10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 1-3701

 


AVISTA CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Washington   91-0462470

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(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

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of July 31, 2007, 52,828,118 shares of Registrant’s Common Stock, no par value (the only class of common stock), were outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

AVISTA CORPORATION

Index

 

                 Page No.

Part  I.

  Financial Information:   
    Item 1.   Consolidated Financial Statements   
      Consolidated Statements of Income - Three Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006    3
      Consolidated Statements of Income – Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006    4
      Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006    5
      Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006    6
      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006    8
      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    9
      Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    30
    Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    31
    Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    56
    Item 4.   Controls and Procedures    56
Part II.   Other Information:   
    Item 1.   Legal Proceedings    56
    Item 1A.   Risk Factors    56
    Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    57
    Item 6.   Exhibits    57
Signature    58

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, which should be read with the cautionary statements and important factors included at “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Forward-Looking Statements” on pages 31-32. Forward-looking statements are all statements except those of historical fact, including, without limitation, those that are identified by the use of words that include “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “predicts,” and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors. Many of these factors are beyond our control and could have a significant effect on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

Avista Corporation


For the Three Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts

 

     2007     2006  

Operating Revenues:

    

Utility revenues

   $ 267,997     $ 258,076  

Non-utility energy marketing and trading revenues

     19,398       14,315  

Other non-utility revenues

     16,610       15,003  
                

Total operating revenues

     304,005       287,394  
                

Operating Expenses:

    

Utility operating expenses:

    

Resource costs

     135,520       122,086  

Other operating expenses

     50,191       48,218  

Depreciation and amortization

     21,298       20,111  

Taxes other than income taxes

     15,050       18,323  

Non-utility operating expenses:

    

Resource costs

     18,386       18,196  

Other operating expenses

     22,172       16,569  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,170       1,313  
                

Total operating expenses

     263,787       244,816  
                

Income from operations

     40,218       42,578  
                

Other Income (Expense):

    

Interest expense

     (20,234 )     (22,209 )

Interest expense to affiliated trusts

     (1,817 )     (1,765 )

Capitalized interest

     1,258       645  

Other income-net

     3,547       2,078  
                

Total other income (expense)-net

     (17,246 )     (21,251 )
                

Income before income taxes

     22,972       21,327  

Income taxes

     8,789       7,868  
                

Net income

   $ 14,183     $ 13,459  
                

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), basic

     52,775       48,958  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), diluted

     53,313       49,694  

Total earnings per common share, basic (Note 11)

   $ 0.27     $ 0.27  
                

Total earnings per common share, diluted (Note 11)

   $ 0.26     $ 0.27  
                

Dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.150     $ 0.140  
                

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

3


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

Avista Corporation


For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts

 

     2007     2006  

Operating Revenues:

    

Utility revenues

   $ 682,263     $ 681,366  

Non-utility energy marketing and trading revenues

     48,807       75,857  

Other non-utility revenues

     32,122       29,373  
                

Total operating revenues

     763,192       786,596  
                

Operating Expenses:

    

Utility operating expenses:

    

Resource costs

     405,506       393,691  

Other operating expenses

     99,232       93,945  

Depreciation and amortization

     42,388       41,091  

Taxes other than income taxes

     39,045       40,389  

Non-utility operating expenses:

    

Resource costs

     56,113       68,323  

Other operating expenses

     39,308       32,880  

Depreciation and amortization

     2,445       2,761  
                

Total operating expenses

     684,037       673,080  
                

Income from operations

     79,155       113,516  
                

Other Income (Expense):

    

Interest expense

     (40,607 )     (44,354 )

Interest expense to affiliated trusts

     (3,627 )     (3,469 )

Capitalized interest

     2,374       1,170  

Other income-net

     7,258       4,553  
                

Total other income (expense)-net

     (34,602 )     (42,100 )
                

Income before income taxes

     44,553       71,416  

Income taxes

     16,276       26,385  
                

Net income

   $ 28,277     $ 45,031  
                

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), basic

     52,736       48,877  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding (thousands), diluted

     53,324       49,498  

Total earnings per common share, basic (Note 11)

   $ 0.54     $ 0.92  
                

Total earnings per common share, diluted (Note 11)

   $ 0.53     $ 0.91  
                

Dividends paid per common share

   $ 0.295     $ 0.280  
                

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

4


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

Avista Corporation


For the Three Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

 

     2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 14,183     $ 13,459  
                

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     896       428  

Reclassification adjustment for foreign currency translation adjustment included in loss on sale of contracts

     (2,379 )     —    

Unrealized gains on interest rate swap agreements - net of taxes of $1,606 and $1,419

     2,983       2,635  

Change in unfunded benefit obligation for pensions and other postretirement benefit plans, net of taxes of $29

     53       —    

Unrealized losses on derivative commodity instruments - net of taxes of $(997) and $(873)

     (1,851 )     (1,622 )

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on derivative commodity instruments included in net income - net of taxes of $(97) and $(156)

     (180 )     (289 )

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on derivative commodity instruments included in loss on sale of contracts, net of taxes of $464

     862       —    

Unrealized investment losses - net of taxes of $(11)

     —         (21 )
                

Total other comprehensive income

     384       1,131  
                

Comprehensive income

   $ 14,567     $ 14,590  
                

For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

    
     2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 28,277     $ 45,031  
                

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,010       410  

Reclassification adjustment for foreign currency translation adjustment included in loss on sale of contracts

     (2,379 )     —    

Unrealized gains on interest rate swap agreements - net of taxes of $1,634 and $3,466

     3,035       6,436  

Change in unfunded benefit obligation for pensions and other postretirement benefit plans, net of taxes of $156

     289       —    

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative commodity instruments - net of taxes of $(324) and $230

     (602 )     427  

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on derivative commodity instruments included in net income - net of taxes of $(136) and $(491)

     (253 )     (912 )

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on derivative commodity instruments included in loss on sale of contracts, net of taxes of $464

     862       —    

Unrealized investment losses - net of taxes of $(9)

     —         (17 )
                

Total other comprehensive income

     1,962       6,344  
                

Comprehensive income

   $ 30,239     $ 51,375  
                

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

5


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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

Avista Corporation


Dollars in thousands

 

     June 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006
          (as restated
see Note 14)

Assets:

     

Current Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 103,302    $ 28,242

Restricted cash

     3,621      29,903

Accounts and notes receivable-less allowances of $42,418 and $42,360

     187,639      286,150

Energy commodity derivative assets

     —        343,726

Utility energy commodity derivative assets

     10,410      10,828

Regulatory asset for utility derivatives

     17,977      62,650

Funds held for customers

     89,752      90,134

Deposits with counterparties

     31,064      79,477

Materials and supplies, fuel stock and natural gas stored

     29,437      42,425

Deferred income taxes

     20,479      10,932

Other current assets

     67,508      47,807
             

Total current assets

     561,189      1,032,274
             

Net Utility Property:

     

Utility plant in service

     2,990,655      2,938,456

Construction work in progress

     133,033      103,226
             

Total

     3,123,688      3,041,682

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     856,070      826,645
             

Total net utility property

     2,267,618      2,215,037
             

Other Property and Investments:

     

Investment in exchange power-net

     29,808      31,033

Non-utility properties and investments-net

     57,505      60,301

Non-current energy commodity derivative assets

     —        313,300

Investment in affiliated trusts

     13,403      13,403

Other property and investments-net

     18,460      15,594
             

Total other property and investments

     119,176      433,631
             

Deferred Charges:

     

Regulatory assets for deferred income taxes

     103,363      105,935

Regulatory assets for pensions and other postretirement benefits

     52,814      54,192

Other regulatory assets

     34,518      31,752

Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets

     31,960      25,575

Power and natural gas deferrals

     77,025      97,792

Unamortized debt expense

     43,275      46,554

Other deferred charges

     14,192      13,766
             

Total deferred charges

     357,147      375,566
             

Total assets

   $ 3,305,130    $ 4,056,508
             

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)

(Unaudited)

Avista Corporation


Dollars in thousands

 

     June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
           (as restated
see Note 14)
 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 179,589     $ 286,099  

Energy commodity derivative liabilities

     —         313,499  

Customer fund obligations

     89,752       90,134  

Deposits from counterparties

     50,110       41,493  

Current portion of long-term debt

     307,720       26,605  

Current portion of preferred stock-cumulative

     26,250       26,250  

Short-term borrowings

     16,000       4,000  

Interest accrued

     15,455       11,595  

Utility energy commodity derivative liabilities

     28,387       73,478  

Other current liabilities

     71,088       72,056  
                

Total current liabilities

     784,351       945,209  
                

Long-term debt

     655,377       949,854  
                

Long-term debt to affiliated trusts

     113,403       113,403  
                

Other Non-Current Liabilities and Deferred Credits:

    

Non-current energy commodity derivative liabilities

     —         309,990  

Regulatory liability for utility plant retirement costs

     203,242       197,712  

Non-current regulatory liability for utility derivatives

     27,961       15,400  

Pensions and other postretirement benefits

     99,120       103,604  

Deferred income taxes

     425,199       459,756  

Other non-current liabilities and deferred credits

     69,887       47,055  
                

Total other non-current liabilities and deferred credits

     825,409       1,133,517  
                

Total liabilities

     2,378,540       3,141,983  
                

Commitments and Contingencies (See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements)

    

Stockholders' Equity:

    

Common stock, no par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 52,826,120 and 52,514,326 shares outstanding

     720,349       715,620  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (15,854 )     (17,816 )

Retained earnings

     222,095       216,721  
                

Total stockholders' equity

     926,590       914,525  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

   $ 3,305,130     $ 4,056,508  
                

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

Avista Corporation


For the Six Months Ended June 30

Dollars in thousands

 

     2007     2006  

Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 28,277     $ 45,031  

Non-cash items included in net income:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     44,833       43,852  

Benefit for deferred income taxes

     (17,143 )     (16,469 )

Power and natural gas cost amortizations, net of deferrals

     23,591       41,369  

Amortization of debt expense

     3,263       3,847  

Unrealized loss on energy commodity derivatives

     24,594       9,938  

Other

     773       (8,390 )

Changes in working capital components:

    

Accounts and notes receivable

     98,453       292,355  

Materials and supplies, fuel stock and natural gas stored

     (8,280 )     (4,266 )

Deposits with counterparties

     48,413       (11,658 )

Other current assets

     2,060       (42,098 )

Accounts payable

     (101,949 )     (276,927 )

Deposits from counterparties

     8,617       39,489  

Other current liabilities

     2,510       45,874  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     158,012       161,947  
                

Investing Activities:

    

Utility property capital expenditures (excluding equity-related AFUDC)

     (92,626 )     (73,278 )

Proceeds from sale of utility property claim

     —         5,484  

Other capital expenditures

     (1,989 )     (1,523 )

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

     26,282       (14,506 )

Changes in other property and investments

     (2,863 )     (2,078 )

Proceeds from property sales

     215       7,709  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (70,981 )     (78,192 )
                

Financing Activities:

    

Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

     12,000       (56,494 )

Redemption and maturity of long-term debt

     (12,290 )     (7,639 )

Premiums paid for the redemption of long-term debt

     —         (355 )

Cash dividends paid

     (15,577 )     (13,661 )

Issuance of common stock

     3,354       4,973  

Other

     542       (647 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (11,971 )     (73,823 )
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     75,060       9,932  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     28,242       25,917  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 103,302     $ 35,849  
                

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

    

Cash paid during the period:

    

Interest

   $ 37,111     $ 46,072  

Income taxes

     28,742       36,944  

Non-cash financing and investing activities:

    

Liability to subsidiary minority shareholders

     11,567       —    

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Statements.

 

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AVISTA CORPORATION


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Avista Corporation (Avista Corp. or the Company) for the interim periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, the statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The Consolidated Statements of Income for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These consolidated financial statements do not contain the detail or footnote disclosure concerning accounting policies and other matters which would be included in full fiscal year consolidated financial statements; therefore, they should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (2006 Form 10-K). Please refer to the section “Acronyms and Terms” in the 2006 Form 10-K for definitions of terms such as capacity, energy and therm.

The Company has restated its Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006 for immaterial adjustments as described in Note 14.

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

Avista Corp. is an energy company engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is an operating division of Avista Corp., comprising the regulated utility operations. Avista Utilities generates, transmits and distributes electricity in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. In addition, Avista Utilities has electric generating facilities in western Montana and northern Oregon. Avista Utilities also provides natural gas distribution service in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, as well as parts of northeast and southwest Oregon. Avista Capital, Inc. (Avista Capital), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avista Corp., is the parent company of all of the subsidiary companies in the non-utility business segments, including Avista Energy, Inc. (Avista Energy) and Advantage IQ, Inc. (Advantage IQ). Avista Energy was an electricity and natural gas marketing, trading and resource management business. On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy completed the sale of substantially all of its contracts and ongoing operations. See Note 3 for further information. Advantage IQ is a provider of facility information and cost management services for multi-site customers throughout North America. See Note 15 for business segment information.

The Company’s operations are exposed to risks including, but not limited to:

 

   

market prices and supply of wholesale energy, which the Company purchases and sells, including power, fuel and natural gas,

 

   

regulatory allowance of the recovery of power and natural gas costs, operating costs and capital investments,

 

   

streamflow and weather conditions,

 

   

the effects of changes in legislative and governmental regulations, including restrictions on emissions from generating plants and requirements for the acquisition of new resources,

 

   

changes in regulatory requirements,

 

   

availability of generation facilities,

 

   

competition,

 

   

technology, and

 

   

availability of funding.

Also, like other utilities, the Company’s facilities and operations are exposed to terrorism risks or other malicious acts. In addition, the energy business exposes the Company to the financial, liquidity, credit and price risks associated with wholesale purchases and sales of energy commodities.

Basis of Reporting

The consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the Company and its subsidiaries, including variable interest entities for which the Company or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiaries. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying financial statements include the Company’s proportionate share of utility plant and related operations resulting from its interests in jointly owned plants.

 

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AVISTA CORPORATION


 

Other Income-Net

Other income-net consisted of the following items for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Interest income

   $ 3,911     $ 2,279     $ 6,386     $ 4,183  

Interest on power and natural gas deferrals

     1,026       1,588       2,228       3,494  

Net gain (loss) on investments

     1       43       445       (390 )

Other expense

     (2,375 )     (2,512 )     (3,786 )     (3,964 )

Other income

     984       680       1,985       1,230  
                                

Total

   $ 3,547     $ 2,078     $ 7,258     $ 4,553  
                                

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, consisted of the following as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   $ —       $ 1,369  

Unfunded benefit obligation for pensions and other postretirement benefit plans

     (15,543 )     (15,832 )

Unrealized loss on interest rate swap agreements

     (311 )     (3,346 )

Unrealized loss on derivative commodity instruments

     —         (7 )
                

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

   $ (15,854 )   $ (17,816 )
                

Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, assets held for sale of $3.5 million primarily included turbines and related equipment at Avista Utilities, which is included in other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There were not any liabilities held for sale as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. See Note 3 regarding the sale of substantially all of the contracts and ongoing operations of Avista Energy on June 30, 2007.

Regulatory Deferred Charges and Credits

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.” The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 71 because:

 

   

rates for regulated services are established by or subject to approval by an independent third-party regulator,

 

   

the regulated rates are designed to recover the cost of providing the regulated services, and

 

   

in view of demand for the regulated services and the level of competition, it is reasonable to assume that rates can be charged to and collected from customers at levels that will recover costs.

SFAS No. 71 requires the Company to reflect the impact of regulatory decisions in its financial statements. SFAS No. 71 requires that certain costs and/or obligations (such as incurred power and natural gas costs not currently recovered through rates, but expected to be recovered in the future) are reflected as deferred charges or credits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs and/or obligations are not reflected in the statement of income until the period during which matching revenues are recognized.

If at some point in the future the Company determines that it no longer meets the criteria for continued application of SFAS No. 71 for all or a portion of its regulated operations, the Company could be:

 

   

required to write off its regulatory assets, and

 

   

precluded from the future deferral of costs not recovered through rates at the time such costs are incurred, even if the Company expected to recover such costs in the future.

The Company’s primary regulatory assets include:

 

   

power and natural gas deferrals,

 

   

investment in exchange power,

 

   

regulatory asset for deferred income taxes,

 

   

unamortized debt expense,

 

   

assets offsetting net utility energy commodity derivative liabilities (see Note 5 for further information),

 

   

demand side management programs,

 

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conservation programs, and

 

   

unfunded pensions and other postretirement benefits.

Those items without a specific line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are included in other regulatory assets.

Regulatory liabilities include:

 

   

utility plant retirement costs,

 

   

liabilities created when the Centralia Power Plant was sold,

 

   

liabilities offsetting net utility energy commodity derivative assets (see Note 5 for further information), and

 

   

the gain on the general office building sale/leaseback.

Those items without a specific line on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are included in other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities and deferred credits.

NOTE 2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” (FIN 48) which provides guidance for the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of a tax position as a two-step process. First, the Company is required to determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. If the tax position meets the “more likely than not” recognition threshold, it is then measured and recorded at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company adopted FIN 48 in the first quarter of 2007 (effective January 1, 2007). The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a cumulative effect on the Company’s financial statements. See Note 8 for further information.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. This statement also expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. However, the statement does not require any new fair value measurements. This statement emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement and not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The statement establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS No. 157 in 2008. The Company is evaluating the impact SFAS No. 157 will have on its financial condition and results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected would be reported in net income. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS No. 159 in 2008. The Company is evaluating the impact SFAS No. 159 will have on its financial condition and results of operations.

NOTE 3. DISPOSITION OF AVISTA ENERGY

On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada, Ltd. (Avista Energy Canada) completed the sale of substantially all of their contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy Holding, L.P. (Coral Energy), a subsidiary of the Shell Group of Companies, as well as to certain other subsidiaries of Coral Energy.

The transaction was completed through the purchase and sale agreement and certain other ancillary agreements. As consideration for the assets acquired (net of liabilities assumed), the purchase price paid by Coral Energy was calculated on the closing date as the sum of the following:

 

   

the net trade book value of contracts acquired,

 

   

the market value of the natural gas inventory, and

 

   

the net book value of the tangible fixed assets acquired.

Proceeds from the transaction included cash consideration for the net assets acquired by Coral Energy and the liquidation of the remaining net current assets of Avista Energy not sold to Coral Energy (primarily receivables, restricted cash and deposits with counterparties, the majority of which will be liquidated within 60 days). On July 2, 2007, Avista Energy received $34.4 million from Coral Energy based on the value of the net assets sold as of May 31, 2007. This amount was adjusted and Avista Energy paid Coral Energy $4.5 million on August 2, 2007 based on

 

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the determination of final market values and other closing adjustments as of June 30, 2007. The pre-tax net loss on the transaction was $4.2 million, which is included in non-utility other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. The net loss on the transaction increased from March 31, 2007 primarily due to a decrease in the market value of natural gas inventory and changes in the value of certain hedging contracts.

In addition to the cash proceeds received from Coral Energy, Avista Energy has liquidated substantially all of its remaining net current assets through July 31, 2007. Over time, Avista Corp. plans to redeploy into its regulated utility operations the majority of the approximate $170 million of total proceeds either received from Coral Energy or realized from the liquidation of the remaining net current assets of Avista Energy.

Assets and liabilities excluded from the sale and retained or liquidated by Avista Energy include:

 

   

cash,

 

   

certain agreements, including electric transmission, natural gas transportation and a power purchase agreement, related to a 270 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle combustion turbine plant located in Idaho (Lancaster Plant), for periods after December 31, 2009 through 2026,

 

   

storage rights at a natural gas facility located in Washington (Jackson Prairie) for periods after April 30, 2011,

 

   

accounts receivable,

 

   

certain software, hardware, licenses and permits,

 

   

accounts payable,

 

   

tax obligations,

 

   

cash deposits with and from counterparties,

 

   

litigation matters (including matters related to western energy markets), and

 

   

certain employment agreements and employee related obligations.

Certain assets of Avista Energy with a net book value of approximately $25 million will not be liquidated within 60 days. These primarily include natural gas storage and deferred tax assets. The Company expects that the natural gas storage will ultimately be transferred to Avista Utilities, subject to future regulatory approval by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC). The Company also expects that the power purchase agreement for the Lancaster Plant for the period 2010 through 2026 will be transferred to Avista Utilities, subject to future regulatory approval.

In connection with the transaction, on June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and its affiliates entered into an Indemnification Agreement with Coral Energy and its affiliates. Under the Indemnification Agreement, Avista Energy and Coral Energy each agree to provide indemnification of the other and the other’s affiliates for certain events arising out of and matters described in the purchase and sale agreement entered into on April 16, 2007 and certain other transaction agreements. In general, such indemnification is not required unless and until a party’s claims exceed $150,000 and is limited to an aggregate amount of $30 million and a term of three years (except for agreements or transactions with terms longer than three years). These limitations do not apply to certain third party claims.

Avista Energy’s obligations under the Indemnification Agreement are guaranteed by Avista Capital pursuant to a Guaranty dated June 30, 2007. This Guaranty is limited to an aggregate amount of $30 million plus certain fees and expenses. Avista Capital has granted Coral Energy a security interest in 50 percent of Avista Capital’s common shares of Advantage IQ as collateral for its Guaranty. The aggregate obligations secured by this security interest will in no event exceed $25 million. Avista Capital may substitute collateral, such as cash or letters of credit, in place of the security interest in Advantage IQ’s common shares. This security interest in Advantage IQ’s common shares will terminate in 18 months (December 31, 2008) except to the extent of claims actually made prior to expiration of the 18-month period. The Guaranty will terminate April 30, 2011 except with respect to claims made prior to termination.

Avista Energy has made customary representations, warranties and covenants in the purchase and sale agreement. Avista Corp. and its subsidiaries have agreed that for a period of 60 calendar months beginning on the closing of the transaction (June 30, 2007), neither Avista Corp. nor any of its subsidiaries will form or participate through ownership or any alliance, or internally, develop capabilities to replicate the business activities of Avista Energy within the region of the Western Electric Coordinating Council. This restriction has certain exceptions primarily related to any assets or contracts retained by Avista Energy and any current corporate activities outside of Avista Energy, including any resource optimization or associated trading or hedging activities of the character currently being conducted by Avista Utilities, an operating division of Avista Corp., in the ordinary course of its regulated utility business (see Notes 5 and 6).

 

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NOTE 4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SALE

Avista Receivables Corporation (ARC) is a wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary of Avista Corp., formed for the purpose of acquiring or purchasing interests in certain accounts receivable, both billed and unbilled, of the Company. On March 19, 2007, Avista Corp., ARC and a third-party financial institution amended a Receivables Purchase Agreement. The most significant amendment was to extend the termination date from March 20, 2007 to March 17, 2008. Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, ARC can sell without recourse, on a revolving basis, up to $85.0 million of those receivables. ARC is obligated to pay fees that approximate the purchaser’s cost of issuing commercial paper equal in value to the interests in receivables sold. On a consolidated basis, the amount of such fees is included in other operating expenses of Avista Corp. The Receivables Purchase Agreement has financial covenants, which are substantially the same as those of Avista Corp.’s $320.0 million committed line of credit (see Note 9). As of June 30, 2007, $66.0 million in accounts receivables were sold under this revolving agreement, a decrease from $85.0 million as of December 31, 2006.

NOTE 5. UTILITY ENERGY COMMODITY DERIVATIVE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. It requires the recording of all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet measured at estimated fair value and the recognition of the unrealized gains and losses. In certain defined conditions, a derivative may be specifically designated as a hedge for a particular exposure. The accounting for derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivatives and the resulting designation.

Avista Utilities enters into forward contracts to purchase or sell electricity and natural gas. Under these forward contracts, Avista Utilities commits to purchase or sell a specified amount of energy at a specified time, or during a specified period, in the future. Certain of these forward contracts are considered derivative instruments. Avista Utilities also records derivative commodity assets and liabilities for over-the-counter and exchange-traded derivative instruments as well as certain long-term contracts. These contracts are entered into as part of Avista Utilities’ management of its loads and resources as discussed in Note 6. In conjunction with the issuance of SFAS No. 133, the WUTC and the IPUC issued accounting orders authorizing Avista Utilities to offset any derivative assets or liabilities with a regulatory asset or liability. This accounting treatment is intended to defer the recognition of mark-to-market gains and losses on energy commodity transactions until the period of settlement. The orders provide for Avista Utilities to not recognize the unrealized gain or loss on utility derivative commodity instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Realized gains and losses are recognized in the period of settlement, subject to approval for recovery through retail rates. Realized gains and losses, subject to regulatory approval, result in adjustments to retail rates through purchased gas cost adjustments, the Energy Recovery Mechanism in Washington and the Power Cost Adjustment mechanism in Idaho.

Substantially all forward contracts to purchase or sell power and natural gas are recorded as assets or liabilities at estimated fair value with an offsetting regulatory asset or liability. Contracts that are not considered derivatives under SFAS No. 133 are generally accounted for at cost until they are settled or realized, unless there is a decline in the fair value of the contract that is determined to be other than temporary.

Utility energy commodity derivatives consisted of the following as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

Current utility energy commodity derivative assets

   $ 10,410     $ 10,828  

Current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities

     (28,387 )     (73,478 )
                

Net current regulatory asset

   $ (17,977 )   $ (62,650 )
                

Non-current utility energy commodity derivative assets

   $ 31,960     $ 25,575  

Non-current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities

     (3,999 )     (10,175 )
                

Net non-current regulatory liability

   $ 27,961     $ 15,400  
                

Non-current utility energy commodity derivative liabilities are included in other non-current liabilities and deferred credits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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NOTE 6. ENERGY COMMODITY TRADING

The Company’s energy-related businesses are exposed to risks relating to, but not limited to:

 

   

changes in certain commodity prices,

 

   

interest rates,

 

   

foreign currency, and

 

   

counterparty performance.

Avista Utilities utilizes derivative instruments, such as forwards, futures, swaps and options in order to manage the various risks relating to these exposures, and Avista Energy engaged in the trading of such instruments. The Company uses a variety of techniques to manage risks for their energy resources and wholesale energy market activities. The Company has risk management policies and procedures to manage these risks, both qualitative and quantitative. The Company’s Risk Management Committee establishes the Company’s risk management policies and procedures and monitors compliance. The Risk Management Committee is comprised of certain Company officers and other individuals and is overseen by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Avista Utilities

Avista Utilities engages in an ongoing process of resource optimization, which involves the economic selection from available resources to serve Avista Utilities’ load obligations and uses its existing resources to capture available economic value. Avista Utilities sells and purchases wholesale electric capacity and energy and fuel as part of the process of acquiring resources to serve its load obligations. These transactions range from terms of one hour up to multiple years. Avista Utilities makes continuing projections of:

 

   

loads at various points in time (ranging from one hour to multiple years) based on, among other things, estimates of factors such as customer usage and weather, as well as historical data and contract terms, and

 

   

resource availability at these points in time based on, among other things, estimates of streamflows, availability of generating units, historic and forward market information and experience.

On the basis of these projections, Avista Utilities makes purchases and sales of energy to match expected resources to expected electric load requirements. Resource optimization involves generating plant dispatch and scheduling available resources and also includes transactions such as:

 

   

purchasing fuel for generation,

 

   

when economic, selling fuel and substituting wholesale purchases for the operation of Avista Utilities’ resources, and

 

   

other wholesale transactions to capture the value of generation and transmission resources.

Avista Utilities’ optimization process includes entering into hedging transactions to manage risks.

As part of its resource optimization process described above, Avista Utilities manages the impact of fluctuations in electric energy prices by measuring and controlling the volume of energy imbalance between projected loads and resources and through the use of derivative commodity instruments for hedging purposes. Load/resource imbalances within a rolling 18-month planning horizon are compared against established volumetric guidelines and management determines the timing and specific actions to manage the imbalances. Management also assesses available resource decisions and actions that are appropriate for longer-term planning periods.

Avista Energy

As disclosed in Note 3, on June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada sold substantially all of their contracts and ongoing operations. Avista Energy’s results of operations are reflected in Avista Corp’s consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.

Avista Energy implemented hedge accounting in accordance with SFAS No. 133. Specific natural gas and electric trading derivative contracts were designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedging relationships. With the completion of the sale of substantially all contracts on June 30, 2007, hedge accounting at Avista Energy was terminated and the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss was reclassified to earnings as part of the loss on the transaction.

The change in the estimated fair value position of Avista Energy’s energy commodity portfolio, net of reserves for credit and market risk for the six months ended June 30, 2007 (prior to the sale) was an unrealized loss of $24.6 million and is included in the Consolidated Statements of Income in non-utility energy marketing and trading revenues. The change in the fair value position for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was an unrealized loss of $9.9 million.

 

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NOTE 7. PENSION PLANS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all regular full-time employees at Avista Utilities and Avista Energy. Individual benefits under this plan are based upon the employee’s years of service and average compensation as specified in the plan. The Company’s funding policy is to contribute at least the minimum amounts that are required to be funded under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, but not more than the maximum amounts that are currently deductible for income tax purposes. The Company made $15 million in cash contributions to the pension plan in 2006 and expects to contribute $15 million to the pension plan in 2007.

The Company also has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) that provides additional pension benefits to executive officers of the Company. The SERP is intended to provide benefits to executive officers whose benefits under the pension plan are reduced due to the application of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the deferral of salary under deferred compensation plans.

The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for substantially all of its retired employees. The Company accrues the estimated cost of postretirement benefit obligations during the years that employees provide services.

The Company established a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to provide employees with tax-advantaged funds to pay for allowable medical expenses upon retirement. The amount earned by the employee is fixed on the retirement date based on employee’s years of service and the ending salary. The liability and expense of this plan are included as other postretirement benefits.

The Company provides death benefits to beneficiaries of executive officers who die during their term of office or after retirement. The liability and expense for this plan are included as other postretirement benefits. As disclosed in Note 14, the Company has restated prior financial statements to recognize the liability and costs of this plan.

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and postretirement plans. The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit costs for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Postretirement
Benefits
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Three months ended June 30:

        

Service cost

   $ 2,740     $ 2,495     $ 184     $ 175  

Interest cost

     4,766       4,231       541       416  

Expected return on plan assets

     (4,802 )     (4,236 )     (391 )     (342 )

Transition obligation recognition

     —         —         126       126  

Amortization of prior service cost

     164       164       —         —    

Net loss recognition

     774       895       55       86  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 3,642     $ 3,549     $ 515     $ 461  
                                

Six months ended June 30:

        

Service cost

   $ 5,480     $ 4,990     $ 320     $ 350  

Interest cost

     9,532       8,463       980       832  

Expected return on plan assets

     (9,604 )     (8,472 )     (782 )     (684 )

Transition obligation recognition

     —         —         252       253  

Amortization of prior service cost

     328       327       —         —    

Net loss recognition

     1,543       1,742       112       171  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 7,279     $ 7,050     $ 882     $ 922  
                                

NOTE 8. ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES

As disclosed in Note 2, the Company adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007, which did not have a cumulative effect on the Company’s financial statements.

The Company and its eligible subsidiaries file consolidated federal income tax returns. The Company also files state income tax returns in certain jurisdictions, including Idaho, Oregon, Montana and California. Subsidiaries are charged or credited with the tax effects of their operations on a stand-alone basis. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has examined the Company’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 federal income tax returns. Despite those tax years still remaining open, all issues have been resolved with the exception of the timing for the deductions of certain indirect

 

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overhead costs. The IRS is currently conducting an examination of the Company’s 2004 and 2005 federal income tax returns. This examination could result in a change in the liability for uncertain tax positions. However, an estimate of the range of any such possible change cannot be made at this time. The Company does not believe that any open tax years with respect to state income taxes could result in any adjustments that would be significant to the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2005, the Treasury Department issued regulations and the IRS issued a revenue ruling that affects the tax treatment by Avista Corp. of certain indirect overhead expenses. Avista Corp. had previously made a tax election to currently deduct certain indirect overhead costs, starting with the 2002 tax return, that were capitalized for financial accounting purposes. This election allowed Avista Corp. to take tax deductions resulting in a total reduction of approximately $40 million in current tax liabilities for 2002, 2003 and 2004. These current tax benefits were deferred on the balance sheet in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 109 and did not affect net income.

Due to the revenue ruling and related regulations, the IRS has disallowed the tax deduction of indirect overhead expenses during their examination of the Company’s 2001, 2002 and 2003 federal income tax returns. The Company believes that the tax deductions claimed on tax returns were appropriate based on the applicable statutes and regulations in effect at the time. Avista Corp. appealed the proposed IRS adjustment on April 19, 2006. The Company’s appeal has been received and has been scheduled for review by the IRS Appeals Division starting later in 2007. The Company repaid a portion of the previous tax deductions through tax payments in 2005 and 2006. There can be no assurance that the Company’s position will prevail. However, it is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s net income.

The Company estimates that its liability for unrecognized tax benefits is $22.6 million at each of January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007. With the adoption of FIN 48, this amount was reclassified from deferred income taxes to liability for unrecognized tax benefits. This liability primarily relates to the indirect overhead expenses described above, and the amount of this liability is included as other non-current liabilities and deferred credits on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2007. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits would not affect the tax rate if recognized in 2007, as any adjustment to this tax item would be offset by an adjustment to current income tax expense. The liability for interest expense for unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007 was not material due to net operating loss and tax credit carryovers. The change in the liability for interest expense during the six months ended June 30, 2007 was not material. The Company has not accrued any penalties. The Company would recognize interest accrued related to income tax positions as interest expense and any penalties incurred as other operating expense.

NOTE 9. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

The Company has a committed line of credit agreement with various banks in the total amount of $320.0 million with an expiration date of April 5, 2011. Under the credit agreement, the Company can request the issuance of up to $320.0 million in letters of credit. The Company had $16.0 million of borrowings outstanding as of June 30, 2007 and $4.0 million of borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2006. Total letters of credit outstanding were $44.3 million as of June 30, 2007 and $77.1 million as of December 31, 2006. The committed line of credit is secured by $320.0 million of non-transferable First Mortgage Bonds of the Company issued to the agent bank that would only become due and payable in the event, and then only to the extent, that the Company defaults on its obligations under the committed line of credit.

The committed line of credit agreement contains customary covenants and default provisions, including a covenant requiring the ratio of “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization” to “interest expense” of Avista Utilities for the preceding twelve-month period at the end of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 1.6 to 1. As of June 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with this covenant with a ratio of 2.50 to 1. The committed line of credit agreement also has a covenant which does not permit the ratio of “consolidated total debt” to “consolidated total capitalization” of Avista Corp. to be greater than 70 percent at the end of any fiscal quarter. This ratio limitation will be increased to 75 percent during the period between the completion of the proposed change in the Company’s corporate organization (see Note 13) and December 31, 2007. As of June 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with this covenant with a ratio of 53.4 percent. If the proposed change in organization becomes effective, the committed line of credit agreement will remain at Avista Corp.

On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada, as co-borrowers, terminated a committed credit agreement with a group of banks in the aggregate amount of $145.0 million that had an expiration date of July 12, 2007. The credit agreement was terminated in connection with the closing of the sale of substantially all of the contracts and ongoing operations of Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada as described at Note 3. There were not any early termination penalties incurred by Avista Energy or Avista Energy Canada.

 

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NOTE 10. LONG-TERM DEBT

The following details the interest rate and maturity dates of long-term debt outstanding as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

Maturity
Year
  

Description

   Interest Rate    June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
2007    Secured Medium-Term Notes    5.99%    $ 13,850     $ 13,850  
2008    Secured Medium-Term Notes    6.06%-6.95%      45,000       45,000  
2010    Secured Medium-Term Notes    6.67%-8.02%      35,000       35,000  
2012    Secured Medium-Term Notes    7.37%      7,000       7,000  
2013    First Mortgage Bonds    6.13%      45,000       45,000  
2018    Secured Medium-Term Notes    7.39%-7.45%      22,500       22,500  
2019    First Mortgage Bonds    5.45%      90,000       90,000  
2023    Secured Medium-Term Notes    7.18%-7.54%      13,500       13,500  
2028    Secured Medium-Term Notes    6.37%      25,000       25,000  
2032    Pollution Control Bonds    5.00%      66,700       66,700  
2034    Pollution Control Bonds    5.13%      17,000       17,000  
2035    First Mortgage Bonds    6.25%      150,000       150,000  
2037    First Mortgage Bonds    5.70%      150,000       150,000  
                      
  

Total secured long-term debt

        680,550       680,550  
                      
2007    Unsecured Medium-Term Notes    7.90%-7.94%      —         12,000  
2008    Unsecured Senior Notes    9.75%      272,860       272,860  
2023    Pollution Control Bonds    6.00%      4,100       4,100  
                      
  

Total unsecured long-term debt

        276,960       288,960  
                      
  

Other long-term debt and capital leases

        5,789       7,364  
                      
  

Interest rate swaps

        1,064       1,037  
                      
  

Unamortized debt discount

        (1,266 )     (1,452 )
                      
  

Total

        963,097       976,459  
  

Current portion of long-term debt

        (307,720 )     (26,605 )
                      
  

Total long-term debt

      $ 655,377     $ 949,854  
                      

NOTE 11. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
   Six months ended
June 30,
     2007     2006    2007     2006

Numerator:

         

Net income

   $ 14,183     $ 13,459    $ 28,277     $ 45,031

Subsidiary earnings adjustment for dilutive securities

     (118 )     —        (208 )     —  
                             

Adjusted net income for computation of diluted earnings per common share

   $ 14,065     $ 13,459    $ 28,069     $ 45,031
                             

Denominator:

         

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding-basic

     52,775       48,958      52,736       48,877

Effect of dilutive securities:

         

Contingent stock awards

     214       388      244       300

Stock options

     324       348      344       321
                             

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding-diluted

     53,313       49,694      53,324       49,498
                             

Total earnings per common share, basic

   $ 0.27     $ 0.27    $ 0.54     $ 0.92
                             

Total earnings per common share, diluted

   $ 0.26     $ 0.27    $ 0.53     $ 0.91
                             

Total stock options outstanding that were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share were 20,200 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 393,900 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. These stock options were excluded from the calculation because they were antidilutive based on the fact that the exercise price of the stock options was higher than the average market price of Avista Corp. common stock during the respective period.

 

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NOTE 12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In the course of its business, the Company becomes involved in various claims, controversies, disputes and other contingent matters, including the items described in this Note. Some of these claims, controversies, disputes and other contingent matters involve litigation or other contested proceedings. With respect to these proceedings, the Company intends to vigorously protect and defend its interests and pursue its rights. However, no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of any particular matter because litigation and other contested proceedings are inherently subject to numerous uncertainties. With respect to matters that affect Avista Utilities’ operations, the Company intends to seek, to the extent appropriate, recovery of incurred costs through the rate making process. With respect to matters discussed in this Note that affect Avista Energy (particularly the California Refund Proceeding), any potential liabilities or refunds remain at Avista Corp. and/or its subsidiaries and have not been assumed by Coral Energy and/or its affiliates.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Inquiry

On April 19, 2004, the FERC issued an order approving the contested Agreement in Resolution of Section 206 Proceeding (Agreement in Resolution) reached by Avista Corp. doing business as Avista Utilities, Avista Energy and the FERC’s Trial Staff with respect to an investigation into the activities of Avista Utilities and Avista Energy in western energy markets during 2000 and 2001. In the Agreement in Resolution, the FERC Trial Staff stated that its investigation found: (1) no evidence that any executives or employees of Avista Utilities or Avista Energy knowingly engaged in or facilitated any improper trading strategy; (2) no evidence that Avista Utilities or Avista Energy engaged in any efforts to manipulate the western energy markets during 2000 and 2001; and (3) that Avista Utilities and Avista Energy did not withhold relevant information from the FERC’s inquiry into the western energy markets for 2000 and 2001. In April 2005 and June 2005, the California Parties and the City of Tacoma, respectively, filed petitions for review of the FERC’s decisions approving the Agreement in Resolution with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Based on the FERC’s order approving the Agreement in Resolution and the FERC’s denial of rehearing requests, the Company does not expect that this proceeding will have any material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Class Action Securities Litigation

On June 1, 2007, Avista Corp. entered into a settlement agreement with respect to a class action lawsuit filed against Avista Corp., Thomas M. Matthews, the former Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Avista Corp., Gary G. Ely, the current Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Avista Corp., and Jon E. Eliassen, the former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Avista Corp. The settlement agreement was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington (the Court) on June 4, 2007.

The lawsuit commenced with the filing of several class action complaints in the Court in September through November 2002. These complaints were subsequently consolidated and ultimately dismissed by the Court in October 2005. The order to dismiss was issued without prejudice, however, which allowed the plaintiffs to file an amended complaint. The amended class action complaint was filed on November 10, 2005 and asserted claims on behalf of all persons who purchased, converted, exchanged or otherwise acquired the Company’s common stock during the period between November 23, 1999 and August 13, 2002.

The settlement agreement provides for certification of the plaintiff class and a full release by the class and dismissal with prejudice of all claims against Avista Corp. in consideration of payment of $9.5 million into a settlement fund. The settlement payment and litigation defense costs will be paid by Avista Corp.’s insurance company with the exception of the Company’s $1 million self-insured retention. The settlement agreement further provides that the individual defendants Matthews, Ely and Eliassen will be dismissed from the lawsuit.

The Company has vigorously contested this lawsuit since it commenced on September 27, 2002. The Company has denied, and continues to deny in their entirety, the allegations of wrongdoing in the lawsuit, including the allegations that Avista Corp. made any false or misleading statements with regard to the Company’s business, business practices, risk management or trading activity. The Company denies that it engaged in any improper trading in the California energy market or in any other market, and it denies that the price of its stock was artificially inflated by reason of the misrepresentations and omissions alleged in the lawsuit. There have been no adverse determinations by any court against Avista Corp. or any of the defendants on the merits of the claims asserted by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, and the Company denies that shareholders were harmed by the conduct alleged in the lawsuit. Neither the settlement agreement nor any of its terms or provisions, nor the Company’s decision to settle the lawsuit, should be construed as an admission or concession of any kind of the merit or truth of any of the allegations of wrongdoing in the lawsuit, or of any fault, liability or wrongdoing whatsoever on the part of Avista Corp. The Company believes that throughout the class period alleged in the lawsuit it fully and adequately disclosed all material facts regarding the Company and

 

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made no misrepresentations of material facts regarding Avista Corp. The Company nonetheless considers it desirable to settle the lawsuit in order to avoid the cost and risks of further litigation and trial, and to dispose of burdensome and protracted litigation.

The settlement agreement must be approved by the Court before it will become effective. The Court’s approval process has several steps. The settlement agreement is first presented to the Court for preliminary approval. If the Court grants preliminary approval of the settlement agreement, then there will follow a period in which plaintiffs’ counsel give notice of and administer the settlement agreement. A fairness hearing will be held at which the Court will judge the fairness, reasonableness and adequacy of the settlement agreement, including payment of plaintiffs’ and plaintiffs’ counsel fees and expenses, and at which any objections to the settlement agreement will be heard. If the Court then grants final approval of the settlement agreement, it will enter an order certifying the class and dismissing the claims in the lawsuit with prejudice. The Court’s decision can be appealed. If the settlement agreement becomes effective, the settlement fund, less various costs of administration and plaintiffs’ costs and attorney fees, will be distributed to class members who have filed an approved claim.

California Refund Proceeding

In July 2001, the FERC ordered an evidentiary hearing to determine the amount of refunds due to California energy buyers for purchases made in the spot markets operated by the California Independent System Operator (CalISO) and the California Power Exchange (CalPX) during the period from October 2, 2000 to June 20, 2001 (Refund Period). The findings of the FERC administrative law judge were largely adopted in March 2003 by the FERC. The refunds ordered are based on the development of a mitigated market clearing price (MMCP) methodology. If the refunds required by the formula would cause a seller to recover less than its actual costs for the Refund Period, the FERC has held that the seller would be allowed to document these costs and limit its refund liability commensurately. In September 2005, Avista Energy submitted its cost filing claim pursuant to the FERC’s August 2005 order and demonstrated an overall revenue shortfall for sales into the California spot markets during the Refund Period after the MMCP methodology is applied to its transactions. That filing was accepted in orders issued by the FERC in January 2006 and November 2006. In its February 2007 status report, the CalISO stated that it intends to process Avista Energy’s cost offset filing. In July 2007, the CalISO filed an updated status report at the FERC stating that it continues finalizing the financial adjustment phase, in which the CalISO is making adjustments to its refund rerun settlement data to account for fuel cost allowance offsets, emission offsets, cost-based offsets, and interest on amounts unpaid and refunds. Although no completion date was specifically projected, the CalISO stated that it will distribute interest calculations on refunds two weeks after all offsets are finalized.

In 2001, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) defaulted on payment obligations to the CalPX and the CalISO. As a result, the CalPX and the CalISO failed to pay various energy sellers, including Avista Energy. Both PG&E and the CalPX declared bankruptcy in 2001. In March 2002, SCE paid its defaulted obligations to the CalPX. In April 2004, PG&E paid its defaulted obligations into an escrow fund in accordance with its bankruptcy reorganization. Funds held by the CalPX and in the PG&E escrow fund are not subject to release until the FERC issues an order directing such release in the California refund proceeding. As of June 30, 2007, Avista Energy’s accounts receivable outstanding related to defaulting parties in California were fully offset by reserves for uncollected amounts and funds collected from defaulting parties.

