting in minimal economic impact on our operations at this time. We cannot predict the economic costs to us resulting from future mitigation measures. We received a 45-year FERC operating license for Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Rapids in March 2001 that incorporates a comprehensive settlement agreement. The restoration of native salmonid fish, particularly bull trout, is a key part of the agreement. The result is a collaborative bull trout recovery program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Native American tribes and the states of Idaho and Montana on the lower Clark Fork River, consistent with requirements of the FERC license. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued an updated Critical Habitat Designation for bull trout in 2010 that includes the lower Clark Fork River, and is currently developing a final Bull Trout Recovery Plan under the ESA. Issues related to these activities are expected to be worked out through the ongoing collaborative effort of our Clark Fork FERC license. See “Hydroelectric Licensing” and “Fish Passage at Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Rapids” in “Note 11 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information.

Western Power Market Issues

The FERC continues to conduct proceedings and investigations related to market controls within the western United States that include proposals by certain parties to impose refunds, and some of the FERC’s decisions have been appealed in Federal Courts. Certain parties have asserted claims for significant refunds from us, which could result in liabilities for refunding revenues recognized in prior periods. We have joined other parties in opposing these proposals. We believe that we have adequate reserves established for refunds that may be ordered. The refund proceedings provide that any refunds would be offset against unpaid energy debts due to the same party. As of June 30, 2011, our accounts receivable outstanding related to defaulting parties in California were fully offset by reserves for uncollected amounts and funds collected from defaulting parties. See “California Refund Proceeding” and “Pacific Northwest Refund Proceeding” in “Note 11 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information on the refund proceedings.

Other

For other environmental issues and other contingencies see “Note 11 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

General

Our qualitative general market risk disclosures have not materially changed during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K.

Commodity Price Risk

Our qualitative commodity price risk disclosures have not materially changed during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K.

 

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The following table presents energy commodity derivative fair values as a net asset or (liability) as of June 30, 2011 that are expected to settle in each respective year (dollars in thousands):

 

Year

   Purchases     Sales  
   Electric Derivatives     Gas Derivatives     Electric Derivatives      Gas Derivatives  
   Physical     Financial     Physical     Financial     Physical     Financial      Physical     Financial  

2011

   $ (3,619   $ (4,694   $ (15,489   $ 4,376      $ 460      $ 1,177       $ 580      $ (4,428

2012

     (2,864     (8,353     (14,615     (903     (128     1,191         (1,259     (967

2013

     673        1,183        (5,194     84        (34     1,214         (1,533     (898

2014

     1,236        —          (325     (310     (76     24         (1,215     —     

2015

     2,158        —          181        47        (135     —           —          —     

Thereafter

     9,222        —          —          —          (1,055     —           —          —     

Credit Risk

Our credit risk has not materially changed during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K.

Interest Rate Risk

Our qualitative interest rate risk disclosures have not materially changed during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K.

In 2010, we entered into two interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $50.0 million and a mandatory cash settlement date of July 2012.

Under the terms of the outstanding interest rate swap agreements, the value of the interest rate swaps is determined based upon Avista Corp. paying a fixed rate and receiving a variable rate based on LIBOR for a term of ten years. As of June 30, 2011, we had a long-term derivative liability of $1.5 million and an offsetting regulatory asset on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with regulatory accounting practices. Upon settlement of the interest rate swaps, the regulatory asset or liability (included as part of long-term debt) will be amortized as a component of interest expense over the life of the forecasted interest payments.

Foreign Currency Risk

Our qualitative foreign currency risk disclosures have not materially changed during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K. As of June 30, 2011, we had a current derivative asset for foreign currency hedges of $0.1 million included in other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of June 30, 2011, we had entered into 42 Canadian currency forward contracts with a notional amount of $14.1 million ($13.7 million Canadian).

Risk Management

We use a variety of techniques to manage risks for energy resources and wholesale energy market activities. We have an energy resources risk policy and control procedures to manage these risks, both qualitative and quantitative. Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K for discussion of risk management policies and procedures.

Further information for derivatives and fair values is disclosed at “Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Note 9 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company has disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports it files or submits under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company has evaluated its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Based upon the Company’s evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level as of June 30, 2011.

 

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There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second quarter of 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See “Note 11 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in “Part I. Financial Information Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Please refer to the 2010 Form 10-K for disclosure of risk factors that could have a significant impact on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), and elsewhere. These risk factors have not materially changed from the disclosures provided in the 2010 Form 10-K. In addition to these risk factors, please also see “Forward-Looking Statements” for additional factors which could have a significant impact on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

    3(i)   Restated Articles of Incorporation of Avista Corporation, as amended and restated May 23, 2011*
    3(ii)   Bylaws of Avista Corporation, as amended May 13, 2011*
  12   Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges*
  15   Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information*
  31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer (Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)*
  31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer (Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)*
  32   Certification of Corporate Officers (Furnished Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)**
101   The following financial information from the Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q for the period ended June 30, 2011, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests; and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.**

 

 * Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

      AVISTA CORPORATION
      (Registrant)
Date: August 5, 2011       /s/ Mark T. Thies
     

Mark T. Thies

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

58

Restated Articles of Incorporation of Avista Corporation,as amended and restated

Exhibit 3(i)

RESTATED ARTICLES

OF INCORPORATION

OF

AVISTA CORPORATION

As Amended and Restated May 23, 2011


RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF

AVISTA CORPORATION

Know all men by these presents that we have this day voluntarily associated ourselves together for the purpose of forming, and we do hereby form and agree to become a Corporation, under and by virtue of the laws of the Territory of Washington, and for such purpose we do hereby certify:-

FIRST: That the name of said Corporation is Avista Corporation.

SECOND: The objects and purposes for which the Corporation is formed are:

To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, finance, deal in, construct, build, equip, improve, use, operate, maintain and work upon:

 

  (a) Any and all kinds of plants and systems for the manufacture, production, storage, utilization, purchase, sale, supply, transmission, distribution or disposition of electric energy, natural or artificial gas, water or steam, or power produced thereby, or of ice and refrigeration of any and every kind;

 

  (b) Any and all kinds of telephone, telegraph, radio, wireless and other systems, facilities and devices for the receipt and transmission of sounds and signals, any and all kinds of interurban, city and street railways and bus lines for the transportation of passengers and/or freight, transmission lines, systems, appliances, equipment and devices and tracks, stations, buildings and other structures and facilities;

 

  (c) Any and all kinds of works, power plants, manufactories, structures, substations, systems, tracks, machinery, generators, motors, lamps, poles, pipes, wires, cables, conduits, apparatus, devices, equipment, supplies, articles and merchandise of every kind pertaining to or in anywise connected with the construction, operation or maintenance of telephone, telegraph, radio, wireless and other systems, facilities and devices for the receipt and transmission of sounds and signals, or of interurban, city and street railways and bus lines, or in anywise connected with or pertaining to the manufacture, production, purchase, use, sale, supply, transmission, distribution, regulation, control or application of electric energy, natural or artificial gas, water, steam, ice, refrigeration and power or any other purpose;

To acquire, buy, hold, own, sell, lease, exchange, dispose of, transmit, distribute, deal in, use, manufacture, produce, furnish and supply street and interurban railway and bus service, electric energy, natural or artificial gas, light, heat, ice, refrigeration, water and steam in any form and for any purposes whatsoever; and any power or force, or energy in any form and for any purposes whatsoever;

