Avista, along with the state’s two other gas utilities — NW Natural and Cascade Natural — has hired lawyers from San Francisco-based Baker Botts and Reno-based Snell & Wilmer to sue the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
Oregon’s second largest natural gas provider spent ratepayer funds fighting while simultaneously attempting to raise rates for customers. During the last five years, Avista paid lawyers more than $51,000 to fight Oregon’s Climate Protection Program, according to obtained by three critical of the decision. The nonprofits Earthjustice, Sierra Club and Climate Solutions on Friday submitted the records, which showed the money came from an account funded by Avista’s 105,000 ratepayers, to the Oregon Public Utilities Commission. The commission is considering whether to allow the utility to raise residential rates 8% by year’s end.