In addition, in June 2003, the FERC issued an order to review bids above $250 per MW made by participants in the short-term energy markets operated by the CalISO and the CalPX from May 1, 2000 to October 2, 2000. In May 2004, the FERC provided notice that Avista Energy was no longer subject to this investigation. In March and April 2005, the California Parties and PG&E, respectively, petitioned for review of the FERC’s decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In addition, many of the other orders that the FERC has issued in the California refund proceedings are now on appeal before the Ninth Circuit. Some of those issues have been consolidated as a result of a case management conference conducted in September 2004. In October 2004, the Ninth Circuit ordered that briefing proceed in two rounds. The first round is limited to three issues: (1) which parties are subject to the FERC’s refund jurisdiction in light of the exemption for government-owned utilities in section 201(f) of the Federal Power Act (FPA); (2) the temporal scope of refunds under section 206 of the FPA; and (3) which categories of transactions are subject to refunds. In September 2005, the Ninth Circuit held that the FERC did not have the authority to order refunds for sales made by municipal utilities in the California Refund Case. In August 2006, the Ninth Circuit upheld October 2, 2000 as the refund effective date for the FPA section 206 Refund Proceeding, but remanded to the FERC its decision not to consider a FPA section 309 remedy for tariff violations prior to October 2, 2000. The Ninth Circuit also granted California’s petition for review challenging the FERC’s exclusion of the energy exchange transactions as well as the FERC’s exclusion of forward market transactions from the California refund proceedings. The Ninth Circuit has extended until August 13, 2007, the time for filing

 

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petitions for rehearing. It is unclear at this time what impact, if any, the Court’s remand might have on Avista Energy. The second round of issues and their corresponding briefing schedules have not yet been set by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Any potential liabilities or refunds owed by or to Avista Energy in the California Refund Proceeding have been assumed by Avista Corp. and/or its subsidiaries and have not been transferred to Coral Energy and/or its affiliates. Because the resolution of the California refund proceeding remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that the California refund proceeding will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. This is primarily due to the fact that FERC orders have stated that any refunds will be netted against unpaid amounts owed to the respective parties and the Company does not believe that refunds would exceed unpaid amounts owed to the Company.

Pacific Northwest Refund Proceeding

In July 2001, the FERC initiated a preliminary evidentiary hearing to develop a factual record as to whether prices for spot market sales in the Pacific Northwest between December 25, 2000 and June 20, 2001 were just and reasonable. During the hearing, Avista Utilities and Avista Energy vigorously opposed claims that rates for spot market sales were unjust and unreasonable and that the imposition of refunds would be appropriate. In June 2003, the FERC terminated the Pacific Northwest refund proceedings, after finding that the equities do not justify the imposition of refunds. Seven petitions for review, including one filed by Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (Puget), are now pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Opening briefs were filed in January 2005. Petitioners other than Puget challenged the merits of the FERC’s decision not to order refunds. Puget’s brief is directed to the procedural flaws in the underlying docket. Puget argues that because its complaint was withdrawn as a matter of law in July 2001, the FERC erred in relying on it to serve as the basis to initiate the preliminary investigation into whether refunds for individually negotiated bilateral transactions in the Pacific Northwest were appropriate. In February 2005, intervening parties, including Avista Energy and Avista Utilities, filed in support of Puget and also filed in opposition to petitioners seeking refunds. Briefing was completed in May 2005 and oral arguments were heard on January 8, 2007. Because the resolution of the Pacific Northwest refund proceeding remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that the Pacific Northwest refund proceeding will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

California Attorney General Complaint

In May 2002, the FERC conditionally dismissed a complaint filed in March 2002 by the Attorney General of the State of California (California AG) that alleged violations of the Federal Power Act by the FERC and all sellers (including Avista Corp. and its subsidiaries) of electric power and energy into California. The complaint alleged that the FERC’s adoption and implementation of market-based rate authority was flawed and, as a result, individual sellers should refund the difference between the rate charged and a just and reasonable rate. In May 2002, the FERC issued an order dismissing the complaint but directing sellers to re-file certain transaction summaries. It was not clear that Avista Corp. and its subsidiaries were subject to this directive but the Company took the conservative approach and re-filed certain transaction summaries in June and July of 2002. In July 2002, the California AG requested a rehearing on the FERC order, which request was denied in September 2002. Subsequently, the California AG filed a Petition for Review of the FERC’s decision with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In September 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the FERC’s market-based rate authority, but found the requirement that all sales at market-based rates be contained in quarterly reports filed with the FERC to be integral to a market-based rate tariff. The California AG has interpreted the decision as providing authority to the FERC to order refunds in the California refund proceeding for an expanded refund period. The Court’s decision leaves to the FERC the determination as to whether refunds are appropriate. In October 2004, Avista Energy joined with others in seeking rehearing of the Court’s decision to remand the case back to the FERC for further proceedings. The Court denied the request without explanation on July 31, 2006. Based on its current schedule, the Ninth Circuit will issue the mandate on this decision on August 13, 2007, which will return the case to the FERC for further proceedings. On December 28, 2006 certain parties filed a petition for a writ of certiorari at the Supreme Court. That petition was denied on June 18, 2007. Based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that this matter will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Wah Chang Complaint

In May 2004, Wah Chang, a division of TDY Industries, Inc. (a subsidiary of Allegheny Technologies, Inc.), filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon against numerous companies, including

 

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Avista Corp., Avista Energy and Avista Power. This complaint is similar to the Port of Seattle and City of Tacoma complaints (which were dismissed by the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as disclosed in the Company’s prior Securities and Exchange Commission filings) and seeks compensatory and treble damages for alleged violations of the Sherman Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, as well as violations of Oregon state law. According to the complaint, from September 1997 to September 2002, the plaintiff purchased electricity from PacifiCorp pursuant to a contract that was indexed to the spot wholesale market price of electricity. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants, acting in concert among themselves and/or with Enron Corporation and certain affiliates thereof (collectively, Enron) and others, engaged in a scheme to defraud electricity customers by transmitting false market information in interstate commerce in order to artificially increase the price of electricity provided by them, to receive payment for services not provided by them and to otherwise manipulate the market price of electricity, and by executing wash trades and other forms of market manipulation techniques and sham transactions. The plaintiff also alleges that the defendants, acting in concert among themselves and/or with Enron and others, engaged in numerous practices involving the generation, purchase, sale, exchange, scheduling and/or transmission of electricity with the purpose and effect of causing a shortage (or the appearance of a shortage) in the generation of electricity and congestion (or the appearance of congestion) in the transmission of electricity, with the ultimate purpose and effect of artificially and illegally fixing and raising the price of electricity in California and throughout the Pacific Northwest. As a result of the defendants’ alleged conduct, the plaintiff allegedly suffered damages of not less than $30 million through the payment of higher electricity prices. In September 2004, this case was transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California for consolidation with other pending actions. In February 2005, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint because it determined that it was without jurisdiction to hear the plaintiff’s complaint, based on, among other things, the exclusive jurisdiction of the FERC and the filed-rate doctrine. In March 2005, Wah Chang filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The appeal of Wah Chang is still pending before the Ninth Circuit and oral arguments were heard on April 10, 2007. Because the resolution of this lawsuit remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that this lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

State of Montana Proceedings

In June 2003, the Attorney General of the State of Montana (Montana AG) filed a complaint in the Montana District Court on behalf of the people of Montana and the Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc. against numerous companies, including Avista Corp. The complaint alleges that the companies illegally manipulated western electric and natural gas markets in 2000 and 2001. This case was subsequently moved to the United States District Court for the District of Montana; however, it has since been remanded back to the Montana District Court.

The Montana AG also petitioned the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) to fine public utilities $1,000 a day for each day it finds they engaged in alleged “deceptive, fraudulent, anticompetitive or abusive practices” and order refunds when consumers were forced to pay more than just and reasonable rates. In February 2004, the MPSC issued an order initiating investigation of the Montana retail electricity market for the purpose of determining whether there is evidence of unlawful manipulation of that market. The Montana AG has requested specific information from Avista Energy and Avista Corp. regarding their transactions within the state of Montana during the period from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001.

Because the resolution of these proceedings remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Montana Public School Trust Fund Lawsuit

In October 2003, a lawsuit was originally filed by two residents of the state of Montana in the United States District Court for the District of Montana against all private owners of hydroelectric dams in Montana, including Avista Corp. The lawsuit alleged that the hydroelectric facilities are located on state-owned riverbeds and the owners of the dams have never paid compensation to the state’s public school trust fund. The lawsuit requests lease payments dating back to the construction of the respective dams and also requests damages for trespassing and unjust enrichment. In February 2004, the Company filed its motion to dismiss this lawsuit; PacifiCorp and PPL Montana, the other named defendants, also filed a motion to dismiss, or joined therein. In May 2004, the Montana AG filed a complaint on behalf of the state in the District Court to join in this lawsuit to allegedly protect and preserve state lands/school trust lands from use without compensation. In July 2004, the defendants (including Avista Corp.) filed a motion to dismiss the Montana AG’s complaint. In September 2004, the motion to dismiss the Montana AG’s

 

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complaint was denied, rejecting the defendants’ argument, among other things, that the FERC has exclusive jurisdiction over this matter. In September 2005, the U.S. District Court issued an order vacating its prior decision based on lack of jurisdiction.

In November 2004, the defendants (including Avista Corp.) filed a petition for declaratory relief in Montana State Court requesting the resolution of the claim that the plaintiffs raised in federal court, as discussed above, and the Montana AG filed an answer, counterclaim and motion for summary judgment. In June 2005, Avista Corp. moved for leave to amend its complaint to, inter alia, add two causes of action relating to breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation arising out of its Clark Fork Settlement Agreement that was entered into in 1999 with the state of Montana relating to the relicensing of Avista Corp.’s Noxon Rapids Hydroelectric Generating Project. On April 14, 2006, the Montana State Court granted the Montana AG’s motion for summary judgment and denied Avista Corp.’s motion to amend its complaint to add its breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation claims. However, the Montana State Court granted Avista Corp.’s motion to amend its complaint to contend that the Clark Fork River is not navigable. The Company contends that if the Clark Fork River was not navigable at the time of statehood in 1889, the state of Montana never acquired ownership of the riverbeds under the equal footing doctrine. The Court determined that the Montana AG’s claims for compensation were not preempted by the Federal Power Act because the claims were not, on their face, in conflict with Montana law, nor were they preempted by a federal navigational right for purposes of interstate commerce. The Court also rejected defenses based on estoppel, waiver, and the statute of limitations. The Court did not relieve the Montana AG, however, of its obligation to prove that the state of Montana actually owns the riverbeds or that the land is part of a school trust under the Montana Constitution. In addition, the question of whether there is federal preemption under the Federal Power Act, not on its face, but as actually applied in these circumstances, and the question of compensation, still remain open issues in the case. On May 16, 2006, the state of Montana filed a motion for summary judgment on the question of liability. On October 6, 2006, the Company filed several motions, which addressed, among other things, the question of navigability of the Clark Fork River arguing that since the Clark Fork River was not navigable at the time of statehood, the state of Montana never acquired ownership of the riverbeds under the equal footing doctrine. Oral arguments on the Company’s motions were heard in December 2006. The Company expects this matter to proceed in the normal course of litigation and a trial date is currently scheduled for October 2007. Mediation of this matter has been scheduled for September 2007. Because the resolution of this lawsuit remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, the Company intends to seek recovery, through the rate making process, of any amounts paid.

Colstrip Generating Project Complaints

In May 2003, various parties (all of which are residents or businesses of Colstrip, Montana) filed a consolidated complaint against the owners of the Colstrip Generating Project (Colstrip) in Montana District Court. Avista Corp. owns a 15 percent interest in Units 3 & 4 of Colstrip. The plaintiffs allege damages to buildings as a result of rising ground water, as well as damages from contaminated waters leaking from the lakes and ponds of Colstrip. The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages, an order by the court to remove the lakes and ponds and the forfeiture of all profits earned from the generation of Colstrip. The owners of Colstrip have undertaken certain groundwater investigation and remediation measures to address groundwater contamination. These measures include improvements to the lakes and ponds of Colstrip.

In March 2007, a group of ranchers filed a consolidated complaint against the owners of Colstrip in Montana District Court. The plaintiffs allege damages to livestock, land and water from contaminated waters leaking from the waste water pond of Colstrip. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified punitive damages.

The Company intends to continue to work with the other owners of Colstrip in defense of these complaints. Because the resolution of these lawsuits remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. However, based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Colstrip Royalty Claim

Western Energy Company (WECO) supplies coal to the owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 under a Coal Supply Agreement and a Transportation Agreement. Avista Corp. owns a 15 percent interest in Colstrip Units 3 & 4. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the United States Department of the Interior issued orders to WECO to pay additional royalties concerning coal delivered to Colstrip Units 3 & 4 via the conveyor belt (4.46 miles long). The owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 take delivery of the coal at the beginning of the conveyor belt. The orders assert that additional royalties are owed MMS as a result of WECO not paying royalties in connection with revenue received by

 

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WECO from the owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 under the Transportation Agreement during the period October 1, 1991 through December 31, 2004. WECO’s appeal to the MMS for the period through 2001 was substantially denied in March 2005; WECO has now appealed the orders pertaining to the periods up to 2001 to the Board of Land Appeals of the U.S. Department of the Interior. WECO has also filed an appeal with the MMS pertaining to the period from 2002 to 2004. The entire appeal process could take several years to resolve. The owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 are monitoring the appeal process between WECO and MMS. WECO has indicated to the owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 that if WECO is unsuccessful in the appeal process, WECO will seek reimbursement of any royalty payments by passing these costs through the Coal Supply Agreement. The owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 advised WECO that their position would be that these claims are not allowable costs per the Coal Supply Agreement nor the Transportation Agreement in the event the owners of Colstrip Units 3 & 4 were invoiced for these claims. Presumably, royalty and tax demands for periods of time after the years in dispute and future years will be determined by the outcome of the pending proceedings. Because the resolution of this issue remains uncertain, legal counsel cannot express an opinion on the extent, if any, of the Company’s liability. Based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not expect that this issue will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, the Company would most likely seek recovery, through the rate making process, of any amounts paid.

Spokane River

The Company has entered into a settlement with the state of Washington’s Department of Ecology (DOE) and Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation (Kaiser) relating to the remediation of a contaminated site on the Spokane River. The Company’s involvement with this contaminated site relates to its previous ownership of a wastewater treatment plant through Avista Development. Under the agreement with the DOE and Kaiser, the Company is performing the selected remedial action under the Cleanup Action Plan. Kaiser, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, paid the Company approximately 50 percent of the estimated total costs, which was approved by the Kaiser bankruptcy judge. The funds from Kaiser have been used by the Company to pay a portion of the costs of the remediation. The Company accrued its share of the total estimated costs, which was not material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Under the direction of the Company, work under the Cleanup Action Plan was substantially completed by January 2007. Some minor final work should be completed in the second half of 2007.