To manufacture, produce, buy or in any other manner acquire, and to sell, furnish, dispose of and distribute steam for heating or other purposes, and to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, build, construct, erect, hold, own, improve, enlarge, maintain, operate, control, supervise and manage and to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of plants, works and facilities, including distribution systems, mains, pipes, conduits and meters, and all other necessary apparatus and appliances used or useful or convenient for use in the business of manufacturing, producing, selling, furnishing, disposing of and distributing steam for heating or for any other purposes;


To acquire, organize, assemble, develop, build up and operate constructing and operating and other organizations and systems, and to hire, sell, lease, exchange, turn over, deliver and dispose of such organizations and systems in whole or in part and as going organizations and systems and otherwise, and to enter into and perform contracts, agreements and undertakings of any kind in connection with any or all of the foregoing powers;

To do a general contracting business;

To purchase, acquire, develop, mine, explore, drill, hold, own, sell and dispose of lands, interest in and rights with respect to lands and waters and fixed and movable property;

To plan, design, construct, alter, repair, remove or otherwise engage in any work upon bridges, dams, canals, piers, docks, wharfs, buildings, structures, foundations, mines, shafts, tunnels, wells, waterworks and all kinds of structural excavations and subterranean work and generally to carry on the business of contractors and engineers;

To manufacture, improve and work upon and to deal in, purchase, hold, sell and convey minerals, metals, wood, oils and other liquids, gases, chemicals, animal and plant products or any of the products and by-products thereof or any article or thing into the manufacture of which any of the foregoing may enter;

To manufacture, improve, repair and work upon and to deal in, purchase, hold, sell and convey any and all kinds of machines, instruments, tools, implements, mechanical devices, engines, boilers, motors, generators, rails, cars, ships, boats, launches, automobiles, trucks, tractors, airships, aeroplanes, articles used in structural work, building materials, hardware, textiles, clothing, cloth, leather goods, furs and any other goods, wares and merchandise of whatsoever kind;

To construct, erect and sell buildings and structures in and on any lands for any use or purpose; to equip and operate warehouses, office buildings, hotels, apartment houses, apartment hotels and restaurants, or any other buildings and structures of whatsoever kind;

To guarantee, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of the capital stock of, or any bonds, securities or evidences of indebtedness created by any other corporation or corporations of the state of Washington or of any other state or government, and, while the owner of such stock, to exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of individual ownership with respect thereto, including the right to vote thereon, and to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto;

To aid in any manner any corporation or association, domestic or foreign, or any firm or individual, any shares of stock in which or any bonds, debentures, notes, securities, evidence of indebtedness, contracts or obligations of which are held by or for the Corporation or in which or in the welfare of which the Corporation shall have any interest, and to do any acts designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of any property at any time held or controlled by the Corporation, or in which it may be interested at any time; and to organize or promote or facilitate the organization of subsidiary companies;

To purchase from time to time any of its stock outstanding (so far as may be permitted by law) at such price as may be fixed by its Board of Directors or Executive Committee and accepted by the holders of the stock purchased, and to resell any stock so purchased at such price as may be fixed by its said Board of Directors or Executive Committee;

 

2


In any manner to acquire, enjoy, utilize and to sell or otherwise dispose of patents, copyrights and trademarks and any licenses or other rights or interests therein and thereunder;

To purchase, acquire, hold, own and sell or otherwise dispose of franchises, concessions, consents, privileges and licenses;

To borrow money and contract debts, to issue bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange, debentures and other obligations and evidences of indebtedness payable at a specified time or times or payable upon the happening of a specified event or events, whether secured by mortgage, pledge or otherwise or unsecured, for money borrowed or in payment for property purchased or acquired or any other lawful objects; all as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the Corporation, pursuant to the authority hereby conferred;

To create mortgages or deeds of trust which shall cover and create a lien upon all or any part of the property of the Corporation of whatsoever kind and wheresoever situated, then owned or thereafter acquired, and to provide in any such mortgage or deed of trust that the amount of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued thereunder and to be secured thereby shall be limited to a definite amount or limited only by the conditions therein specified and to issue or cause to be issued by the Corporation the bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be secured thereby; all as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee of the Corporation pursuant to the authority hereby conferred;

To do all and everything necessary and proper for the accomplishment of the objects enumerated in these Articles of Incorporation or any amendment thereof or necessary or incidental to the protection and benefit of the Corporation, and in general to carry on any lawful business necessary or incidental to the attainment of the objects of the Corporation whether or not such business is similar in nature to the objects set forth in these Articles of Incorporation or any amendment thereof;

To do any or all things herein set forth, to the same extent and as fully as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world, and as principal, agent, contractor or otherwise, and either alone or in conjunction with any other persons, firms, associations or corporations;

To conduct its business in any or all its branches in the state of Washington, other states, the District of Columbia, the territories and colonies of the United States, and any foreign countries, and to have one or more offices out of the state of Washington.

THIRD:

 

  (a) The amount of capital with which the Corporation will begin to carry on business hereunder shall be FIVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($5,000,500).

 

  (b) The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 210,000,000 shares, divided into 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock without nominal or par value, issuable in series as hereinafter provided, and 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock without nominal or par value.

 

  (c) A statement of the preferences, limitations and relative rights of each class of capital stock of the Corporation, namely, the Preferred Stock without nominal or par value and the Common Stock without nominal or par value, of the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series of the Preferred Stock insofar as the same are fixed by these Articles of Incorporation, and of the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation to establish series of Preferred Stock and to fix and determine the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series insofar as the same are not fixed by these Articles of Incorporation and as to which there may be variations between series is as follows.

 

3


  (d) The shares of the Preferred Stock may be divided into and issued in series. Each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series of the Preferred Stock and all other classes of capital stock of the Corporation. To the extent that these Articles of Incorporation shall not have established series of the Preferred Stock and fixed and determined the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between series, the Board of Directors shall have authority, and is hereby expressly vested with authority, to divide the Preferred Stock into series and, within the limitations set forth in these Articles of Incorporation and such limitations as may be provided by law, to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of any series of the Preferred Stock so established. Such action by the Board of Directors shall be expressed in a resolution or resolutions adopted by it prior to the issuance of shares of each series, which resolution or resolutions shall also set forth the distinguishing designation of the particular series of the Preferred Stock established thereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, authority is hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors so to fix and determine, with respect to any series of the Preferred Stock:

 

  (1) the rate or rates of dividend, if any, which may be expressed in terms of a formula or other method by which such rate or rates shall be calculated from time to time, and the date or dates on which dividends may be payable;

 

  (2) whether shares may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption;

 

  (3) the amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary and involuntary liquidation;

 

  (4) sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares; and

 

  (5) the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares may be converted.

All shares of the Preferred Stock of the same series shall be identical except that shares of the same series issued at different times may vary as to the dates from which dividends thereon shall be cumulative; and all shares of the Preferred Stock, irrespective of series, shall constitute one and the same class of stock, shall be of equal rank, and shall be identical except as to the designation thereof, the date or dates from which dividends on shares thereof shall be cumulative, and the relative rights and preferences set forth above in clauses (1) through (5) of this subdivision (d), as to which there may be variations between different series. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, by subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD, or by the resolutions establishing any series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this subdivision (d), whenever the written consent, affirmative vote, or other action on the part of the holders of the Preferred Stock may be required for any purpose, such consent, vote or other action shall be taken by the holders of the Preferred Stock as a single class irrespective of series and not by different series.

