Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

SPOKANE – Avista customers in Eastern Washington will be able to tell state regulators on Tuesday Oct. 2 what they think about the company’s proposal to increase electric and natural-gas rates. The Attorney General’s Public Counsel Section, which represents the public in utility rate cases, encourages customers to attend and express their views. Public Counsel will also attend the hearing.
TACOMA – Qwest customers are invited to voice their opinions on a proposal for an alternate form of regulation that would allow the company to increase residential phone service rates without review by the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission. The proposal would also give Qwest broad pricing flexibility on bundles of services. The UTC will hold a public hearing March 6 in Tacoma to gather comments on Qwest’s request. Customers who are unable to attend are encouraged to submit comments in writing to the UTC.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Attorney General’s Public Counsel Section filed testimony today with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) questioning key parts of a proposal by Qwest that would allow the company to increase residential telephone service prices without review by the WUTC. Customers can share their thoughts about the proposal during a hearing March 6 in Tacoma.
OLYMPIA – The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) this week dismissed a request by Avista Utilities to increase revenues by $28.9 million by raising electric rates for its Eastern Washington customers. The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office objected to the request, which would have raised rates for residential customers by 9.7 percent. Rates for business customers also would have increased.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Attorney General’s Public Counsel Section filed expert testimony on Tuesday with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) opposing key parts of a proposed rate increase by Cascade Natural Gas Company. Public hearings on the proposed rate increase are scheduled for Aug. 29 in Yakima and Sept. 7 in Bellingham.
SEATTLE – Yakima and Walla Walla residents will not feel the burden of a proposed rate hike by Pacific Power. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) this week denied the company’s request for a nearly 18 percent rate increase, agreeing with arguments made by the Washington State Attorney General’s Public Counsel Section and other opposing parties.
OLYMPIA – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today filed testimony with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission objecting to a proposed rate increase by PacifiCorp.
SEATTLE – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office today filed expert testimony with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission that gives consent to a proposed merger of Verizon Communications and MCI – but only if conditions are placed on the companies to help ensure consumers are not adversely affected.
SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Section of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office today recommended the state Utilities and Transportation Commission reject a request by Avista to increase revenues by nearly $23 million by raising energy rates for its Eastern Washington customers.
SEATTLE - A $1.52 billion multi-state settlement with Enron became official today when attorneys on both sides signed the agreement. Attorney General Rob McKenna first announced the settlement last month. It resolves some of the claims of market manipulation and price gouging stemming from the energy shortage of 2000-2001.

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