Northeast Combustion Turbine Site

In August 2005, a diesel fuel spill occurred at the Company’s Northeast Combustion Turbine generating facility (Northeast CT) located in Spokane, Washington. The Northeast CT site had fuel storage facilities that were leased to Co-op Supply, Inc., an affiliate of Cenex Cooperative (Co-op). The fuel spill occurred when Co-op made a delivery of diesel to a tank that was already nearly full, causing excess fuel to overflow into a containment area. Fuel escaped the containment area and leaked into the soil below it. The Company immediately commenced remediation efforts, including the removal of contaminated soil and the related fuel storage facilities. The Company accrued the estimated cleanup costs during 2005, which was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations. Through mediation the Company recovered a substantial portion of the cleanup costs from Co-op and an engineering firm in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company’s estimate of its liability could change in future periods. Based on information currently known to the Company’s management, the Company does not believe that such a change would be material to its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Harbor Oil Inc. Site

Avista Corp. used Harbor Oil Inc. (Harbor Oil) for the recycling of waste oil and non-PCB transformer oil in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In June 2005, EPA Region 10 provided notification to Avista Corp., as a customer of Harbor Oil, that the EPA had determined that hazardous substances were released at the Harbor Oil site in Portland, Oregon and that Avista Corp. may be liable for investigation and cleanup of the site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly referred to as the federal “Superfund” law. Harbor Oil’s primary business was the collection and blending of used oil for sale as fuel to ships at sea. The initial indication from the EPA is that the site may be contaminated with PCBs, petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents and heavy metals. Thirteen other companies received a similar notice, including current and former owners of the site. Six potentially responsible parties, including Avista Corp., signed an Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA on May 31, 2007 to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS). The total cost of the RI/FS is estimated to be $0.6 million and will take approximately 2 1/2 years to complete. The actual cleanup, if any, will not occur until the RI/FS is complete. Based on the review of its records related to Harbor Oil, the Company does not believe it is a major contributor to this potential environmental contamination based on the relative volume of waste oil delivered to the Harbor Oil site. However, there is currently not enough information to allow the Company to assess the probability or amount of a liability, if any, being incurred. As such, it is not possible to make an estimate of any liability at this time.

 

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Lake Coeur d’Alene

In July 1998, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho issued its finding that the Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho (Tribe) owns, among other things, portions of the bed and banks of Lake Coeur d’Alene (Lake) lying within the current boundaries of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. This action had been brought by the United States on behalf of the Tribe against the state of Idaho. The Company was not a party to this action. The United States District Court decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The United States Supreme Court affirmed this decision in June 2001. This ownership decision will result in, among other things, the Company being liable to the Tribe for compensation for the use of reservation lands under Section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act.

The Company’s Post Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station (Post Falls), a facility constructed in 1906 with annual generation of 10 aMW, utilizes a dam on the Spokane River downstream of the Lake which controls the water level in the Lake for portions of the year (including portions of the lakebed owned by the Tribe). The Company has other hydroelectric facilities on the Spokane River downstream of Post Falls, but these facilities do not affect the water level in the Lake. The Company and the Tribe are engaged in discussions related to past and future compensation (which may include interest) for use of the portions of the bed and banks of the Lake, which are owned by the Tribe. If the parties cannot agree on the amount of compensation, the matter could result in litigation. The Company cannot predict the amount of compensation that it will ultimately pay or the terms of such payment. The Company intends to seek recovery, through the rate making process, of any amounts paid.

Spokane River Relicensing

The Company owns and operates six hydroelectric plants on the Spokane River, and five of these (Long Lake, Nine Mile, Upper Falls, Monroe Street and Post Falls, which have a total present capability of 155.7 MW) are under one FERC license and are referred to as the Spokane River Project. The sixth, Little Falls, is operated under separate Congressional authority and is not licensed by the FERC. Since the FERC was unable to issue new license orders prior to the August 1, 2007 expiration of the current license, an annual license has been issued, in effect extending the current license and its conditions. The Company has no reason to believe that Spokane River Project operations will be interrupted in any manner relative to the timing of the FERC’s actions.

The Company filed a Notice of Intent to Relicense in July 2002. The formal consultation process involving planning and information gathering with stakeholder groups has been underway since that time. The Company filed its new license applications with the FERC in July 2005. The Company has requested the FERC to consider a license for Post Falls, which has a present capability of 18 MW, that is separate from the other four hydroelectric plants because Post Falls presents more complex issues that may take longer to resolve than those dealing with the rest of the Spokane River Project. If granted, new licenses would have a term of 30 to 50 years. In the license applications, the Company proposed a number of measures intended to address the impact of the Spokane River Project and enhance resources associated with the Spokane River.

Since the Company’s July 2005 filing of applications to relicense the Spokane River Project, the FERC has continued various stages of processing the applications. In May 2006, the FERC issued a notice calling for terms and conditions regarding the two license applications. In response to that notice, a number of parties (including the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, the state of Idaho, Washington State agencies, and the United States Department of Interior (DOI)) filed either recommended terms and conditions, pursuant to Sections 10(a) and 10(j) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), or mandatory conditions related to the Post Falls application, pursuant to Section 4(e) of the FPA. The Company’s initial estimate of the potential cost of the conditions proposed for Post Falls total between $400 million and $500 million over a 50-year period. For the rest of the Spokane River Project, which is located in Washington, the Company’s initial estimate of the cost of meeting the recommended conditions, should they be included in a final license, totaled between $175 million and $225 million over a 50-year period. These cost estimates were based on the preliminary conditions and recommendations.

The Company requested a trial-type hearing on facts in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) related to the DOI’s mandatory conditions for Post Falls. In January 2007, the ALJ issued his ruling regarding the Company’s challenge of the facts. The Company believes that the ALJ’s factual findings supported, in several key areas, its analysis of the facts at hand. The ALJ’s factual findings also supported the DOI’s analysis in certain areas as well.

 

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The DOI issued final mandatory conditions for Post Falls on May 7, 2007. The final conditions did change reflecting the findings of the ALJ. Most significantly, the DOI dropped an earlier proposed fishery condition. However, the DOI increased obligations that the Company could incur in other areas, such as wetlands restoration.

In July 2007, the FERC issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) after review and consideration of comments. This is the last administrative step for the FERC before the issuance of license orders; however the FERC cannot proceed until several other matters are resolved, including Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act issues as disclosed below. The Company is in the process of reviewing the FEIS. While the Company believes the ultimate cost of relicensing will be less than its earlier projections as disclosed above, the Company is unable to base specific new cost estimates on its analysis of the final terms and conditions issued by the DOI and the FEIS at this point.

The relicensing process also triggers review under the Endangered Species Act. In the FEIS, the FERC analyzed potential project impacts on listed and threatened endangered species, and has determined that the proposed action and continued operation of the Post Falls and Spokane River projects is not likely to adversely affect any threatened or endangered species. The Company prepared a draft Biological Assessment in 2005. The FERC has issued a Biological Assessment and formally requested concurrence from the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS responded by letter, concurring with regards to bald eagles, and requesting additional information regarding bull trout. The Company has filed a supplemental report to address the USFWS information request. If the FERC initiates formal consultation with the USFWS, additional evaluation will be required by the Company.

In addition, the Company must receive Clean Water Act Certifications from the states of Idaho and Washington for the Projects. Applications for such certification were filed last July with each state; the FERC is precluded from issuing a license order until such certification has been issued, or waived, by the states. The Company cannot predict the schedule for these final phases of relicensing.

The total annual operating and capitalized costs associated with the relicensing of the Spokane River Project will become better known and estimable as the process continues. The Company intends to seek recovery, through the rate making process, of all such operating and capitalized costs.

Clark Fork Settlement Agreement

Dissolved atmospheric gas levels exceed state of Idaho and federal water quality standards downstream of the Cabinet Gorge Hydroelectric Generating Project (Cabinet Gorge) during periods when excess river flows must be diverted over the spillway. Under the terms of the Clark Fork Settlement Agreement, the Company developed an abatement and mitigation strategy with the other signatories to the agreement and completed the Gas Supersaturation Control Program (GSCP). The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the USFWS approved the GSCP in February 2004 and the FERC issued an order approving the GSCP in January 2005.

The GSCP provides for the opening and modification of one and, potentially, both of the two existing diversion tunnels built when Cabinet Gorge was originally constructed. When river flows exceed the capacity of the powerhouse turbines, the excess flows would be diverted to the tunnels rather than released over the spillway. The Company has undertaken physical and computer modeling studies to confirm the feasibility and likely effectiveness of its tunnel solution. The Company has completed its preliminary design development efforts (which include additional computer model studies, some site investigation, and preliminary engineering design) and the cost estimates have been updated. Analysis of the predicted total dissolved gas (TDG) performance indicates that the tunnels are unlikely to meet the performance criteria anticipated in the GSCP. The costs of modifying the first tunnel are now estimated to be $58 million (using 2006 dollars with inflation projected at 5 percent) with the majority of these costs to be incurred in 2008 through 2012, an increase from prior estimates of $38 million and an extension of the schedule. The calculated updated cost estimates to modify the second tunnel are $39 million, an increase from prior estimates of $26 million. The second tunnel would be modified only after evaluation of the performance of the first tunnel and such modifications would commence no later than ten years following the completion of the first tunnel. The increases in costs are mainly due to inflation and large increases in materials costs, such as concrete and steel. Efforts will continue throughout 2007 toward the completion of a final Design Development Report, which will include updated tunnel performance predictions, cost estimates, and schedule. As a result of the predicted TDG performance, the new cost estimates and extension of the schedule, the Company will continue meeting with stakeholders to explore amending the GSCP and possible alternatives to the construction of the tunnels. The Company intends to seek recovery, through the rate making process, of the costs to address the dissolved atmospheric gas levels, including the mitigation payments.

 

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The USFWS has listed bull trout as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Clark Fork Settlement Agreement describes programs intended to restore bull trout populations in the project area. Using the concept of adaptive management and working closely with the USFWS, the Company is evaluating the feasibility of fish passage at Cabinet Gorge and Noxon Rapids. The results of these studies will help the Company and other parties determine the best use of funds toward continuing fish passage efforts or other bull trout population enhancement measures.

Air Quality

The Company must be in compliance with requirements under the Clean Air Act and Clean Air Act Amendments for its thermal generating plants. The Company continues to monitor legislative developments at both the state and national level for the potential of further restrictions on sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide (including cap and trade emission reduction programs), as well as other greenhouse gas and mercury emissions.

In particular, the EPA has finalized mercury emission regulations that will affect coal-fired generation plants, including Colstrip. The new EPA regulations establish an emission trading program to take effect beginning in January 2010, with a second phase to take effect in 2018. In addition, in 2006, the Montana DEQ adopted final rules for the control of mercury emissions from coal-fired plants that are more restrictive than EPA regulations. The new rules set strict mercury emission limits by 2010, and put in place a recurring ten-year review process to ensure facilities are keeping pace with advancing technology in mercury emission control. The rules also provide for temporary alternate emission limits provided certain provisions are met, and they allocate mercury emission credits in a manner that rewards the cleanest facilities. Avista Corp. owns a 15 percent interest in Colstrip Units 3 & 4, located in Montana.

Compliance with these new and proposed requirements and possible additional legislation or regulations will result in increases to capital expenditures and operating expenses for expanded emission controls at the Company’s thermal generating facilities. The Company, along with the other owners of Colstrip, are in the process of testing technologies and computing estimates for the amount of these costs and the impact the restrictions will have on the operation of the facilities. The Company will continue to seek recovery, through the rate making process, of the costs to comply with various air quality requirements.

Residential Exchange Program

The residential exchange program provides access to the benefits of low-cost federal hydroelectricity to residential and small-farm customers of the region’s investor-owned utilities. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) administers the residential exchange program under the Northwest Power Act. Previously, Avista Corp. and the other investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in the Pacific Northwest had executed settlement agreements with BPA to resolve each party’s rights and obligations under the residential exchange program. These settlements covered payment of benefits for the period October 1, 2001, through September 30, 2011. The payments Avista Corp. received under the agreements with BPA were passed through directly to its residential and small-farm customers via a credit to their monthly electric bills.

At the time the settlement agreements were concluded, several public power and other parties filed suit against BPA in the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging the validity of the agreements between Avista Corp. and BPA, as well as BPA’s agreements with the other IOUs. And on May 3, 2007, the Ninth Circuit ruled that BPA had exceeded its authority when it entered into the settlement agreements with the IOUs (including Avista Corp.) for the period from 2001 through 2011. The panel concluded that those settlement agreements were inconsistent with the Northwest Power Act. BPA concluded that the Ninth Circuit’s decisions created substantial doubt about whether its certifying official could allow continuation of payments under the settlement agreements. Consequently, on May 21, 2007, the BPA notified Avista Corp. and the other IOUs that it was immediately suspending payments made to the IOUs pursuant to settlement agreements. In its May 21, 2007 notice, BPA indicated that the suspension of payments would continue at least until any requests for rehearing were filed and the Ninth Circuit issued final decisions on those requests for rehearing. On July 18, 2007 Avista Corp. and numerous other parties, including the Public Utility Commission of Oregon and the WUTC, filed Petitions for Review, en banc, in the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging the ruling of panel that struck down the settlement agreements.

With approval from the WUTC and the IPUC, Avista Corp. has eliminated from its customers’ monthly electric bills, the credit associated with the settlement agreements with BPA. Avista Corp. has an over-refunded balance of approximately $4.7 million ($3.2 million in Washington and $1.5 million in Idaho). Avista Corp. will recover the over-refund in Idaho through an approved surcharge to customers, and expects to ultimately recover the over-refund in Washington, either through a charge to customers or future payments from BPA. The over-refunded balance results from the timing of payments received from the BPA and allocation of those funds to customers based on seasonal demand. When the existing rate credit was established it was projected that the balancing account would reach zero at the end of the contract year (October 2007).

 

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Since these payments were passed through to Avista Corp.’s customers as adjustments to electric bills, the suspension of payments from BPA is not expected to have any effect on Avista Corp.’s net income. There is currently not enough information to allow Avista Corp. to assess the probability or amount of any potential liability that may be incurred related to any issues regarding payments made to Avista Corp. pursuant to the settlement agreements. Since 2001, Avista Corp. has passed through to its customers approximately $70 million pursuant to the settlement agreements.

Other Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company has various other legal claims and contingent matters outstanding. The Company believes that any ultimate liability arising from these actions will not have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. It is possible that a change could occur in the Company’s estimates of the probability or amount of a liability being incurred. Such a change, should it occur, could be significant.

NOTE 13. POTENTIAL HOLDING COMPANY FORMATION

At the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May 2006, the shareholders of Avista Corp. approved a proposal to proceed with a statutory share exchange, which would change the Company’s organization to a holding company structure. The holding company, currently named AVA Formation Corp. (AVA), would become the parent of Avista Corp. After the contemplated dividend to AVA of the capital stock of Avista Capital (Avista Capital Dividend) now held by Avista Corp., AVA would then also be the parent of Avista Capital. The Avista Capital Dividend would effect the structural separation of Avista Corp.’s non-utility businesses from its regulated utility business. Since the company’s 9.75 percent Senior Notes due June 1, 2008 contain a restriction that would prohibit the Avista Capital Dividend (but not the holding company structure), the dividend would not be distributed until the Senior Notes are retired.