 

4


  (e) Out of any funds legally available for the payment of dividends, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled, in preference to the holders of the Common Stock, to receive, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors, dividends at the rate or rates fixed and determined with respect to each series in accordance with these Articles of Incorporation, and no more, payable as hereinafter provided. Such dividends shall be cumulative so that if for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend periods dividends shall not have been paid or declared and set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of each series of the Preferred Stock, at the dividend rates fixed and determined for the respective series, the deficiency shall be fully paid or declared and set apart for payment before any dividends on the Common Stock shall be paid or declared and set apart for payment; provided, however, that nothing in this subdivision (e) or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation shall prevent the simultaneous declaration and payment of dividends on both the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock if there are sufficient funds legally available to pay all dividends concurrently. Dividends on all shares of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be cumulative from the date of issuance of shares of such series. If more than one series of the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding and if dividends on each series shall not have been paid or declared and set apart for payment, at the dividend rate or rates fixed and determined for such series, the shares of the Preferred Stock of each series shall share ratably in the payment of dividends including accumulations, if any, in accordance with the sums which would be payable on such shares if all dividends were declared and paid in full. As to all series of Preferred Stock, the dividend payment dates for regular dividends shall be the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in each year, unless other dividend payment dates shall have been fixed and determined for any series in accordance with subdivision (d) of this Article THIRD, and the dividend period in respect of which each regular dividend shall be payable in respect of each series shall be the period commencing on the next preceding dividend payment date for such series and ending on the day next preceding the dividend payment date for such dividend. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments which may be in arrears.

 

  (f) Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (e) or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), dividends may be paid on the Common Stock when and as declared by the Board of Directors out of any funds legally available for the payment of dividends, and no holder of shares of any series of the Preferred Stock as such shall be entitled to share therein.

 

  (g) In the event of any voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders the respective amounts per share fixed and determined in accordance with these Articles of Incorporation to be payable on the shares of such series in the event of voluntary liquidation, and no more, and in the event of any involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock of each series then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders the respective amounts per share fixed and determined in accordance with these Articles of Incorporation to be payable on the shares of such series in the event of involuntary liquidation, and no more. If upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of all series the full amounts to which they shall be respectively entitled as aforesaid, the entire net assets of the Corporation available for distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of all series in proportion to the amounts to which they shall be respectively so entitled. For the purposes of this and the next succeeding subdivision, and without limiting the right of the Corporation to distribute its assets or to dissolve, liquidate or wind up in connection with any sale, merger or consolidation, the sale of all or substantially all of the property of the Corporation, or the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other corporation or corporations, shall not be deemed to be a distribution of assets or a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary.

 

5


  (h) Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (g) of this Article THIRD or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized) upon any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, any net assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders shall be distributed ratably to holders of the Common Stock.

 

  (i) The Preferred Stock may be redeemed in accordance with the following provisions of this subdivision (i):

 

  (1) Each series of the Preferred Stock which has been determined to be redeemable as permitted by subdivision (d) of this Article THIRD may be redeemed in whole or in part by the Corporation, at its election expressed by resolution of the Board of Directors, at any time or from time to time, at the then applicable redemption price fixed and determined with respect to each series, subject however, to any terms and conditions specified in respect of any series of the Preferred Stock in accordance with subdivision (d) of this Article THIRD. If less than all of the shares of any series are to be redeemed, the redemption shall be made either pro rata or by lot in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

  (2) In the event the Corporation shall so elect to redeem shares of the Preferred Stock, notice of the intention of the Corporation to do so and of the date and place fixed for redemption shall be mailed not less than thirty nor more than ninety days before the date fixed for redemption to each holder of shares of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed at his address as it shall appear on the books of the Corporation, and on and after the date fixed for redemption and specified in such notice (unless the Corporation shall default in making payment of the redemption price), such holders shall cease to be shareholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares and shall have no interest in or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, excepting only the right to receive the redemption price therefor from the Corporation on the date fixed for redemption, without interest, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for such shares.

 

  (3) Contemporaneously with the mailing of notice of redemption of any shares of the Preferred Stock as aforesaid or at any time thereafter on or before the date fixed for redemption, the Corporation may, if it so elects, deposit the aggregate redemption price of the shares to be redeemed with any bank or trust company doing business in the City of New York, New York, or Spokane, Washington, having a capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000, named in such notice, payable on the date fixed for redemption in the proper amounts to the respective holders of the shares to be redeemed, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for such shares, and on and after the making of such deposit such holders shall cease to be shareholders of the Corporation with respect to such shares and shall have no interest in or claim against the Corporation with respect to such shares, excepting only the right to exercise such redemption or exchange rights, if any, on or before the date fixed for redemption as may have been provided with respect to such shares or the right to receive the redemption price of their shares from such bank or trust company on the date fixed for redemption, without interest, upon endorsement, if required, and surrender of their certificates for such shares.

 

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  (4) If the Corporation shall have so elected to deposit the redemption moneys with a bank or trust company, any moneys so deposited which shall remain unclaimed at the end of six years after the redemption date shall be repaid to the Corporation, and upon such repayment holders of Preferred Stock who shall not have made claim against such moneys prior to such repayment shall be deemed to be unsecured creditors of the Corporation for an amount, without interest, equal to the amount they would theretofore have been entitled to receive from such bank or trust company. Any redemption moneys so deposited which shall not be required for such redemption because of the exercise, after the date of such deposit, of any right of conversion or exchange or otherwise, shall be returned to the Corporation forthwith. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive any interest allowed by any bank or trust company on any moneys deposited with such bank or trust company as herein provided, and the holders of any shares called for redemption shall have no claim against any such interest.

 

  (5) Nothing herein contained shall limit any legal right of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of the Preferred Stock.

 

  (j) The holders of the Preferred Stock shall not have any right to vote for the election of Directors or for any other purpose except as otherwise provided by law and as set forth below in this subdivision of this Article THIRD or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation. Holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to notice of each meeting of shareholders at which they shall have any right to vote but except as may be otherwise provided by law shall not be entitled to notice of any other meeting of shareholders.

 

  (1) Whenever and as often as, at any date, dividends payable on any shares of the Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of dividends accumulated on such shares of the Preferred Stock over the eighteen-month period ended on such date, the holders of the Preferred Stock of all series, voting separately and as a single class, shall be entitled to vote for and to elect a majority of the Board of Directors, and the holders of the Common Stock, voting separately and as a single class, shall be entitled to vote for and to elect the remaining Directors of the Corporation. The right of the holders of the Preferred Stock to elect a majority of the Board of Directors shall, however, cease when all defaults in the payment of dividends on their stock shall have been cured and such dividends shall be declared and paid out of any funds legally available therefor as soon as in the judgment of the Board of Directors is reasonably practicable. The terms of office of all persons who may be Directors of the Corporation at the time the right to elect Directors shall accrue to the holders of the Preferred Stock as herein provided shall terminate upon the election of their successors at a meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation then entitled to vote. Such election shall be held at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or may be held at a special meeting of shareholders but shall be held upon notice as provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation for a special meeting of the shareholders. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors occurring during any period when the Preferred Stock shall have elected representatives on the Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Directors representing the class of stock theretofore represented by the Director causing the vacancy. At all meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing Directors during such times as the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the exclusive right to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of all series shall be required to substitute a quorum of such class for the election of Directors, and the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be required to constitute a quorum of such class for the election of Directors; provided, however, that the absence of a quorum of the holders of stock of either class shall not prevent the election at any such meeting, or adjournment thereof, of Directors by the other class if the necessary quorum of the holders of stock of such class is present in person or by proxy at such meeting; and provided further, that, in the absence of a quorum of the holders of stock of either class, a majority of those holders of such stock who are present in person or by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the election of those Directors to be elected by that class from time to time without notice, other than announcement at the meeting, until the requisite amount of holders of stock of such class shall be present in person or by proxy.

