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): August 05, 2021

AVISTA CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Washington	001-03701	91-0462470
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS 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

(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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	AVA	The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 11, 2021, Avista Corporation (Avista Corp. or the Company) announced that Major General (Retired) Julie Bentz, age 57, had been appointed by the Avista Corp. Board of Directors on August 5, 2021 and will join the board effective November 1, 2021.

Major General Bentz retired in 2019 after a successful 33 years spanning active, reserve and National Guard commissioned duty. She was a recent member of the staff of the White House National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council in the Executive Office of the President. While working at the White House, her roles included Senior Advisor for Emerging Technologies and Director of Strategic Capabilities. During her career, she held numerous roles in the Department of Defense at the Pentagon.

Major General Bentz will serve on the Environmental, Technology and Operations Committee and the Finance Committee of Avista Corp.'s Board. She fills the vacancy created when R. John Taylor retired from the Board on June 21, 2021.

Major General Bentz holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University, a doctorate and Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts in Radiological Health from Oregon State University.

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits
99.1	Press release dated August 11, 2021, which is being filed pursuant to Item 5.02.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101).

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:	August 11, 2021	/s/    Gregory C. Hesler
		Gregory C. Hesler
		Vice President, General Counsel
		and Chief Compliance Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:

Media:	Avista 24/7 Media Access (509) 495-4174
	Laurine Jue (509) 495-2510, laurine.jue@avistacorp.com
Investors:	John Wilcox (509) 495-4171, john.wilcox@avistacorp.com

Major General (Retired) Julie Bentz Joins Avista Corp. Board of Directors as R. John Taylor Retires from Board

SPOKANE, Wash. Aug. 11, 2021, 1:05pm PDT: Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) announced that Major General (Retired) Julie Bentz, age 57, has joined the Avista Corp. board of directors. Major General Bentz was appointed by the board on August 5 and will join the board effective Nov. 1, 2021.

Major General Bentz retired in 2019 after a successful 33-year career, spanning active, reserve and National Guard commissioned service. She has been a recurring member of the White House National Security Council Staff and Homeland Security Council for the Executive Office of the President. While working at the White House, her roles included Senior Advisor for Emerging Technologies and Director of Strategic Capabilities. During her career, she also held numerous roles in the Department of Defense at the Pentagon.

Major General Bentz holds a M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University, a Ph.D. and M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Missouri, and a B.A. in Radiological Health from Oregon State University.

“We are grateful for Major General Bentz’s service to our country and are honored to have her join Avista’s Board of Directors. She is an experienced senior leader with demonstrated capability of leading organizations, providing strategic direction and motivation to successfully implement programs across federal, state, local, and international communities. Her skills and life experience will be critical assets to Avista as we plan for our energy future,” said Avista President and CEO Dennis Vermillion. “While she earned prestigious positions at the White House and the Pentagon during her distinguished military career, she’s now retired in Oregon and has family in Spokane. In fact, her uncle King Cole, was instrumental in bringing the EXPO ‘74 World’s Fair to Spokane and transforming our city into the vibrant community it is today.”

Major General Bentz will serve on the Environmental, Technology and Operations Committee, and the Finance Committee of Avista’s Board. She fills the vacancy created when R. John Taylor retired from Avista’s Board on June 21, 2021.

Mr. Taylor had been a Director since 1985, and most recently served on the Governance & Corporate Responsibility Committee, Executive Committee and served as Chair of the Compensation & Organization Committee of Avista’s Board.

“We appreciate John’s longstanding service and commitment to Avista. We’ve benefitted from his leadership, experience, and strategic counsel on Avista’s Board for the past 36 years. As the longest-tenured current Board member, he’s been involved in many changes in our industry and our company, including a name change, several CEO transitions, numerous issues, and now a pandemic. We are thankful for John’s support and wise counsel over the years,” said Vermillion.

About Avista Corp.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 402,000 customers and natural gas to 369,000 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 1.7 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 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.

SOURCE: Avista Corporation

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XML

Document And Entity Information	Aug. 05, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 05, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	AVISTA CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000104918
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity File Number	001-03701
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	WA
Entity Tax Identification Number	91-0462470
Entity Address, Address Line One	1411 East Mission Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Spokane
Entity Address, State or Province	WA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	99202-2600
City Area Code	509
Local Phone Number	489-0500
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	AVA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE