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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 RXD77uQcst30nz58YZahkw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000104918-06-000024.txt : 20060313
<SEC-HEADER>0000104918-06-000024.hdr.sgml : 20060313
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060313160039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000104918-06-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060313
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060313

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVISTA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000104918
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				910462470
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1411 E MISSION AVE
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5094890500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1411 EAST MISSION
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WASHINGTON WATER POWER CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FELTES KAREN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174954

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03701
		FILM NUMBER:		06682187

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		509 495 4548

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1411 E MISSION AVE
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104918</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVISTA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174954</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FELTES KAREN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1411 E MISSION AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr Vice President &amp; Corp. Sec.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock 401(k) Investment Plan</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>948</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2248</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Individual exchanged 401(k) funds out of Avista Corp. Stock Fund into the Vanguard Retirement Savings Fund.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Karen S. Feltes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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