 

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  (2) So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, adopt any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation if such amendment would:

 

  (i) create or authorize any new class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up;

 

  (ii) increase the authorized number of shares of the Preferred Stock; or

 

  (iii) change any of the rights or preferences of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding provided, however, that if any proposed change of any of the rights or preferences of any outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock would affect the holders of shares of one or more, but not all, series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, only the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of all series so affected shall be required; and provided further, that nothing herein shall authorize the adoption of any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation by the vote of the holders of a lesser number of shares of the Preferred Stock, or of any other class of stock, or of all classes of stock, than is required for such an amendment by the laws of the state of Washington at the time applicable thereto.

 

  (3) So long as any shares of the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, issue any shares of the Preferred Stock, or of any other class of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, unless the net income of the Corporation available for the payment of dividends for a period of twelve consecutive calendar months within the fifteen calendar months immediately preceding the issuance of such shares (including, in any case in which such shares are to be issued in connection with the acquisition of new property, the net income of the property so to be acquired, computed on the same basis as the net income of the Corporation) is at least equal to one and one-half times the annual dividend requirements on all shares of the Preferred Stock, and on all shares of all other classes of stock ranking prior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, which will be outstanding immediately after the issuance of such shares, including the shares proposed to be issued; provided, however, that if the shares of any series of the Preferred Stock or any such prior or parity stock shall have a variable dividend rate, the annual dividend requirement on the shares of such series shall be determined by reference to the weighted average dividend rate on such shares during the twelve-month period for which the net income of the Corporation available for the payment of dividends shall have been determined; and provided, further, that if the shares of the series to be issued are to have a variable dividend rate, the annual dividend requirement on the shares of such series shall be determined by reference to the initial dividend rate upon the issuance of such shares. In any case where it would be appropriate, under generally accepted accounting principles to combine or consolidate the financial statements of any parent or subsidiary of the Corporation with those of the Corporation, the foregoing computation may be made on the basis of such combined or consolidated financial statements.

 

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  (k) Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), and except as may be otherwise provided by law, the holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of Directors and for all other purposes. At each meeting of shareholders, each holder of stock entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such stock held by him and recorded in his name on the record date for such meeting, and may vote and otherwise act in person or by proxy. Voting in the election of directors by shares within each voting group shall be governed by the additional provisions set forth below:

 

  (1) In an election of directors which is not a contested election (as defined below):

 

  (A) Each vote entitled to be cast may be cast for or cast against one or more candidates, or a shareholder may indicate an abstention with respect to one or more candidates. Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulate votes;

 

  (B) A candidate shall be elected by such voting group if the number of votes cast within such voting group for such candidate exceeds the number of votes cast within such voting group against such candidate. A candidate who does not receive such majority of votes cast but who is a director at the time of the election shall continue to serve as a director for a term that shall terminate on the date that is the earliest of (I) the date of the commencement of the term of a new director selected by the board of directors to fill the office held by such director, (II) the effective date of the resignation of such director and (III) the later of (X) the last day of the sixth calendar month commencing after the election in which such candidate failed to receive a majority of votes cast and (Y) December 31 of the calendar year on which such election occurred;

 

  (C) Only votes cast for and votes cast against a candidate shall be taken into account in determining whether the votes required for the election of such candidate have been received. Shares otherwise present at the meeting but for which there is an abstention with respect to a candidate or as to which no authority or direction to vote is given or specified with respect to a candidate shall not be deemed to have been voted; and

 

  (D) In the event that a director does not receive the required majority vote for election, a majority of the other directors duly elected by shares within such voting group in such or a prior election may select any qualified individual to fill the office held by such director, such selection being deemed to constitute the filling of a vacancy.

 

  (2) In a contested election:

 

  (A) Each vote entitled to be cast may be cast for one or more candidates (not to exceed the number of directors to be elected), or may be withheld with respect to one or more candidates. Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulate votes; and

 

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  (B) The candidates elected shall be those receiving the largest numbers of votes cast within such voting group, up to the number of directors to be elected.

 

  (3) An election of directors by a voting group shall be deemed to be a “contested election” with respect to such voting group if at the expiration of the time fixed in the Bylaws requiring advance notice of a shareholder’s intent to nominate a person for election as a director, there are more candidates for election by such voting group than the number of directors to be elected by such voting group, one or more of whom have been properly proposed by shareholders.

 

  (l) Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (j) of this Article THIRD (and subject to the rights of any class of stock hereafter authorized), and except as may be otherwise provided by law, upon the vote of a majority of all of the Directors of the Corporation and of the holders of record of two-thirds of the total number of shares of the Corporation then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote (or, if the vote of a larger number or different proportion of shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington, notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the vote of the holders of record of the larger number or different proportion of shares so required) the Corporation may from time to time create or authorize one or more other classes of stock with such preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications as may be determined by said vote, which may be the same or different from the preferences, designations, rights, privileges, powers, restrictions, limitations and qualifications of the classes of stock of the Corporation then authorized and/or the Corporation may increase or decrease the number of shares of one or more of the classes of stock then authorized.

 

  (m) All stock of the Corporation without nominal or par value whether authorized herein or upon subsequent increases of capital stock or pursuant to any amendment hereof may be issued, sold and disposed of by the Corporation from time to time for such consideration in labor, services, money or property as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and authority to the Board of Directors so to fix such consideration is hereby granted by the shareholders. The consideration received by the Corporation from the issuance and sale of new or additional shares of capital stock without par value shall be entered in the capital stock account.

 

  (n) No holder of any stock of the Corporation shall be entitled as of right to purchase or subscribe for any part of any stock of the Corporation authorized herein or of any additional stock of any class to be issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or of any bonds, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other securities convertible into stock of the Corporation but any stock authorized herein or any such additional authorized issue of any stock or of securities convertible into stock may be issued and disposed of by the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations or associations upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors in their discretion may determine without offering any thereof on the same terms or any terms to the shareholders then of record or to any class of shareholders.

FOURTH: The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual.

 

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FIFTH: The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be such number, not to exceed eleven (11), as shall be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors in the Bylaws; provided, however, that if the right to elect a majority of the Board of Directors shall have accrued to the holders of the Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD, then, during such period as such holders shall have such right, the number of Directors may exceed eleven (11). Commencing with the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Directors shall be elected at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term which shall expire at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders; it being understood that the term of each Director elected prior to the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for a term that was to expire after the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders shall expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Directors elected by the holders of the Preferred Stock in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD shall be elected for a term that shall expire not later than the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All Directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.

Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the Board of Directors, and any Director so elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for a term of office continuing until the next election of Directors by the shareholders; provided, however, if the Directors then in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board, the affirmative vote of a majority of all Directors then in office shall be required to fill such vacancy.

No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD and the provisions of the next preceding paragraph of this Article FIFTH, any Director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, only by the holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled generally to vote in the election of Directors (such stock being hereinafter in these Articles of Incorporation called “Voting Stock,” voting together as a single class, at a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose and only if the number of votes cast for the removal of such Director exceeds the number of votes cast against such removal.

Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, the provisions of this Article FIFTH shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be included in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

SIXTH: That the principal place of business of said Corporation shall be Spokane, Spokane County, Washington.

SEVENTH: The corporate powers shall be exercised by the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided by statute or by these Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors shall have power to authorize the payment of compensation to the Directors for services to the Corporation, including fees for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors and other meetings, and to determine the amount of such compensation and fees.