Avista Corp. received approval from the FERC in April 2006 (conditioned on approval by the state regulatory agencies), the IPUC in June 2006 and the WUTC in February 2007. Avista Corp. has also filed for approval from the utility regulators in Oregon and Montana and proceedings are pending in each of these jurisdictions. The statutory share exchange is subject to the receipt of the remaining regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions. If the statutory share exchange and the implementation of the holding company structure are approved by regulators on terms acceptable to the Company, it may be completed sometime in 2008.

The IPUC accepted a stipulation entered into between Avista Corp. and the IPUC Staff that sets forth a variety of conditions, which would serve to segregate the Company’s utility operations from the other businesses conducted by the holding company. The stipulation would require Avista Corp. to maintain certain common equity levels as part of its capital structure. Avista Corp. has committed to increase its actual utility common equity component to 35 percent by the end of 2007 and 38 percent by the end of 2008, which is consistent with provisions of the Company’s Washington general rate case implemented on January 1, 2006. The calculation of the utility equity component is essentially the ratio of Avista Corp.’s total common equity to total capitalization excluding, in each case, Avista Corp.’s investment in Avista Capital. In addition, IPUC approval would be required for any dividend from Avista Corp. to the holding company that would reduce utility common equity below 25 percent of total capitalization which, for this purpose, includes long and short-term debt, capitalized lease obligations and preferred and common equity.

The WUTC accepted a similar stipulation entered into between Avista Corp. and the WUTC staff. The stipulation requires Avista Corp. to increase its actual utility common equity component to 40 percent by June 30, 2008. In addition, WUTC approval would be required for any dividend from Avista Corp. to the holding company that would reduce utility common equity below 30 percent of total capitalization.

Pursuant to the Plan of Share Exchange, a statutory share exchange would be effected whereby each outstanding share of Avista Corp. common stock would be exchanged for one share of AVA common stock, no par value, so that holders of Avista Corp. common stock would become holders of AVA common stock and Avista Corp. would become a subsidiary of AVA. The other outstanding securities of Avista Corp. would not be affected by the statutory share exchange, with limited exceptions for stock options and other securities outstanding under equity compensation and employee benefit plans.

 

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NOTE 14. RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

During preparation of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, the Company determined that SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions” was inadvertently not followed in connection with a plan under which benefits are provided to the beneficiaries of former and current executive officers of the Company in case of death. The Company has not previously recognized the actuarial liability or costs relating to this plan in its financial statements since the plan’s inception in 1989.

The Company has determined that this accounting error is not material to its previously issued financial statements. As such, in accordance with the provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” the Company will reflect the correction of this error in those financial statements when they are included in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this Form 10-Q and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The restatement adjustments have the cumulative effect of reducing retained earnings by $2.1 million as of January 1, 2005. The adjustments increase pensions and other postretirement liabilities by $3.6 million, decrease non-current deferred tax liabilities by $1.3 million, decrease accumulated other comprehensive loss by $0.2 million and decrease retained earnings by $2.5 million as of December 31, 2006. In addition, previously reported net income of $73.1 million and $45.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 will each be reduced by $0.2 million.

As the restatement adjustments are not material to the results of operations for fiscal year 2006 or any quarterly period of 2006, the Company has not restated its Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. The effect of the restatement adjustments on affected line items of the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006 was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     As
Previously
Reported
    Adjustments    

As

Restated

 

Pensions and other postretirement benefits

   $ 100,033     $ 3,571     $ 103,604  

Deferred income taxes

     461,006       (1,250 )     459,756  

Total other non-current liabilities and deferred credits

     1,131,196       2,321       1,133,517  

Total liabilities

     3,139,662       2,321       3,141,983  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (17,966 )     150       (17,816 )

Retained earnings

     219,192       (2,471 )     216,721  

Total stockholders’ equity

     916,846       (2,321 )     914,525  

NOTE 15. INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The business segment presentation reflects the basis currently used by the Company’s management to analyze performance and determine the allocation of resources. Avista Utilities’ business is managed based on the total regulated utility operation. The Energy Marketing and Resource Management business segment primarily consisted of electricity and natural gas marketing, trading and resource management, including optimization of energy assets owned by other entities and derivative commodity instruments such as futures, options, swaps and other contractual arrangements. On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada completed the sale of substantially all of their contracts and ongoing operations. This transaction effectively ends substantially all of the operations of the Energy Marketing and Resource Management business segment. See Note 3 for further information. Advantage IQ is a provider of facility information and cost management services for multi-site customers throughout North America. The Other business segment includes other investments and operations of various subsidiaries as well as certain other operations of Avista Capital.

 

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The following table presents information for each of the Company’s business segments (dollars in thousands):

 

     Avista
Utilities
   Energy
Marketing
and
Resource
Management
    Advantage
IQ
   Other     Intersegment
Eliminations (1)
    Total

For the three months ended June 30, 2007:

              

Operating revenues

   $ 267,997    $ 19,398     $ 11,415    $ 5,195     $ —       $ 304,005

Resource costs

     135,520      18,386       —        —         —         153,906

Gross margin

     132,477      1,012       —        —         —         133,489

Other operating expenses

     50,191      8,336       8,629      5,207       —         72,363

Depreciation and amortization

     21,298      167       601      402       —         22,468

Income (loss) from operations

     45,938      (7,491 )     2,185      (414 )     —         40,218

Interest expense (2)

     22,047      71       72      253       (392 )     22,051

Income taxes

     9,412      (967 )     777      (433 )     —         8,789

Net income (loss)

     17,257      (3,938 )     1,310      (446 )     —         14,183

Capital expenditures

     52,071      112       494      44       —         52,721

For the three months ended June 30, 2006:

              

Operating revenues

   $ 258,076    $ 14,315     $ 9,545    $ 5,458     $ —       $ 287,394

Resource costs

     122,086      18,196       —        —         —         140,282

Gross margin

     135,990      (3,881 )     —        —         —         132,109

Other operating expenses

     48,218      4,773       6,497      5,299       —         64,787

Depreciation and amortization

     20,111      252       485      576       —         21,424

Income (loss) from operations

     49,338      (8,906 )     2,563      (417 )     —         42,578

Interest expense (2)

     23,826      53       158      523       (586 )     23,974

Income taxes

     10,067      (2,486 )     848      (561 )     —         7,868

Net income (loss)

     16,879      (4,610 )     1,558      (368 )     —         13,459

Capital expenditures

     43,535      268       602      16       —         44,421

For the six months ended June 30, 2007:

              

Operating revenues

   $ 682,263    $ 48,807     $ 22,414    $ 9,708     $ —       $ 763,192

Resource costs

     405,506      56,113       —        —         —         461,619

Gross margin

     276,757      (7,306 )     —        —         —         269,451

Other operating expenses

     99,232      13,420       16,456      9,432       —         138,540

Depreciation and amortization

     42,388      345       1,197      903       —         44,833

Income (loss) from operations

     96,092      (21,071 )     4,761      (627 )     —         79,155

Interest expense (2)

     44,050      154       153      442       (565 )     44,234

Income taxes

     20,407      (5,298 )     1,689      (522 )     —         16,276

Net income (loss)

     37,184      (11,561 )     2,894      (240 )     —         28,277

Capital expenditures

     92,626      318       1,252      419       —         94,615

For the six months ended June 30, 2006:

              

Operating revenues

   $ 681,366    $ 75,857     $ 18,622    $ 10,751     $ —       $ 786,596

Resource costs

     393,691      68,323       —        —         —         462,014

Gross margin

     287,675      7,534       —        —         —         295,209

Other operating expenses

     93,945      9,527       12,660      10,693       —         126,825

Depreciation and amortization

     41,091      593       1,000      1,168       —         43,852

Income (loss) from operations

     112,250      (2,586 )     4,962      (1,110 )     —         113,516

Interest expense (2)

     47,506      99       354      1,091       (1,227 )     47,823

Income taxes

     25,878      223       1,623      (1,339 )     —         26,385

Net income (loss)

     43,051      436       2,985      (1,441 )     —         45,031

Capital expenditures

     73,278      539       967      17       —         74,801

Total Assets:

              

Total assets as of June 30, 2007

   $ 2,844,371    $ 315,119     $ 102,330    $ 43,310     $ —       $ 3,305,130

Total assets as of December 31, 2006

     2,895,883      1,017,203       100,431      42,991       —         4,056,508

(1) Intersegment eliminations reported as interest expense represent intercompany interest.
(2) Including interest expense to affiliated trusts.

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Avista Corporation

Spokane, Washington

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Corporation”) as of June 30, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income and of comprehensive income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30 2007 and 2006, and of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein) prior to the restatement described in Note 14 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements; and in our report dated February 26, 2007, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph for certain changes in accounting and presentation resulting from the impact of recently adopted accounting standards. We also audited the adjustments described in Note 14 that were applied to restate the December 31, 2006 consolidated balance sheet of Avista Corporation and subsidiaries (not presented herein). In our opinion, such adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied to the previously issued consolidated balance sheet in deriving the accompanying restated consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

August 6, 2007

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

From time to time, we make forward-looking statements such as statements regarding projected or future:

 

   

financial performance,

 

   

capital expenditures,

 

   

dividends,

 

   

capital structure,

 

   

other financial items,

 

   

strategic goals and objectives, and

 

   

plans for operations.

These statements have underlying assumptions (many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions). Such statements are made both in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), and elsewhere. Forward-looking statements are all statements except those of historical fact including, without limitation, those that are identified by the use of words that include “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “predicts,” and similar expressions.

All forward-looking statements (including those made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors. Most of these factors are beyond our control and many of them could have a significant effect on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. This could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others:

 

 

weather conditions and its effect on energy demand and generation, including the effect of precipitation and temperatures on the availability of hydroelectric resources and the effect of temperatures on customer demand;

 

 

changes in wholesale energy prices that can affect, among other things, cash needed to purchase electricity, natural gas for our retail customers and natural gas fuel for electric generation, and the value of surplus energy sold, as well as the market value of derivative assets and liabilities;

 

 

volatility and illiquidity in wholesale energy markets, including the availability of generation and prices of purchased energy and demand for energy sales;

 

 

the effect of state and federal regulatory decisions affecting our ability to recover costs and/or earn a reasonable return including, but not limited to, the disallowance of costs that we have deferred;

 

 

the outcome of pending regulatory and legal proceedings arising out of the “western energy crisis” of 2000 and 2001, and including possible retroactive price caps and resulting refunds;

 

 

the outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies concerning us or affecting directly or indirectly our operations;

 

 

the potential effects of any legislation or administrative rulemaking passed into law, including the possible adoption of national, regional, or state laws requiring all new resources to meet certain standards and placing restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming;

 

 

changes in, and compliance with, environmental and endangered species laws, regulations, decisions and policies, including present and potential environmental remediation costs;

 

 

the potential impact of changes to electric transmission ownership, operation and governance, such as the formation of one or more regional transmission organizations or similar entities;

 

 

wholesale and retail competition including, but not limited to, electric retail wheeling and transmission costs;

 

 

the ability to relicense and maintain licenses for our hydroelectric generating facilities at cost-effective levels with reasonable terms and conditions;

 

 

unplanned outages at any of our generating facilities or the inability of facilities to operate as intended;

 

 

unanticipated delays or changes in construction costs, as well as our ability to obtain required operating permits for present or prospective facilities;

 

 

natural disasters that can disrupt energy production or delivery, as well as the availability and costs of materials and supplies and support services;

 

 

blackouts or disruptions of interconnected transmission systems;

 

 

the potential for future terrorist attacks or other malicious acts, particularly with respect to our utility assets;

 

 

changes in the long-term climate of the Pacific Northwest, which can affect, among other things, customer demand patterns and the volume and timing of streamflows to our hydroelectric resources;

 

 

changes in future economic conditions in our service territory and the United States in general, including inflation or deflation and monetary policy;

 

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changes in industrial, commercial and residential growth and demographic patterns in our service territory;

 

 

the loss of significant customers and/or suppliers;

 

 

failure to deliver on the part of any parties from which we purchase and/or sell capacity or energy;

 

 

changes in the creditworthiness of our customers and energy trading counterparties;

 

 

our ability to obtain financing through the issuance of debt and/or equity securities, which can be affected by various factors including our credit ratings, interest rates and other capital market conditions;

 

 

the effect of any change in our credit ratings;

 

 

changes in actuarial assumptions, the interest rate environment and the actual return on plan assets for our pension plan, which can affect future funding obligations, costs and pension plan liabilities;

 

 

increasing health care costs and the resulting effect on health insurance premiums paid for our employees and retirees;

 

 

increasing costs of insurance, changes in coverage terms and our ability to obtain insurance;

 

 

employee issues, including changes in collective bargaining unit agreements, strikes, work stoppages or the loss of key executives, as well as our ability to recruit and retain employees;

 

 

the potential effects of negative publicity regarding business practices, whether true or not, which could result in, among other things, costly litigation and a decline in our common stock price;

 

 

changes in technologies, possibly making some of the current technology quickly obsolete;

 

 

changes in tax rates and/or policies; and

 

 

changes in our strategic business plans and/or our subsidiaries, which may be affected by any or all of the foregoing, including the entry into new businesses and/or the exit from existing businesses.

Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith. We believe they have a reasonable basis including, without limitation, an examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. However, there can be no assurance that our expectations, beliefs or projections will be achieved or accomplished. Furthermore, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors, nor can we assess the effect of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any such factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

The following discussion and analysis is provided for the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Avista Corp. and its subsidiaries. This discussion focuses on significant factors concerning our financial condition and results of operations and should be read along with the consolidated financial statements.

Potential Holding Company Formation

In May 2006, our shareholders approved a proposal to proceed with a statutory share exchange, which would change our organization to a holding company structure. If the implementation of the holding company structure is approved by all regulators on terms acceptable to us, it may be completed sometime in 2008. See further information at “Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Business Segments

We have four business segments as follows:

 

   

Avista Utilities – generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy and distribution of natural gas to retail customers, as well as wholesale purchases and sales of energy commodities. Avista Utilities is an operating division of Avista Corp. comprising our regulated utility operations.

 

   

Energy Marketing and Resource Management – electricity and natural gas marketing, trading and resource management. The activities of this business segment were conducted primarily by Avista Energy, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Avista Corp. On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada completed the sale of substantially all of their contracts and ongoing operations. Completion of this transaction will effectively end substantially all of the operations of this business segment.

 

   

Advantage IQ – facility information and cost management services for multi-site customers. The activities of this business segment are conducted by Advantage IQ, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Avista Corp.

 

   

Other – includes sheet metal fabrication, venture fund investments and real estate investments. The activities of this business segment are conducted by various indirect subsidiaries of Avista Corp., including Advanced Manufacturing and Development (AM&D), doing business as METALfx.

 

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Avista Energy, Advantage IQ and the various companies in the Other business segment are subsidiaries of Avista Capital, which is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Avista Corp. Our total common stockholders’ equity was $926.6 million as of June 30, 2007, of which $230.3 million represented our investment in Avista Capital.

