8-K

	UNITED STATES
	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
	Washington D.C. 20549
	FORM 8-K
	CURRENT REPORT
	PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
	THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 30, 2015
	AVISTA CORPORATION
	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Washington	1-3701	91-0462470
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission file number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1411 East Mission Avenue, Spokane, Washington	99202-2600
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:	509-489-0500
Web site: http://www.avistacorp.com

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

On July 30, 2015, Avista Corporation (Avista Corp. or the Company) announced that Christy Burmeister-Smith, the current Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer is planning to retire effective September 30, 2015 and that Ryan Krassselt, Director of Risk Management and Assistant Treasurer, has been appointed Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer effective October 1, 2015. From May 5, 2014, Mr. Krasselt has been the Director of Risk Management and Assistant Treasurer and from 2011 to 2014 he was the Director of Finance and Assistant Treasurer. For further details, please refer to the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

As a new executive of the Company, Mr. Krasselt will be provided the same benefits and incentive opportunities as other vice presidents beginning in 2015. This includes incentive opportunities under the Executive Officer Annual Cash Incentive Plan and the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Mr. Krasselt will be enrolled in the Executive Income Continuation Plan and the Supplemental Executive Long Term Disability Plan. Mr. Krasselt will also be eligible to participate in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Mr. Krasselt will also be provided with a Change in Control Agreement in the same form as other vice presidents of the Company.

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits

99.1    Press release dated July 30, 2015, which is being filed pursuant to Item 5.02.

Neither the filing of any press release as an exhibit to this Current Report nor the inclusion in such press releases of a reference to Avista Corp.'s Internet address shall, under any circumstances, be deemed to incorporate the information available at such Internet address into this Current Report. The information available at Avista Corp.'s Internet address is not part of this Current Report or any other report furnished or filed by Avista Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		AVISTA CORPORATION
		(Registrant)
Date:	July 30, 2015	/s/    Mark T. Thies
		Mark T. Thies
		Senior Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer

EX-99.1

Contact:

Media: Jessie Wuerst (509) 495-8578 jessie.wuerst@avistacorp.com

Investors: Jason Lang (509) 495-2930jason.lang@avistacorp.com

Avista 24/7 Media Access (509) 495-4174

Avista Announces Changes in Its Officer Team

SPOKANE, Wash. – July 30, 2015, 4:05 a.m. PDT: Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) today announced changes in its officer team, approved by the Board of Directors. Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer Christy Burmeister-Smith has announced plans to retire on Oct. 1, 2015, after serving the company and its customers for 35 years. Ryan Krasselt, currently Avista’s director of risk management and assistant treasurer, has been selected to fill Burmeister-Smith’s role upon her retirement. Krasselt will have responsibility for Avista Corp.’s financial and accounting activities.

Ed Schlect, former executive vice president of corporate development at Ecova, will join the Avista Corp. officer team on Sept. 8, 2015, as vice president and chief strategy officer. In his role, Schlect will be evaluating growth opportunities and innovative services while applying his knowledge and expertise around data intelligence. Roger Woodworth, previously vice president and chief strategy officer, will be leading initiatives of Avista Development, an Avista Corp. subsidiary, in support of economic development within our utility service areas. Spokane’s University District and the Steam Plant Square properties will be particular areas of focus.

“These are all positive changes that provide continuity of knowledge and align with Avista’s succession planning strategy,” said Avista Corp. Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Morris. “We want to thank Christy for her 35 years of service to Avista. Her leadership in finance and accounting has played an important role in building the financial strength of our company. Ryan’s experience in accounting and finance and Ed’s industry knowledge are great assets, and through strong leadership this change allows for smooth transitions.”

Burmeister-Smith started with Avista in 1980 as an accountant after graduation from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an accounting emphasis. Throughout her career she has served in a variety of roles in the accounting and finance areas of the company. Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for the Avista Foundation and the YWCA of Spokane. Previously, she served as a member of the board of directors for Spokane County United Way.

Krasselt has worked at Avista for 14 years in various leadership roles in the accounting and finance areas. Most recently, he served as the director of risk management and assistant treasurer. Prior to joining Avista, Krasselt worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for seven years after graduating from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in

Business with a double major in Accounting and Finance. Krasselt serves as a member of the board of directors and treasurer for Mobius Science Center in Spokane.

Schlect is a long-time industry executive and respected professional with 30 years of experience in the energy industry. Prior to his role at Avista, Schlect was one of the founding members of Ecova and served in a variety of senior leadership roles; most recently as an executive vice president of corporate development. He graduated from Washington State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Schlect is a licensed professional engineer, certified energy manager and green building engineer with an emphasis on project management and construction contracting.

About Avista

Avista Corp., incorporated in 1889 and based in Spokane, Wash., is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is the operating division that provides electric service to 369,000 customers and natural gas to 329,000 customers. Its service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. Avista stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com.

Avista Corp. and the Avista logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation.

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SOURCE: Avista Corporation