The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, alter, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. To the extent provided under the laws of the state of Washington, any Bylaws adopted by the Directors under the powers conferred hereby may be repealed or changed by the shareholders.

An Executive Committee may be appointed by and from the Board of Directors in such manner and subject to such regulations as may be provided in the Bylaws, which committee shall have and may exercise, when the Board is not in session, all the powers of said Board which may be lawfully delegated subject to such limitations as may be provided in the Bylaws or by resolutions of the Board. The fact that the Executive Committee has acted shall be conclusive evidence that the Board was not in session at the time of such action. Additional committees may be appointed by and from the Board of Directors in such manner and subject to such regulations as may be provided in the Bylaws. Any action required or permitted by these Articles of Incorporation to be taken by the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be taken by a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise required by law.

 

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No Director shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for his or her conduct as a Director of the Corporation; provided, however, that nothing herein shall eliminate or limit any liability which may not be so eliminated or limited under Washington law, as from time to time in effect. No amendment, modification or repeal of this paragraph shall eliminate or limit the protection afforded by this paragraph with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to the effective date thereof.

The Corporation shall, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, as from time to time in effect, indemnify any person made a party to, or otherwise involved in, any proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director of the Corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by him or her in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall pay any reasonable expenses incurred by a Director in connection with any such proceeding in advance of the final determination thereof upon receipt from such Director of such undertakings for repayment as may be required by applicable law and a written affirmation by such director that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification, but without any prior determination, which would otherwise be required by Washington law, that such standard of conduct has been met. The Corporation may enter into agreements with each Director obligating the Corporation to make such indemnification and advances of expenses as are contemplated herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not make any indemnification or advance which is prohibited by applicable law. The rights to indemnity and advancement of expenses granted herein shall continue as to any person who has ceased to be a Director and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

A Director of the Corporation shall not be disqualified by his office from dealing or contracting with this Corporation either as a vendor, purchaser or otherwise, nor shall any transaction or contract of the Corporation be void or voidable by reason of the fact that any Director, or any firm of which any Director is a member, or any corporation of which any Director is a shareholder or Director, is in any way interested in such transaction or contract, provided that such transaction or contract is or shall be authorized, ratified, or approved, either (1) by vote of a majority of a quorum of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee without counting in such majority or quorum any Directors so interested, or a member of a firm so interested, or a shareholder or Director of a corporation so interested; or (2) by the written consent or by vote at a shareholders’ meeting of the holders of record of a majority in number of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote; nor shall any Director be liable to account to the Corporation for any profits realized by and from or through any such transaction or contract of the Corporation authorized, ratified, or approved as aforesaid by reason of the fact that he, or any firm of which he is a member, or any corporation of which he is a shareholder or a Director, was interested in such transaction or contract. Nothing herein contained shall create any liability in the events above described or prevent the authorization, ratification or approval of such transaction or contract in any other manner approved by law.

Shareholders shall have no rights, except as conferred by statute or by the Bylaws, to inspect any book, paper or account of the Corporation.

 

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Any property of the Corporation not essential to the conduct of its corporate business may be sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, by authority of its Board of Directors and the Corporation may sell, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of, all of its property and franchises, or any of its property, franchises, corporate rights, or privileges, essential to the conduct of its corporate business and purposes upon the consent of and for such consideration and upon such terms as may be authorized by a majority of all of the Directors and the holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation having voting power (or, if the consent or vote of a larger number or different proportion of the Directors and/or shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington, notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the consent or vote of the larger number or different proportion of the Directors and/or shares so required) expressed in writing, or by vote at a meeting of holders of the shares of the Corporation having voting power duly held as provided by law, or in the manner provided by the Bylaws of the Corporation, if not inconsistent therewith.

Upon the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation having voting power given at a meeting of the holders of the shares of the Corporation having voting power duly called for that purpose or when authorized by the written consent of the holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation having voting power and upon the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, all of the property, franchises, rights and assets of the Corporation may be sold, conveyed, assigned and transferred as an entirety to a new company to be organized under the laws of the United States, the state of Washington or any other state of the United States, for the purpose of so taking over all the property, franchises, rights and assets of the Corporation, with the same or a different authorized number of shares of stock and with the same preferences, voting powers, restrictions and qualifications thereof as may then attach to the classes of stock of the Corporation then outstanding so far as the same shall be consistent with such laws of the United States or of Washington or of such other state (provided that the whole or any part of such stock or of any class thereof may be stock with or without a nominal or par value), the consideration for such sale and conveyance to be the assumption by such new company of all of the then outstanding liabilities of the Corporation and the issuance and delivery by the new company of shares of stock (any or all thereof either with or without nominal or par value) of such new company of the several classes into which the stock of the Corporation is then divided equal in number to the number of shares of stock of the Corporation of said several classes then outstanding. In the event of such sale, each holder of stock of the Corporation agrees so far as he may be permitted by the laws of Washington forthwith to surrender for cancellation his certificate or certificates for stock of the Corporation and to receive and accept in exchange therefor, as his full and final distributive share of the proceeds of such sale and conveyance and of the assets of the Corporation, a number of shares of the stock of the new company of the class corresponding to the class of the shares surrendered equal in number to the shares of stock of the Corporation so surrendered, and in such event no holder of any of the stock of the Corporation shall have any rights or interests in or against the Corporation, except the right upon surrender of his certificate as aforesaid properly endorsed, to receive from the Corporation certificates for such shares of said new company as herein provided. Such new company may have all or any of the powers of the Corporation and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of such new company may contain all or any of the provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

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Upon the written assent, in person or by proxy, or pursuant to the affirmative vote, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority in number of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote (or, if the assent or vote of a larger number or different proportion of shares is required by the laws of the state of Washington notwithstanding the above agreement of the shareholders of the Corporation to the contrary, then upon the assent or vote of the larger number or different proportion of the shares so required) (1) any or every statute of the state of Washington hereafter enacted, whereby the rights, powers or privileges of the Corporation are or may be increased, diminished, or in any way affected, or whereby the rights, powers or privileges of the shareholders of corporations organized under the law under which the Corporation is organized are increased, diminished or in any way affected or whereby effect is given to the action taken by any part less than all of the shareholders of any such corporation shall, notwithstanding any provision which may at the time be contained in these Articles of Incorporation or any law, apply to the Corporation, and shall be binding not only upon the Corporation but upon every shareholder thereof, to the same extent as if such statute had been in force at the date of the making and filing of these Articles of Incorporation and/or (2) amendments to said Articles authorized at the time of the making of such amendments by the laws of the state of Washington may be made; provided, however, that (a) the provisions of Article THIRD hereof limiting the preemptive rights of shareholders, requiring majority voting in the election of Directors and regarding entry in the capital stock account of consideration received upon the sale of shares of capital stock without nominal or par value and all of the provisions of Article FIFTH hereof shall not be altered, amended, repealed, waived or changed in any way, unless the holders of record of at least two-thirds of the number of shares entitled to vote then outstanding shall consent thereto in writing or affirmatively vote therefor in person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders at which such change is duly considered.

Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the President, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Board of Directors, any Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, and shall be called by the President at the request of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. Only those matters that are specified in the call of or request for a special meeting may be considered or voted upon at such meeting.

Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, the paragraph in this Article SEVENTH relating to the adoption, alteration, amendment, change and repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation, the paragraph in this Article SEVENTH relating to the calling and conduct of special meetings of the shareholders and this paragraph, and the provisions of the Bylaws of the Corporation relating to procedures for the nomination of Directors, shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be included in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

EIGHTH:

 

  (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or these Articles of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in subdivision (b) of this Article EIGHTH:

 

  (1) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (a) any Interested Shareholder (as hereinafter defined) or (b) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Shareholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Shareholder; or

 

  (2) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more; or

 

  (3) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more; or

 

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  (4) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder; or

 

  (5) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Shareholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Shareholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Shareholder;

shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required or that the vote of a lower percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise. The term “Business Combination” as used in this Article EIGHTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subdivision (a).

 

  (b) The provisions of subdivision (a) of this Article EIGHTH shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote, if any, as is required by law and any other provision of these Articles of Incorporation, if all of the conditions specified in either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) below are met:

 

  (1) The Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined); or

 

  (2) All of the following conditions shall have been met:

 

  (A) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of Common Stock in such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the highest of the following:

 

  (i) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it (x) within the two-year period immediately prior to the date of the first public announcement of the proposal of the Business Combination (the “Announcement Date”) or (y) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever is higher;

 

  (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Announcement Date or on the date on which the Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder (the “Determination Date”), whichever is higher; and

 

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  (iii) (if applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock determined pursuant to clause (A)(ii) above, multiplied by the ratio of (x) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of Common Stock acquired by it within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date to (y) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the first day in such two-year period upon which the Interested Shareholder acquired any shares of Common Stock.

 

  (B) The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of shares of each class of outstanding Voting Stock (other than Common Stock and Institutional Voting Stock [as hereinafter defined]) shall be at least equal to the highest of the following (it being intended that the requirements of this subparagraph (B) shall be required to be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting Stock (other than Institutional Voting Stock), whether or not the Interested Shareholder has previously acquired any shares of a particular class of Voting Stock):

 

  (i) (if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it (x) within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (y) in the transaction in which it became an Interested Shareholder, whichever is higher;

 

  (ii) (if applicable) the highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting Stock are entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation;

 

  (iii) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher; and

 

  (iv) (if applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock determined pursuant to clause (B)(iii) above, multiplied by the ratio of (x) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Shareholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date to (y) the Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the first day in such two-year period upon which the Interested Shareholder acquired any shares of such class of Voting Stock.

 

  (C) The consideration to be received by holders of a particular class of outstanding Voting Stock (including Common Stock) shall be in cash or in the same form as the Interested Shareholder has previously paid for shares of such class of Voting Stock. If the Interested Shareholder has paid for shares of any class of Voting Stock with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration for such class of Voting Stock shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class of Voting Stock previously acquired by it.

 

  (D) After such Interested Shareholder has become an Interested Shareholder and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination:

 

16


  (i) except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, there shall have been no failure to declare and pay at the regular date therefor full dividends (whether or not cumulative) on the outstanding shares of stock of all classes ranking prior as to dividends to the Common Stock;

 

  (ii) there shall have been (x) no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the Common Stock (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the Common Stock), except as approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors, and (y) an increase in such annual rate of dividends as necessary to reflect any reclassification (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, unless the failure to so increase such annual rate is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors; and

 

  (iii) such Interested Shareholder shall not have become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Voting Stock except as part of the transaction which results in such Interested Shareholder becoming an Interested Shareholder.

 

  (E) After such Interested Shareholder has become an Interested Shareholder, such Interested Shareholder shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise.

 

  (F) A proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules or regulations) shall be mailed to shareholders of the Corporation at least 30 days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions).

 

  (c) For the purposes of this Article EIGHTH:

The terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on January 1, 1987.

A person shall be deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of any Voting Stock:

 

  (i) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or;

 

  (ii) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (a) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (b) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or

 

17


  (iii) which is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.

For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Shareholder the number of shares of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include all shares of which such person is the beneficial owner in accordance with the foregoing definition but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

The term “Continuing Director” means any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who is unaffiliated with the Interested Shareholder and was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder, and any successor of a Continuing Director who is unaffiliated with the Interested Shareholder and is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing Directors then on the Board of Directors.

The term “Fair Market Value” means (i) in the case of stock, the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of a share of such stock on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by the Continuing Directors in good faith; and (ii) in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors in good faith.

The term “Interested Shareholder” shall mean any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which:

 

  (i) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock; or

 

  (ii) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock; or

 

  (iii) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any Interested Shareholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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The term “Institutional Voting Stock” shall mean any class of Voting Stock which was issued to and continues to be held solely by one or more insurance companies, pension funds, commercial banks, savings banks or similar financial institutions or institutional investors.

The term “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity.

The term “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Shareholder set forth above, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

The term “Voting Stock” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Article FIFTH.

In the event of any Business Combination in which the Corporation survives, the phrase “consideration other than cash to be received” as used in paragraphs 2(A) and 2(B) of subdivision (b) of this Article EIGHTH shall include the shares of Common Stock and/or the shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock retained by the holders of such shares.

 

  (d) The Directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article EIGHTH, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry, (A) whether a person is an Interested Shareholder, (B) the number of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person, (C) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another person, (D) whether a class of Voting Stock is Institutional Voting Stock, and (E) whether the assets which are the subject of any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of $10,000,000 or more.

Nothing contained in this Article EIGHTH shall be construed to relieve any Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

Notwithstanding anything contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, the provisions of this Article EIGHTH shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be included in these Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all of the shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands and seals under these presents, this 16th day of May 2011.

 

    /s/ Scott L. Morris

Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:

    /s/ Karen S. Feltes

Karen S. Feltes, Sr. Vice President and Corporate Secretary

(SEAL)

Certificate

 

STATE OF WASHINGTON

     

County of Spokane

     ss.      

Scott L. Morris and Karen S. Feltes, being first duly sworn on oath, depose and say:

 

(a)

That they have been authorized to execute the within Restated Articles of Incorporation by resolution of the Board of Directors adopted on the 13th day of May 2011; and

 

(b)

That Article FIFTH and Subdivision (k)(1)(B) of Article THIRD of these Restated Articles of Incorporation correctly sets forth the text of the amendments as approved by the shareholders on the 12th of May 2011 in accordance with the provisions of RCW 23B.10.030 and 23B.10.040; and

 

(c)

That these Restated Articles of Incorporation correctly set forth the text of the Articles as amended to reflect the amendments approved by the shareholders referred to under (b) above and approved by the Board of Directors on the 13th day of May, 2011 and, except as indicated under (b) above, no shareholder action was required; and

 

(d) That these Restated Articles of Incorporation supersede the original Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto and restatements thereof.

 

    /s/ Scott L. Morris

Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive  Officer

    /s/ Karen S. Feltes

Karen S. Feltes, Sr. Vice President and Corporate Secretary

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 16th day of May 2011.

 

(SEAL)

   Notary Public in and for the state of Washington, residing in the County of Spokane. My commission expires 1-29-2014.
   /s/ Rae An Cornell    Rae An Cornell
   Signature    Printed Name
     

 

20

Bylaws of Avista Corporation, as amended

 

Exhibit 3(ii) 

 

 

BYLAWS

OF

AVISTA CORPORATION

As Amended May 13, 2011

 

 

 


BYLAWS

OF

AVISTA CORPORATION

* * * * *

ARTICLE I.

Offices

The principal office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Spokane, Washington. The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Washington, as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time.

ARTICLE II.

Shareholders

Section 1. Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of Shareholders shall be held on such date in the month of May in each year as determined by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the day fixed for the Annual Meeting shall be a legal holiday, such meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the President, the Chairman of the Board, the majority of the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee of the Board, and shall be called by the President at the request of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of all shares of the voting stock voting together as a single class. Only those matters that are specified in the call of or request for a special meeting may be considered or voted at such meeting.

Section 3. Place of Meeting. Meetings of the shareholders, whether they be annual or special, shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation, unless a place, either within or without the state, is otherwise designated by the Board of Directors in the notice provided to shareholders of such meetings.

Section 4. Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice of every meeting of shareholders shall be mailed by the Corporate Secretary or any Assistant Corporate Secretary, not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting, to each holder of record of stock entitled to vote at the meeting. The notice shall be mailed to each shareholder at his last known post office address, provided, however, that if a shareholder is present at a meeting, or waives notice thereof in writing before or after the meeting, the notice of the meeting to such shareholders shall be unnecessary.

Section 5. Voting of Shares. At every meeting of shareholders each holder of stock entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to one vote for each share of such stock held in his name on the books of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of applicable law, and may vote and otherwise act in person or by proxy.


Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the number of outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy at any meeting, shall constitute a quorum, but less than a quorum shall have power to adjourn any meeting from time to time without notice. No change shall be made in this Section 6 without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote.

Section 7. Closing of Transfer Books or Fixing of Record Date. For the purposes of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, fifty (50) days. If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than seventy (70) days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

Section 8. Voting Record. The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the Corporation shall make, at least ten (10) days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete record of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each, which record, for a period of ten (10) days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office of the Corporation. Such record shall be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting for the purposes thereof.

Section 9. Conduct of Proceedings. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside and in the absence of both, the Executive Vice President shall preside. The members of the Board of Directors present at the meeting may appoint any officer of the Corporation or member of the Board to act as Chairman of any meeting in the absence of the Chairman, the President, or Executive Vice President. The Corporate Secretary of the Corporation, or in his absence, an Assistant Corporate Secretary, shall act as Secretary at all meetings of the shareholders. In the absence of the Corporate Secretary or Assistant Corporate Secretary at any meeting of the shareholders, the presiding officer may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.

Section 10. Proxies. At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote in person or by proxy. A shareholder or the shareholder’s duly authorized agent or attorney-in-fact may appoint a proxy by (i) executing a proxy in writing or (ii) transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic proxy in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy shall be filed with the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation before or at the time of the meeting.

 

2


Section 11. Advance Notice of Business to be Presented at Annual Meeting. (a) Shareholders may propose business to be brought before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders only if (i) such business is a proper matter for shareholder action under the Washington Business Corporation Act and (ii) the shareholder has given timely notice in proper written form of such shareholder’s intent to propose such business; (b) to be timely, a shareholder’s notice relating to the Annual Meeting shall be delivered to the Corporate Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 or more than 180 days prior to the first anniversary (the “Anniversary”) of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. However, if the date of the Annual Meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the Anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting, then notice by the shareholder to be timely must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to such Annual Meeting or (ii) the 15th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall an adjournment of an Annual Meeting, or any announcement or notice of such an adjournment, commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as set forth above; (c) to be in proper form a shareholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary shall be in writing and shall set forth (i) the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the proposal and the classes and numbers of shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned of record by such shareholder, (ii) a representation that the shareholder intends to vote such stock at such meeting, (iii) a description of the business the shareholder intends to bring before the meeting, including such information as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), had the matter been proposed, or intended to be proposed, by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, (iv) the name and address of any beneficial owner(s) of the Corporation’s stock on whose behalf such business is to be presented and the class and number of shares beneficially owned by each such beneficial owner (beneficial ownership to be determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and (v) any material interest in such business of such shareholder or any such beneficial owner; (d) only such business as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 shall be conducted at an Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether any business proposed to be brought before a meeting was proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11, and, if any business is not in compliance with this Section, to declare that such defective proposal shall be disregarded. The determination of the Chairman shall be conclusive; (e) notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to expand or diminish any rights of a shareholder under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule to request inclusion of a proposal in the Corporation’s proxy statement or to present for action at an Annual Meeting any proposal so included; and (f) only such business as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders.

 

3


ARTICLE III.

Board of Directors

Section 1. General Powers. The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Washington and the Articles of Incorporation.

Section 2. Number, Tenure and Eligibility. The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be as fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors, but shall not be more than eleven (11); provided, however, that if the right to elect a majority of the Board of Directors shall have accrued to the holders of the Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD of the Articles of Incorporation, then, during such period as such holders shall have such right, the number of directors may exceed eleven (11). At each Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all directors shall stand for election each year for a term of office to expire at the next succeeding Annual Meeting of Shareholders after their election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors elected by the holders of the Preferred Stock in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD of the Articles of Incorporation shall be elected for a term, which shall expire not later than the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of their term of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. No person may be elected or re-elected as a director if at the time of their election or re-election, such person shall have attained the age of seventy (70) years. Any director who attains such age while in office shall retire from the Board of Directors effective at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in the year in which their then current term expires, and any such director shall not be nominated or re-elected as a director.

Section 3. Regular Meetings. The regular Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the shareholders or as soon as practicable after said Annual Meeting of Shareholders. But, in any event, said regular Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors must be held on either the same day as the Annual Meeting of Shareholders or the next business day following said Annual Meeting of Shareholders. At such meeting the Board of Directors, including directors newly elected, shall organize itself for the coming year, shall elect officers of the Corporation for the ensuing year, and shall transact all such further business as may be necessary or appropriate. The Board shall hold regular quarterly meetings, without call or notice, on such dates as determined by the Board of Directors. At such quarterly meetings the Board of Directors shall transact all business properly brought before the Board.

Section 4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice President, the Lead Director or any three (3) directors. Notice of any special meeting shall be given to each director at least two (2) days in advance of the meeting.

 

4


Section 5. Emergency Meetings. In the event of a catastrophe or a disaster causing the injury or death to members of the Board of Directors and the principal officers of the Corporation, any director or officer may call an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors. Notice of the time and place of the emergency meeting shall be given not less than two (2) days prior to the meeting and may be given by any available means of communication. The director or directors present at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of filling vacancies determined to exist. The directors present at the emergency meeting may appoint such officers as necessary to fill any vacancies determined to exist. All appointments under this section shall be temporary until a special meeting of the shareholders and directors is held as provided in these Bylaws.

Section 6. Conference by Telephone. The members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee created by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or of the committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board.

Section 8. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the directors of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the directors or of a committee, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors, or all of the members of the committee, as the case may be. Such consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote.

Section 9. Vacancies. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD of the Articles of Incorporation, (a) any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors and any director so elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office and (b) any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled by the Board of Directors for a term of office continuing only until the next election of directors by the shareholders.

Section 10. Resignation of Director. Any director or member of any committee may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein. If no time is specified, it shall take effect from the time of its receipt by the Corporate Secretary, who shall record such resignation, noting the day, hour and minute of its reception. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 11. Removal. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD of the Articles of Incorporation, any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled generally to vote in the election of directors voting together as a single class, at a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

5


Section 12. Order of Business. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the directors. In the absence of the Chairman, the officer or member of the Board designated by the Board of Directors shall preside. At meetings of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order as the Board may determine. Minutes of all proceedings of the Board of Directors, or committees appointed by it, shall be prepared and maintained by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary and the original shall be maintained in the principal office of the Corporation.

