ENERGY PURCHASE CONTRACTS

Avista Utilities has contracts for the purchase of fuel for thermal generation, natural gas for resale and various agreements for the purchase or exchange of electric energy with other entities. The termination dates of the contracts range from one month to the year 2042. Total expenses for power purchased, natural gas purchased, fuel for generation and other fuel costs, which are included in utility resource costs in the Consolidated Statements of Income, were as follows for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):



	2013		2012		2011
Utility power resources	$	524,810	$	523,416	$	557,619

The following table details Avista Utilities’ future contractual commitments for power resources (including transmission contracts) and natural gas resources (including transportation contracts) (dollars in thousands):



	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		Thereafter		Total
Power resources	$	201,693	$	125,072	$	112,570	$	110,405	$	106,200	$	874,990	$	1,530,930
Natural gas resources	102,651		64,860		46,665		43,011		37,570		482,986		777,743
Total	$	304,344	$	189,932	$	159,235	$	153,416	$	143,770	$	1,357,976	$	2,308,673

These energy purchase contracts were entered into as part of Avista Utilities’ obligation to serve its retail electric and natural gas customers’ energy requirements, including contracts entered into for resource optimization. As a result, these costs are recovered either through base retail rates or adjustments to retail rates as part of the power and natural gas cost deferral and recovery mechanisms.

The above future contractual commitments for power resources include fixed contractual amounts related to the Company's contracts with certain Public Utility Districts (PUD) to purchase portions of the output of certain generating facilities. Although Avista Utilities has no investment in the PUD generating facilities, the fixed contracts obligate Avista Utilities to pay certain minimum amounts (based in part on the debt service requirements of the PUD) whether or not the facilities are operating. The cost of power obtained under the contracts, including payments made when a facility is not operating, is included in utility resource costs in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The contractual amounts included above consist of Avista Utilities’ share of existing debt service cost and its proportionate share of the variable operating expenses of these projects.

In addition, Avista Utilities has operating agreements, settlements and other contractual obligations to see the output of its generating facilities and transmission and distribution services. The expenses associated with these agreements are reflected as other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The following table details future contractual commitments under these agreements (dollars in thousands):



	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		Thereafter		Total
Contractual obligations	$	30,197	$	27,236	$	30,543	$	29,199	$	23,534	$	211,392	$	352,101