SPOKANE VALLEY – Avista ratepayers will face higher bills beginning July 1 if a proposed rate hike is approved by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Avista has requested price adjustments, including electricity rate hikes that will increase its revenues by 6%.

The request to increase the rate to comply with state regulations that require Avista to either obtain an authorized increase or return or rebate money to ratepayers if the utility has a deferral balance of $30 million or more.

The rate increase would life the utility’s cap to approximately $34.6 million.

Last year...