Section 13. Nomination of Directors. Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j) of Article THIRD of the Articles of Incorporation, nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of Directors, or a nominating committee appointed by the Board of Directors, or by any holder of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled generally to vote in the election of directors (such stock being hereinafter in this Section called “Voting Stock”). However, any holder of shares of the Voting Stock may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at a meeting only if written notice of such shareholder’s intent to make such nomination or nominations has been given, either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Corporate Secretary not later than (i) with respect to an election to be held at an Annual Meeting of Shareholders, ninety (90) days in advance of such meeting and (ii) with respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of shareholders for the election of directors, the close of business on the seventh day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to shareholders. Each such notice shall set forth: (a) the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; (b) a representation that such shareholder is a holder of record of shares of the Voting Stock of the Corporation and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons identified in the notice; (c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by such shareholder; (d) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent revisions replacing such Act, rules or regulations) if the nominee(s) had been nominated, or were intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors; and (e) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of the Corporation if so elected. The Chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure.

Section 14. Presumption of Assent. A director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or of a committee thereof, at which action on any corporate matter is taken, shall be presumed to have assented to the action unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as the Secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.

 

6


ARTICLE IV.

Executive Committee

and

Additional Committees

Section 1. Appointment. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, may designate three or more of its members to constitute an Executive Committee. The designation of such committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed by law.

Section 2. Authority. The Executive Committee, when the Board of Directors is not in session, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors including authority to authorize distributions or the issuance of shares of stock, except to the extent, if any, that such authority shall be limited by the resolution appointing the Executive Committee or by law.

Section 3. Tenure. Each member of the Executive Committee shall hold office until the next regular Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors following his designation and until his successor is designated as a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee may be held without notice at such times and places as the Executive Committee may fix from time to time by resolution. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by any member thereof upon not less than two (2) days notice stating the place, date and hour of the meeting, which notice may be written or oral. Any member of the Executive Committee may waive notice of any meeting and no notice of any meeting need be given to any member thereof who attends in person.

Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting thereof. Actions by the Executive Committee must be authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the appointed members of the Executive Committee.

Section 6. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Executive Committee at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the members of the Executive Committee.

Section 7. Procedure. The Executive Committee shall select a presiding officer from its members and may fix its own rules of procedure, which shall not be inconsistent with these Bylaws. It shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors for its information at a meeting thereof held next after the proceedings shall have been taken.

Section 8. Committees Additional to Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, designate one or more other committees, each such committee to consist of two (2) or more of the directors of the Corporation. A majority of the members of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide.

 

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ARTICLE V.

Officers

Section 1. Number. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also appoint a Chief Executive Officer and a President, one of whom may also serve as Chairman, one or more Vice Presidents, a Corporate Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such other officers as the Board deems appropriate. The same person may be appointed to more than one office. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to appoint such assistant officers as might be deemed appropriate.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.

Section 5. Powers and Duties. The officers shall have such powers and duties as usually pertain to their offices, except as modified by the Board of Directors, and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be conferred upon them by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI.

Contracts, Checks and Deposits

Section 1. Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers or agents, to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 2. Checks/Drafts/Notes. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors by resolution may select.

 

8


ARTICLE VII.

Certificates for Shares and Their Transfer

Section 1. Certificates for Shares. Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall contain such information as prescribed by law. Such certificates shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and by either the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary, and sealed with the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of such officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles. The name and address of the person to whom the shares represented thereby are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled, except that in case of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate a new one may be issued therefor upon such terms and indemnity to the Corporation as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

Section 2. Transfer of Shares. Transfer of shares of the Corporation shall be made only on the stock transfer books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by his legal representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of authority to transfer, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation, and on surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such shares. The person in whose name shares stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed by the Corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes. The Board of Directors shall have power to appoint one or more transfer agents and registrars for transfer and registration of certificates of stock.

ARTICLE VIII.

Corporate Seal

The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

ARTICLE IX.

Indemnification

Section 1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Corporation shall indemnify and reimburse the expenses of any person who is or was a director, officer, agent or employee of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another enterprise or employee benefit plan to the extent permitted by and in accordance with Article SEVENTH of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and as permitted by law.

 

9


Section 2. Liability Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the laws of the State of Washington.

Section 3. Ratification of Acts of Director, Officer or Shareholder. Any transaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative suit on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of director, officer or shareholder, nondisclosure, miscomputation, or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting may be ratified before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders in case less than a quorum of directors are qualified; and, if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized, and said ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.

ARTICLE X.

Amendments

Except as to Section 6 of Article II of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may alter or amend these Bylaws at any meeting duly held, the notice of which includes notice of the proposed amendment. Bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors shall be subject to change or repeal by the shareholders; provided, however, that Section 2 of Article III, (other than the provision thereof specifying the number of Directors of the Corporation), and Sections 9, 11 and 13 of Article III and this proviso shall not be altered, amended or repealed, and no provision inconsistent therewith or herewith shall be included in these Bylaws, without the affirmative votes of the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all the shares of the Voting Stock voting together as a single class.

The undersigned hereby certifies that these Bylaws of Avista Corporation were adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on May 13, 2011.

 

/s/ Karen S. Feltes

Corporate Secretary

 

10

Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

Exhibit 12

AVISTA CORPORATION

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Consolidated

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

     Six months
ended
June 30, 2011
    Years Ended December 31  
       2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  

Fixed charges, as defined:

            

Interest charges

   $ 34,799      $ 72,010      $ 61,361      $ 74,914      $ 80,095      $ 88,426   

Amortization of debt expense and premium – net

     2,217        4,414        5,673        4,673        6,345        7,741   

Interest portion of rentals

     923        2,027        1,874        1,601        1,612        1,802   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

   $ 37,939      $ 78,451      $ 68,908      $ 81,188      $ 88,052      $ 97,969   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings, as defined:

            

Pre-tax income from continuing operations

   $ 103,151      $ 146,105      $ 134,971      $ 120,382      $ 63,061      $ 114,927   

Add (deduct):

            

Capitalized interest

     (1,252     (298     (545     (4,612     (3,864     (2,934

Total fixed charges above

     37,939        78,451        68,908        81,188        88,052        97,969   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total earnings

   $ 139,838      $ 224,258      $ 203,334      $ 196,958      $ 147,249      $ 209,962   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     3.69        2.86        2.95        2.43        1.67        2.14   
Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information

Exhibit 15

August 5, 2011

Avista Corporation

Spokane, Washington

We have reviewed, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the unaudited interim financial information of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries for the periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, as indicated in our report dated August 5, 2011; because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that information.

We are aware that our report referred to above, which is included in your Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, is incorporated by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 2-81697, 2-94816, 033-54791, 333-03601, 333-22373, 333-58197, 333-33790, 333-47290, and 333-126577 on Form S-8; and in Registration Statement Nos. 033-53655, 333-63243, 333-64652, 333-155657, and 333-163609 on Form S-3.

We are also aware that the aforementioned report, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, is not considered a part of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Seattle, Washington

Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Scott L. Morris, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Avista Corporation;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 5, 2011

 

/s/ Scott L. Morris

  Scott L. Morris
  Chairman of the Board, President
 

and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Mark T. Thies, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Avista Corporation;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 5, 2011  

/s/ Mark T. Thies

  Mark T. Thies
  Senior Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)
Section 906 Certification of Corporate Officers

Exhibit 32

AVISTA CORPORATION

 

 

CERTIFICATION OF CORPORATE OFFICERS

(Furnished Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

 

 

Each of the undersigned, Scott L. Morris, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avista Corporation (the “Company”), and Mark T. Thies, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained therein fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: August 5, 2011

 

/s/ Scott L. Morris

Scott L. Morris

Chairman of the Board, President

and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Mark T. Thies

Mark T. Thies
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer