-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MRrJKGzcGsTxogAWL+xuLZSpdUGRjv/XhbPKrALmft01ukn99SCoUYKcQwvP42hX
 sos73a+lRWDonp3ETU/crA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000104918-10-000064.txt : 20100902
<SEC-HEADER>0000104918-10-000064.hdr.sgml : 20100902
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100902140758
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000104918-10-000064
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100902
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100902
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100902

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOEL MICHAEL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001271724

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03701
		FILM NUMBER:		101054526

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001271724</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NOEL MICHAEL L</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>312</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.35</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16852</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Corporation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock held by adopted son, Shane Karoub</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>660</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Child</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued under the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) as an award of stock for directors compensation.  The price per share (per the LTIP) is the closing price on September 1, 2010</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares issued as part of Mr. Noel's director retainer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held by Noel Consulting Company, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael L Noel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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