<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AVISTA CORPORATION, INCLUDED IN THE
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000, AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,500,752
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,119,422
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       3,353,464
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       311,048
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,284,686
<COMMON>                                       602,342
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                     (12,205)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             71,060
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 661,197
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          145,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           695,558
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              97,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        4,470
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  21,100
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   41,623
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      3,119
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,189
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               4,614,430
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,284,686
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    5,599,693
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            25,305
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,530,462
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,530,462
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         69,231
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              29,421
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  98,652
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        49,774
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,573
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     23,127
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      446
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,956
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (58,097)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.01

<F1>LONG-TERM DEBT-NET DOES NOT MATCH THE AMOUNT REPORTED ON THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITALIZATION AS LONG-TERM DEBT DUE TO THE OTHER
CATEGORIES REQUIRED BY THIS SCHEDULE.
<F2>OTHER ITEMS CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES INCLUDES THE CURRENT LIABILITIES,
DEFERRED CREDITS AND MINORITY INTEREST, LESS CERTAIN AMOUNTS INCLUDED UNDER
LONG-TERM DEBT-CURRENT PORTION AND LEASES-CURRENT, FROM THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET.
<F3>THE COMPANY DOES NOT INCLUDE INCOME TAX EXPENSE AS AN OPERATING EXPENSE ITEM.
IT IS INCLUDED ON THE COMPANY'S STATEMENTS AS A BELOW-THE-LINE ITEM.
<F4>INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE IS NOT A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM ON THE COMPANY'S
INCOME STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY COMBINES TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME
TO CALCULATE INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES.