Avista Customer Can Weigh In on Bill Increase

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Energy, General Interest

Girl with megaphone holding a sign that says

We’re at a turning point in Oregon’s gas industry. This year, Avista is asking to increase billing rates by 7% for its gas customers in Southern and Eastern Oregon. The biggest cost Avista is looking at adding to customers’ bills is a massive pipe replacement project. But replacing this pipe is not the only option.

Instead of going home by home and business by business replacing old pipes, CUB is exploring solutions that would not require a pipe at all. Since this replacement is extremely expensive, it may be cheaper to switch customers to all-electric. We’re asking regulators to consider having Avista pay for people to leave the gas system to save everyone money.

Avista customers and community advocates will have a chance to weigh in on this rate case at a virtual public hearing on February 11. Regulators will make a final decision in October. New billing rates will go into effect this fall.

What Customers Could Expect in 2024 Bills

If approved, customers could see bills increase starting November 1, 2025. Single-family homes would see an increase of $4.27 on average each month (7%) for an average monthly bill of $69. Multi-family homes would see an increase of $3.16 on average each month (5%) for an average monthly bill of $66.

The dollar amount increase would be higher during the winter heating season. For the coldest month, an average single-family household could see a $130 bill in December 2025. An average multifamily household could see a $126 bill in December 2025.

How to Take Action

Share Your Gas to Electric Story: We need to show that moving away from gas is possible—and popular—with Avista’s customers. Share your story with CUB about either your successful switch to electric or why you would say yes to Avista paying you to switch to electric.

Submit Written Comments: Send in your comments in support of CUB’s proposal for Avista to pay for you to leave the gas system. Regulators need to hear from the public to show that there is enough support from customers for this plan to be successful.

Speak at the Virtual Public Hearing: On February 11, you are invited to join a virtual public hearing hosted by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. We can help you plan your testimony!

Public Hearing

February 11 - Public Hearing, 6 pm PT - via Zoom

Zoom information and call-in options for the public hearing are available here. Spanish interpretation is available free of charge. Any additional accommodations must be requested by the Public Utility Commission 48 hours in advance (see link for instructions on requesting accommodations).

Customers and advocates representing organizations are welcome to share comments at this hearing. (Any organization that has filed as an intervenor in this case should not provide comments from their staff at this hearing.)

What to Expect at the Public Hearing

This public hearing is hosted by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC). The event will begin with PUC staff presentations explaining the rate case process. Anyone interested in making comments will be allowed to speak after these presentations. The comment period will be open until at least 7:00 pm. That period will be extended if more time is needed for everyone interested in commenting. For more information on what to expect at this public hearing, see CUB’s full explainer.

Those interested in speaking can use the English Testimony Guide or Spanish Testimony Guide to plan out comments.

Can’t make it to the hearing?

You can also use this form or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to submit comments directly. Make sure to include “Comments on UG 519” in the subject!

Phone comments are accepted at 503-378-6600. Submit comments by February 18th for the biggest impact.

What is Avista Requesting?

Single-family homes would see an increase of $4.27 on average each month (7%) for an average monthly bill of $69. Multi-family homes would see a smaller increase of $3.16 on average each month (5%) for an average monthly bill of $66.

Avista’s request to increase customers’ billing rates comes from three main categories in 2025:

Investments: replacing old pipes, new customer connections, general system maintenance
Higher Profits: increasing how much the company can earn for investors
Inflation: higher material and labor costs

Making Avista Pay Customers to Leave the Gas System

It no longer makes financial sense to continue to expand the gas system and Oregon gas utilities should be trimming where possible. With emissions reduction requirements, new gas customers and new pipes pose a financial risk to all of Avista’s customers.

Trimming the system now avoids costs that will be with customers until the 2070s. When a utility invests in big projects, like the pipe replacement project, these costs are spread out over 30-60 years. If we can avoid a cost now, it will have impacts that last generations.

If we keep upgrading the gas system, gas bills will keep getting more expensive. As we move closer to emissions deadlines for emissions reductions, the cost of the gas transition is only going to increase. We can reduce emissions now by moving willing homes to all-electric.

Prioritizing a just transition today with electrification. Many people may leave the gas system by choice in favor of cleaner and cheaper electricity. We need to make sure that those who do not have the choice to leave gas—renters and those with limited financial resources—are not left footing the bill for unwise investments made today.

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