Avista Utilities has submitted three separate rate adjustment applications to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission that would reduce monthly natural gas bills for residential customers in North Idaho.
The filings cover a Fixed Cost Adjustment, a Purchased Gas Adjustment, and an energy efficiency rider. If approved, a typical residential customer using 66 therms of natural gas per month would see their monthly bill drop from $59.28 to $58.38, a reduction of roughly 1.5%.
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is currently accepting public comments on the applications.
While the decrease is modest, it runs counter to the general trend of rising utility costs and offers some relief to North Idaho households managing household energy expenses. Natural gas remains a primary heating source for many residents across Kootenai, Bonner, and surrounding counties.
Readers interested in other energy developments in the region can follow coverage of Idaho Power’s recent divestiture of its Oregon service territory for broader context on utility market activity in the Pacific Northwest.