If they would spend half of their profits burying the power lines that have gone down over the past 5 years, eventually all the lines would be safe from above.

I am sure we will hear about how much that costs compared to wire on a pole and how last year someone dug up a power line.

I suspect they have an agreement in their union contracts that prohibit them from this fix.

Avista Corp.’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, earned $2.2 million in total compensation last year, the utility reported Tuesday. Morris was promoted to Avista’s top executive on .

Morris was previously president and chief operating officer of Avista Utilities, the firm’s state-regulated utility business. He earned $1.1 million in that position in 2007.

They doubled his salarie and increased our rates 4xs…Causing sufferage!

Why Is this allowed to continue? What can we do to stop this Avista ripoff?

They give away millions and charge us more… always stating that they need more
equipment…What they need is a REAL investigation by the State and Feds!
What they need is the people of Spokane and their representatives
to STOP THEM!

If you look at Avista’s income statements for fiscal yrs 06′, 07′, & 08′ you’ll see the following (I hope my chart appears correctly but not being able to preview it makes it a gamble):

(Numbers in 1,000’s)—————06′——————–07′——————-08′
Total Revenue——————1,506,311————1,417,757———-1,676,763
Cost of Revenue——————895,783————–849,674———-1,327,163
Gross Profit————————610,528————–568,083————349,600

Net Income————————–73,133—————38,475————–73,620

Quite honestly, you need to go deeper into the earnings report to discover exactly what causes all the variances that often occur but these numbers show you the gyrations that can take place in the business cycle. For example, their “gross profit” went down from 06′ to 07′ and again, even more dramatically, from 07′ to 08′ (due primarily to a lg increase in the cost of revenue line as a percentage of total revenue).

However, Just like with your paychecks, the gross number isn’t as important as the “net” figure that accounts for various things taken from your pay (like taxes, union dues, insurance, etc). In business, “net” also accounts for things like interest, depreciation & amortization.

Avista’s “net income” shows a substantial drop of 47% from 06′ to 07′ (typically caused by an extraordinary event). That dramatic drop made the 07′ to 08′ comparison “appear” as though there was a huge jump of 91% in net income. However, if you compare it from 06′ to 08′ you see a much smaller change in net income of 0.67% (less than 1%).

This post was purely irt the earnings aspect of this thread. As I said in other blogs: I believe most of the unusually high bills this past winter were mistakes due to a combination of estimated readings, longer billing periods, and/or possible software errors. I’d have to see the bills to make a better determination though. Avista’s rate charges (per kWh) are higher than other pwr companies around Spokane. I don’t know for sure how they compare to other areas around the country that use “hydraulic pwr” but I do know that coal and nuke pwr rates will always be higher than hydraulic pwr so you can’t compare 2 areas with different pwr sources…

If you look at Avista’s income statements for fiscal yrs 06′, 07′, & 08′ you’ll see the following (I hope my chart appears correctly but not being able to preview it makes it a gamble):

(Numbers in 1,000’s) 06′ 07′ 08′
Total Revenue 1,506,311 1,417,757 1,676,763
Cost of Revenue 895,783 849,674 1,327,163
Gross Profit 610,528 568,083 349,600

Net Income 73,133 38,475 73,620

Quite honestly, you need to go deeper into the earnings report to discover exactly what causes all the variances that often occur but these numbers show you the gyrations that can take place in the business cycle. For example, their “gross profit” went down from 06′ to 07′ and again, even more dramatically, from 07′ to 08′ (due primarily to a lg increase in the cost of revenue line as a percentage of total revenue).

Just like with your paychecks, the gross number isn’t as important as the “net” figure that accounts for various things taken from your pay (like taxes, union dues, insurance, etc). In business, “net” also accounts for things like interest, depreciation & amortization.

Avista’s “net income” shows a substantial drop of 47% from 06′ to 07′ (typically caused by an extraordinary event). That dramatic drop made the 07′ to 08′ comparison “appear” as though there was a huge jump of 91% in net income. However, if you compare it from 06′ to 08′ you see a much smaller change in net income of 0.67% (less than 1%).

This post was purely irt the earnings aspect of this thread. As I said in other blogs: I believe most of the unusually high bills this past winter were mistakes due to a combination of estimated readings, longer billing periods, and/or possible software errors. I’d have to see the bills to make a better determination though. Avista’s rate charges (per kWh) are higher than other pwr companies around Spokane. I don’t know for sure how they compare to other areas around the country that use “hydraulic pwr.” I do know that coal and nuke pwr rates will always be higher than hydraulic pwr so you can’t compare 2 areas with different pwr sources…

It is time to write, call and protest to the WA Utilities Commission to stop their rubber stamp approvals for Avista’s constant increases. Also, contact the WA Attorney Generals office who is currently investigating Avista. Who in this city has had 22 pay increases since 2001? What business in this city has a 72% profit so far this year? What has $421 million plus dollars in increases since 2001 done for us except make us freeze in our homes and make choices no one should have to make! Look closely at your January and February bills and note how they changed the method of billing due to increases. Normally, it is billed for the first 600 KWH hours at the lowest rate, then 601 to1300 KWH hours at the next rate., etc. These two months due to yet more increases allow them to discriminately change the hours. By breaking the hours down into much smaller KWH usage allowed them to charge many more hours at higher rates. Six rates used on each of these months bills.

As for the Avista spokeswoman I assume your compensation level is extremely high
as you are the token female guinea pig in place for this unethical company!
If you are an investor in this greedy destructive company SHAME ON YOU …
May judgement day find you warm and toasty directly south of heaven!