The following table presents net income (loss) for each of our business segments for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Avista Utilities

   $ 17,257     $ 16,879     $ 37,184     $ 43,051  

Energy Marketing and Resource Management

     (3,938 )     (4,610 )     (11,561 )     436  

Advantage IQ

     1,310       1,558       2,894       2,985  

Other

     (446 )     (368 )     (240 )     (1,441 )
                                

Net income

   $ 14,183     $ 13,459     $ 28,277     $ 45,031  
                                

Executive Level Summary

Overall

Our operating results and cash flows have been derived primarily from:

 

   

regulated utility operations (Avista Utilities),

 

   

energy trading, marketing and resource management activities (Avista Energy in the Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment), and

 

   

Advantage IQ.

We intend to continue to focus on improving earnings and operating cash flows, controlling costs and reducing debt, while working to restore an investment grade credit rating.

On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada completed the sale of substantially all of their contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy Holding, L.P. (Coral Energy), as well as to certain other subsidiaries of Coral Energy. After closing costs and other adjustments, the transaction resulted in a pre-tax loss of $4.2 million. Proceeds from the transaction will include cash consideration for the net assets acquired by Coral Energy and liquidation of the net current assets of Avista Energy not sold to Coral Energy (primarily receivables, restricted cash and deposits with counterparties). Over time, we plan to redeploy the majority of the estimated $170 million of proceeds from the transaction into our regulated utility operations. Also, we have retained natural gas storage rights and facilities for the period subsequent to April 2011 and the power purchase agreement for the Lancaster Plant for the period 2010 through 2026. We plan to use these assets and contracts in our utility operations, subject to future regulatory approval.

Our net income was $14.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $13.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was primarily due to a decrease in the net loss for the Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment (Avista Energy) and an increase in net income at Avista Utilities, partially offset by lower earnings at Advantage IQ. Our net income was $28.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $45.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease was primarily due to a net loss at Avista Energy and lower earnings at Avista Utilities.

Avista Utilities

Avista Utilities is our most significant business segment. Our utility operating and financial performance is dependent upon, among other things:

 

   

weather conditions,

 

   

the price of natural gas in the wholesale market, including the effect on the price of fuel for generation,

 

   

the price of electricity in the wholesale market, including the effects of weather conditions, natural gas prices and other factors affecting supply and demand, and

 

   

regulatory decisions, allowing our utility to recover costs, including purchased power and fuel costs, on a timely basis, and to earn a fair return on investment.

Weather has a significant effect on our utility operations. Weather can impact customer demand and operating revenues and we normally have our highest retail (electric and natural gas) energy sales during the winter heating season in the first and fourth quarters of the year. We also have high electricity demand for air conditioning during the summer (third quarter). In general, warmer weather in the heating season and cooler weather in the cooling season will reduce operating revenues. In addition, a reduction in precipitation (particularly winter snowpack) can negatively impact electric resource costs by decreasing hydroelectric generation capability and increasing the costs for fuel to run thermal generation. This also increases the need for cash to purchase electric resources in the

 

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wholesale market. Regional precipitation and snowpack conditions typically have a significant effect on the wholesale price of electricity. In addition, high demand for electricity will generally increase the cost of fuel for electric generation and wholesale electric market prices.

Our hydroelectric generation was 104 percent of normal in 2006. For 2007, we are forecasting hydroelectric generation to be near normal. This 2007 forecast will be revised based on precipitation, temperatures and other variables during the remainder of the year.

We are subject to electric and natural gas commodity price risk. In general, price risk is the risk of fluctuation in the market price of the commodity needed, held or traded. Changes in energy commodity prices have a significant effect on our liquidity, as well as the market value of derivative assets and liabilities and unrealized gains and losses. Our utility operation has regulatory mechanisms in place that provide for the deferral and recovery of the majority of power and natural gas supply costs. However, if prices increase above the level currently recovered in retail rates during periods when we must purchase energy, power and natural gas deferral balances will increase. This would negatively affect operating cash flows and liquidity until such costs, with interest, are recovered from customers.

Our utility net income was $17.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, an increase from $16.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 primarily due to a decrease in interest expense and taxes other than income taxes. This was partially offset by a decrease in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) and an increase in other operating expenses. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to the difference in electric resource costs as compared to the amount included in base retail rates. We recognized a benefit of $0.8 million under the Washington Energy Recovery Mechanism (ERM) for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a benefit of $2.0 million under the ERM for the three months ended June 30, 2006. It is important to note that the amounts recognized under the ERM can vary significantly from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors including changes in purchased power and fuel costs as well as the level of hydroelectric generation.

Our utility net income was $37.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease from $43.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 primarily due to a decrease in gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs). The decrease was also due to an increase in other operating expenses. This was partially offset by a decrease in interest expense. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to the difference in electric resource costs as compared to the amount included in base retail rates. We recognized an expense of $2.4 million under the ERM for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a benefit of $7.2 million under the ERM for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

We plan to continue to invest in generation, transmission and distribution systems with a focus on providing reliable service to our customers. Utility capital expenditures were $92.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. We are expecting utility capital expenditures to be in the range of $180 to $190 million for 2007. Significant projects include the continued enhancement of our transmission system and upgrades to our generation facilities.

We are not expecting to receive any general rate increases in 2007 and we expect to absorb expenses under the ERM in 2007 as compared to a benefit in 2006. Based primarily on these factors, utility net income is likely to decrease for 2007 as compared to 2006. We filed a general rate case in Washington in April 2007 requesting rate increases averaging 15.9 percent for electric and 2.3 percent for natural gas. Any rate adjustments, if approved by the WUTC, would most likely become effective in early 2008.

Energy Marketing and Resource Management (Avista Energy)

On June 30, 2007 we sold substantially all of the contracts and ongoing operations of this business.

The historical activities of Avista Energy included:

 

   

trading electricity and natural gas,

 

   

the optimization of generation assets owned by other entities,

 

   

long-term electric supply contracts,

 

   

natural gas storage, and

 

   

electric transmission and natural gas transportation arrangements.

Avista Energy Canada, Ltd. (Avista Energy Canada), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avista Energy, provided natural gas services to end-user industrial and commercial customers in British Columbia, Canada.

Our earnings and cash flows from this business segment have been by nature subject to significant variability because they are derived primarily from the day-to-day trading of electricity and natural gas and optimization of assets owned by other entities, rather than predictable long-term revenue streams. Also, these activities are for the most part subject to mark-to-market accounting. However, this is different from the required accounting for natural

 

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gas storage and certain other assets and contracts. As such, our earnings from Avista Energy have been subject to variability caused by the differences between the estimated market value and the required accounting for these assets and contracts.

Primarily through Avista Energy, we are involved in a number of legal and regulatory proceedings and complaints with respect to power markets in the western United States that remain unresolved. However, we believe that we have adequate reserves established for refunds that may be ordered. Any potential refunds or obligations arising from western power market issues (or any other contingent matters) have been retained by Avista Energy.

The Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment had a net loss of $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a net loss of $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management increased the net loss by $2.9 million from this segment for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and reduced results by $7.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006.

The Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment had a net loss of $11.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to net income of $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management increased the net loss by $6.4 million from this segment for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and reduced net income by $5.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

The lower than expected results from this segment for both the second quarter and year-to-date 2007 were primarily due to:

 

   

underperformance on the power side of the business,

 

   

losses on the power purchase agreement for the Lancaster Plant,

 

   

the difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management, and

 

   

a loss on the net assets sold to Coral Energy.

Advantage IQ

Our subsidiary, Advantage IQ, had net income of $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease from $1.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Advantage IQ’s net income was $2.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease from $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease for each period of 2007 as compared to 2006 was primarily due to an increase in operating expenses from expanding operations that included consulting services received in the second quarter, partially offset by increased operating revenues as a result of customer growth and an increase in interest earnings on funds held for customers.

We are implementing certain strategic investments at Advantage IQ aimed at creating long-term savings that will increase operating and capitalized costs in the short term. This will limit earnings growth from this segment in 2007 while enhancing the long-term profit potential of Advantage IQ.

Other Business Segment

Over time as opportunities arise, we plan to dispose of assets and phase out operations in the Other business segment. However, we may invest incremental funds in these businesses to protect existing investments. The net loss in our Other business segment was $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a net loss of $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The net loss in our Other business segment was $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a net loss of $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This improvement in results on a year-to-date basis was primarily due to net gains on certain long-term venture fund investments in 2007 as compared to net losses in 2006. We are not expecting a significant change in results from this business segment for second half of 2007 as compared to the second half of 2006.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have a committed line of credit in the total amount of $320.0 million with an expiration date of April 2011. There were $16.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the committed line of credit at June 30, 2007.

In March 2007, we amended our accounts receivable sales facility to extend the termination date to March 2008. Under this facility, we can sell without recourse, on a revolving basis, up to $85.0 million of accounts receivable.

Avista Energy had a $145.0 million committed line of credit that was terminated with the closing of the sale of substantially all of its contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy.

 

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In December 2006, we entered into a sales agency agreement with a sales agent to issue up to 2 million shares of our common stock from time to time. Due to the proceeds from the sale and liquidation of Avista Energy’s assets, we are not currently planning to issue any shares under this agreement.

For the remainder of 2007, we expect net cash flows from operating activities, proceeds from the sale and liquidation of Avista Energy’s assets and our $320.0 million committed line of credit to provide adequate resources to fund:

 

   

capital expenditures,

 

   

maturing long-term debt and preferred stock,

 

   

dividends, and

 

   

other contractual commitments.

We have $358 million of long-term debt maturities and mandatory preferred stock redemptions in the remainder of 2007 and 2008. While proceeds from the Avista Energy transaction should reduce our funding needs, our forecasts indicate that we will need to issue new debt securities to fund a portion of these requirements in 2008.

Succession Planning

We have management succession plans that work towards ensuring that executive officer and key management positions can be appropriately filled as vacancies occur. We also have workforce development plans for key technical and craft areas.

Avista Utilities – Regulatory Matters

General Rate Cases

In recent years, we have generally not earned our authorized rates of return in our regulated utility operations. We regularly review the need for electric and natural gas rate changes in each state in which we provide service. We will continue to file for rate adjustments to:

 

   

provide for recovery of operating costs and capital investments, and

 

   

more closely align earned returns with those allowed by regulators.

With regards to the timing and plans for future filings, the assessment of our need for rate relief and the development of rate case plans takes into consideration short-term and long-term needs, as well as specific factors that can affect the timing of rate filings. Such factors include in-service dates of major infrastructure investments and the timing of changes in major revenue and expense items. We are planning to file a natural gas general rate case in Oregon by the end of 2007.

We filed a general rate case in Washington in April 2007. In the general rate case, we have requested to increase electric rates for our Washington customers by an average of 15.9 percent, which is intended to increase annual revenues by $51.1 million. Approximately 40 percent of the increase in electric revenues would provide for an increased level of base power supply costs. A portion of these costs would otherwise be recovered through deferrals under the ERM and as such would not increase net income. We have also requested to increase natural gas rates by an average of 2.3 percent, which is intended to increase annual revenues by $4.5 million. Our request is based on a proposed rate of return of 9.39 percent with a common equity ratio of 47.8 percent and an 11.3 percent return on equity.

In our Washington general rate case filing, we have requested the establishment of a limited-scope proceeding called a Power Cost Only Rate Case. This process would allow us to file for an update to our base power supply and transmission-related revenues and expenses between general rate cases to provide more timely recovery of our costs.

In May 2007, the WUTC issued an order that consolidated our request for an accounting order regarding the accounting for debt repurchase costs into the general rate case filing. The current schedule from the WUTC anticipates an order in the general rate case on or before March 1, 2008.

The following is a summary of our authorized rates of return in each jurisdiction:

 

Jurisdiction and service

   Implementation
Date
   Authorized
Overall Rate
of Return
    Authorized
Return on
Equity
    Authorized
Equity
Level
 

Washington electric and natural gas

   January 2006    9.11 %   10.40 %   40 %

Idaho electric and natural gas

   September 2004    9.25 %   10.40 %   43 %

Oregon natural gas

   October 2003    8.88 %   10.25 %   48 %

 

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As part of the general rate case settlement agreement that was modified and approved by the WUTC Order in December 2005, we agreed to increase the utility equity component to 35 percent by the end of 2007 and 38 percent by the end of 2008. If we do not meet those targets, it could result in a reduction to base rates of 2 percent for each target. The calculation of the utility equity component is essentially the ratio of our total consolidated common equity to total capitalization excluding, in each case, our investment in Avista Capital. The utility equity component was 39.5 percent as of June 30, 2007. We should be able to meet these equity targets through expected earnings and proceeds from the Avista Energy transaction.

Oregon Senate Bill 408

The Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC) issued final rules related to Oregon Senate Bill 408 (OSB 408). OSB 408 was enacted into law in 2005. These rules direct the utility to establish an automatic adjustment clause to account for the difference between income taxes collected in rates and taxes paid to units of government, net of adjustments, when that difference exceeds $100,000. The automatic adjustment clause may result in either rate increases or rate decreases and applies only to taxes paid and collected on or after January 1, 2006.

The final rules provide for an “apportionment method” that uses a three-factor formula consisting of property, payroll and sales for regulated operations of the utility in Oregon as the numerator, and these same factors for the consolidated company as the denominator, to determine the amount of consolidated taxes paid that are properly attributed to Oregon operations. Under the new rules, we will determine the least of:

 

   

the properly attributed amount of taxes paid using the apportionment method,

 

   

the amount of taxes determined on a stand-alone basis for Oregon operations, and

 

   

total consolidated taxes paid.

We will then compare this amount to taxes collected in rates to determine if a refund or surcharge is required.

As required by OPUC orders, we (along with other utilities in Oregon) filed a private letter ruling request with the Internal Revenue Service in December 2006. The private letter ruling request seeks guidance on whether OSB 408 and the related OPUC orders violate normalization rules for accounting for income taxes. Based on an analysis of operating results for prior years and current rules, we recorded a liability for potential refunds to our customers of $1.3 million for 2006 and $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

Natural Gas Decoupling

In February 2007, the WUTC approved the implementation of a natural gas decoupling mechanism. Decoupling separates the direct link between natural gas sales volume and the recovery of the fixed cost of providing service to our customers. Because our rate structure provides for recovery of the majority of fixed costs on a per-therm (sales volume) basis, energy efficiency and conservation objectives have been directly at odds with the recovery of fixed costs, which do not vary with the volume of natural gas sold. Our decoupling mechanism should allow us to recover lost margin resulting from lower usage by Washington customers due to conservation and price elasticity. However, the mechanism will not provide rate adjustments related to abnormal weather. The decoupling mechanism is a three-year “pilot” that began in January 2007. A rate adjustment in any one year would be limited to no more than 2 percent. The filing of the first decoupling rate adjustment will be in the fall of 2007.

Accounting for Debt Repurchase Costs

The WUTC staff raised questions and requested information regarding our method of amortization of costs related to debt repurchased between 2002 and 2006. After discussions with the WUTC staff, we agree that the costs associated with debt repurchases beginning in 2002 should have been accounted for in accordance with FERC General Instruction 17 (FERC 17). In February 2007, we filed a request with the WUTC for an accounting order approving our current accounting treatment for debt repurchase costs. In May 2007, the WUTC issued an order that consolidated this issue into our April 2007 general rate case filing. In the April general rate case filing, we agreed that costs associated with any new repurchases of debt would be accounted for in accordance with FERC General Instruction 17 (FERC 17), and in the event we desire to account for the cost of new debt repurchases differently than prescribed in FERC 17, we would request an accounting order from the WUTC prior to the repurchase. Under FERC 17, debt repurchase costs are amortized over the remaining life of the original debt that was repurchased or, if new debt is issued in connection with the repurchase, these costs can be amortized over the life of the new debt. We have amortized debt repurchase costs over the average remaining maturity of outstanding debt and these costs are currently recovered through retail rates as a component of interest expense. In our request for an accounting order, we are not proposing to change the amortization method for debt repurchase costs incurred prior to December 31, 2006.

Power Cost Deferrals and Recovery Mechanisms

The ERM is an accounting method used to track certain differences between actual power supply costs and the amount included in base retail rates for our Washington customers.

 

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This difference in power supply costs primarily results from changes in:

 

   

short-term wholesale market prices,

 

   

the level of hydroelectric generation, and

 

   

the level of thermal generation (including changes in fuel prices).

The initial amount of power supply costs in excess or below the level in retail rates, which we either incur the cost of, or receive the benefit from, is referred to as the deadband. The annual deadband amount is currently $4.0 million. We will incur the cost of, or receive the benefit from, 100 percent of this initial power supply cost variance. We will share annual power supply cost variances between $4.0 million and $10.0 million with customers. As such, 50 percent of the annual power supply cost variance in this range is deferred for future surcharge or rebate to customers and we will incur the cost of, or receive the benefit from, the remaining 50 percent. Once the annual power supply cost variance from the amount included in base rates exceeds $10.0 million, 90 percent of the cost variance is deferred for future surcharge or rebate. We will incur the cost of, or receive the benefit from, the remaining 10 percent of the annual variance beyond $10.0 million without affecting current or future customer rates.

The following is a summary of the ERM:

 

Annual Power Supply Cost Variability

  

Deferred for Future

Surcharge or Rebate

to Customers

  

Expense or Benefit

to the Company

+/- $0 - $4 million

     0%    100%

+/- between $4 million - $10 million

   50%      50%

+/- excess over $10 million

   90%      10%

Under the ERM, we make an annual filing on or before April 1st of each year to provide the opportunity for the WUTC and other interested parties to review the prudence of and audit the ERM deferred power cost transactions for the prior calendar year. The ERM provides for a 90-day review period for the filing; however, the period may be extended by agreement of the parties or by WUTC order.

We have a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) mechanism in Idaho that allows us to modify electric rates on October 1 of each year with IPUC approval. Under the PCA mechanism, we defer 90 percent of the difference between certain actual net power supply expenses and the amount included in base retail rates for our Idaho customers. In June 2007, the IPUC approved continuation of the PCA mechanism with the annual rate adjustment provision. The October 1 rate adjustments recover or rebate power costs that have been deferred during the preceding, July-June, twelve-month period. The PCA rate surcharge is currently 2.5 percent and, if approved by the IPUC, will increase to 4.7 percent on October 1, 2007.

The following table shows activity in deferred power costs for Washington and Idaho during the six months ended June 30, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Washington     Idaho     Total  

Deferred power costs as of December 31, 2006

   $ 70,159     $ 9,357     $ 79,516  

Activity from January 1 – June 30, 2007:

      

Power costs deferred

     —         3,256       3,256  

Interest and other net additions

     1,564       361       1,925  

Recovery of deferred power costs through retail rates

     (15,884 )     (2,400 )     (18,284 )
                        

Deferred power costs as of June 30, 2007

   $ 55,839     $ 10,574     $ 66,413  
                        

Purchased Gas Adjustments

Effective November 1, 2006, natural gas rates:

 

   

increased 1.3 percent in Washington,

 

   

decreased 3.4 percent in Idaho, and

 

   

increased 6.9 percent in Oregon.

These natural gas rate increases and decreases are designed to pass through changes in purchased natural gas costs to our customers with no change in gross margin or net income. The increase in Oregon was approved subject to refund pending further review of our natural gas purchasing and hedging strategies. We have entered into a settlement agreement with the OPUC staff and the Northwest Industrial Gas Users related to this review, which was approved by the OPUC in May 2007. In Oregon, there is also an ongoing review of the PGA mechanism used by all natural gas distribution companies in Oregon (including Avista Corp.). The outcome of this review could impact our PGA mechanism and natural gas purchasing and hedging strategies in Oregon. Total deferred natural gas costs were $9.5 million as of June 30, 2007, a decrease from $18.3 million as of December 31, 2006 primarily due to recovery from customers during the first half of 2007.

 

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Legal and Regulatory Proceedings in Western Power Markets

We are involved in a number of legal and regulatory proceedings and complaints with respect to power markets in the western United States. Most of these proceedings and complaints relate to the significant increase in the spot market price of energy in western power markets in 2000 and 2001, which allegedly contributed to or caused unjust and unreasonable prices. These proceedings and complaints include, but are not limited to:

 

   

refund proceedings in California and the Pacific Northwest,

 

   

market conduct investigations by the FERC, and

 

   

complaints filed by various parties related to alleged misconduct by other parties in western power markets.

As a result of these proceedings and complaints, certain parties have asserted claims for refunds and damages from us (primarily through Avista Energy), which could result in a negative effect on future earnings. However, we believe that we have adequate reserves established for refunds that may be ordered. We have joined other parties in opposing these refund claims and complaints for damages. See further information in “Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” Any potential refunds or obligations arising from western power market issues (or any other contingent matters) have been retained by Avista Energy.

Results of Operations

The following provides an overview of changes in our Consolidated Statements of Income. More detailed explanations are provided, particularly for operating revenues and operating expenses in the business segment discussions (Avista Utilities, Energy Marketing and Resource Management, Advantage IQ and Other), that follow this section.

Three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2006

Utility revenues increased $9.9 million to $268.0 million as a result of an increase in natural gas revenues of $18.6 million due to increased wholesale (primarily due to increased volumes) and retail (due to an increase in rates) natural gas sales. This was partially offset by decreased electric revenues of $8.7 million reflecting decreased sales of fuel and wholesale revenues.

Non-utility energy marketing and trading revenues increased $5.1 million to $19.4 million primarily due to a $6.9 million increase from sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers (both through Avista Energy Canada and to Montana customers), partially offset by a decrease of $1.8 million in net trading margin on contracts accounted for under SFAS No. 133, as amended. This category of revenues, as well as non-utility resource costs, will decrease significantly in future periods with the sale of substantially all of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations.

Other non-utility revenues increased $1.6 million to $16.6 million as a result of increased revenues from Advantage IQ of $1.9 million primarily due to customer growth, as well as an increase in interest earnings on funds held for customers. This was partially offset by decreased revenues from the Other business segment of $0.3 million primarily due to decreased sales at AM&D.

Utility resource costs increased $13.4 million as a result of an increase in natural gas resource costs of $19.2 million primarily due to an increase in the volume of natural gas purchases. The increase in natural gas resource costs was partially offset by a decrease in electric resource costs of $5.8 million reflecting a decrease in other fuel costs (economic sales of fuel that was not used in generation) and a change in deferred power costs. These decreases were partially offset by increased power purchased and fuel costs.

Utility other operating expenses increased $2.0 million primarily due to increased maintenance expenses, natural gas distribution expenses and outside services.

Utility depreciation and amortization increased $1.2 million primarily due to additions to utility plant. Utility plant in service has increased $104 million from June 30, 2006 to June 30, 2007.

Utility taxes other than income taxes decreased $3.3 million primarily due to decreased property taxes.

The net change in other non-utility operating expenses was an increase of $5.6 million due to:

 

   

an increase of $3.6 million in the Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment due to the loss on the sale of contracts to Coral Energy, offset by decreased incentive compensation based on lower earnings,

 

   

an increase of $2.1 million for Advantage IQ due to expanding operations and consulting services, and

 

   

a decrease of $0.1 million in the Other business segment.

 

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Interest expense decreased $2.0 million primarily due to our issuance of fixed rate long-term debt that replaced maturing debt (which had relatively high interest rates) in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Capitalized interest increased $0.6 million due to increased utility construction activity and the associated increase in construction work in progress balances.

Other income-net increased $1.5 million due to an increase in interest income, partially offset by a decrease in interest on power and natural gas deferrals.

Income taxes increased $0.9 million primarily due to increased income before income taxes and the tax effects of the sale of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy. Our effective tax rate was 38.3 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 36.9 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2006.

Six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006

Utility revenues increased $0.9 million to $682.3 million as a result of increased natural gas revenues of $41.4 million due to increased wholesale (primarily due to increased volumes) and retail (due to an increase in rates and volumes) natural gas sales. This was offset by a decrease in electric revenues of $40.5 million reflecting decreased wholesale revenues and sales of fuel, partially offset by increased retail revenues.

Non-utility energy marketing and trading revenues decreased $27.1 million to $48.8 million due to a decrease of $26.7 million in net trading margin on contracts accounted for under SFAS No. 133, as amended, and a $0.4 million decrease from sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers (both through Avista Energy Canada and to Montana customers). This category of revenues will decrease significantly in future periods with the sale of substantially all of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations.

Other non-utility revenues increased $2.7 million to $32.1 million as a result of increased revenues from Advantage IQ of $3.8 million primarily due to customer growth, as well as an increase in interest earnings on funds held for customers. This was partially offset by decreased revenues from the Other business segment of $1.0 million primarily due to decreased sales at AM&D.

Utility resource costs increased $11.8 million due to an increase in natural gas resource costs of $39.9 million primarily reflecting an increase in the volume of natural gas purchases. The increase in natural gas resource costs was partially offset by a decrease in electric resource costs of $28.1 million reflecting a decrease in other fuel costs (economic sales of fuel that was not used in generation) and a change in deferred power costs. These decreases are consistent with reduced resource optimization activities and lower sales of fuel and wholesale sales as part of the process of balancing loads and resources.

Utility other operating expenses increased $5.3 million primarily due to increased maintenance expenses, natural gas distribution expenses, compensation and benefits, outside services and the settlement of the shareholder litigation case.

Utility depreciation and amortization increased $1.3 million primarily due to additions to utility plant.

Utility taxes other than income taxes decreased $1.3 million primarily due to decreased property taxes, partially offset by increased retail electric and natural gas revenues and related taxes.

Non-utility resource costs decreased $12.2 million primarily due to decreased resource costs related to sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers, and a change in natural gas inventory. This category of expenses will decrease significantly in future periods with the sale of substantially all of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations.

The net change in other non-utility operating expenses was an increase of $6.4 million due to:

 

   

an increase of $3.9 million in the Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment primarily due to the loss on the sale of contracts to Coral Energy,

 

   

an increase of $3.8 million for Advantage IQ due to expanding operations, and

 

   

a decrease of $1.3 million in the Other business segment due to lower operating expenses at AM&D and the accrual of an environmental liability at Avista Development during 2006.

Interest expense decreased $3.7 million primarily due to our issuance of fixed rate long-term debt that replaced maturing debt (which had relatively high interest rates) in the fourth quarter of 2006 and partially due to a decrease in interest expense on short-term borrowings under our committed line of credit.

 

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Capitalized interest increased $1.2 million due to increased utility construction activity and the associated increase in construction work in progress balances.

Other income-net increased $2.7 million due to an increase in interest income and gains on long-term venture fund investments (Other segment), partially offset by a decrease in interest on power and natural gas deferrals.

Income taxes decreased $10.1 million primarily due to decreased income before income taxes, partially offset by the tax effects of Avista Energy’s sale of contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy. Our effective tax rate was 36.5 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to 36.9 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

Avista Utilities

Three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2006

Net income for the utility was $17.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $16.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Utility income from operations was $45.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $49.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease in income from operations was primarily due to decreased gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs). The decrease was also due to an increase in other utility operating expenses (primarily maintenance expenses, natural gas distribution expenses and outside services). This was partially offset by a decrease in utility taxes other than income taxes (primarily due to decreased property taxes).

The following table presents our utility gross margin for the three months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Electric    Natural Gas    Total
     2007    2006    2007    2006    2007    2006

Operating revenues

   $ 163,809    $ 172,495    $ 104,188    $ 85,581    $ 267,997    $ 258,076

Resource costs

     51,901      57,698      83,619      64,388      135,520      122,086
                                         

Gross margin

   $ 111,908    $ 114,797    $ 20,569    $ 21,193    $ 132,477    $ 135,990
                                         

Utility operating revenues increased $9.9 million and utility resource costs increased $13.4 million, which resulted in a decrease of $3.5 million in gross margin. The gross margin on electric sales decreased $2.9 million and the gross margin on natural gas sales decreased $0.6 million. The decrease in our electric gross margin was partially due to the difference in electric resource costs as compared to the amount included in base retail rates resulting in the benefit of $0.8 million (of the $4.0 million deadband) of power supply costs in Washington during the second quarter of 2007. In the second quarter of 2006, we received a benefit of $2.0 million under the ERM. The increase in power supply costs for 2007 (as compared to the amount included in base rates) was primarily a result of lower hydroelectric generation, increased purchased power, higher fuel costs and greater use of our thermal generating resources (particularly Coyote Springs 2) to meet demand. The remaining decrease in electric gross margin and the decrease in natural gas gross margin were primarily due to a decrease in use per customer. This appears to be due to warmer than normal weather during the first half of the quarter and partially due to customer response to price increases, particularly with respect to the natural gas.

The following table presents our utility electric operating revenues and megawatt-hour (MWh) sales for the three months ended June 30 (dollars and MWhs in thousands):

 

     Electric Operating
Revenues
   Electric Energy
MWh sales
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Residential

   $ 48,580    $ 48,184    734    738

Commercial

     52,729      53,389    732    747

Industrial

     23,936      23,501    526    520

Public street and highway lighting

     1,367      1,320    7    6
                       

Total retail

     126,612      126,394    1,999    2,011

Wholesale

     32,790      33,278    677    929

Sales of fuel

     6      8,310    —      —  

Other

     4,401      4,513    —      —  
                       

Total

   $ 163,809    $ 172,495    2,676    2,940
                       

Retail electric revenues increased $0.2 million due to:

 

   

an increase in revenue per MWh (increased revenues $1.0 million) due to a slight change in revenue mix, partially offset by

 

   

a decrease in total MWhs sold (decreased revenues $0.8 million) primarily due to a decrease in use per customer.

 

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Wholesale electric revenues decreased $0.5 million due to:

 

   

a decrease in sales volumes (decreased revenues $12.2 million) consistent with decreased wholesale purchases and decreased resource optimization activities, partially offset by

 

   

an increase in sales prices (increased revenues $11.7 million).

When electric wholesale market prices are below the cost of operating our natural gas-fired thermal generating units, we sell the natural gas purchased for generation in the wholesale market as sales of fuel. Sales of fuel decreased $8.3 million as almost all of our fuel purchases were used in generation.

The following table presents our utility natural gas operating revenues and therms delivered for the three months ended June 30 (dollars and therms in thousands):

 

     Natural Gas Operating
Revenues
   Natural Gas Therms
Delivered
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Residential

   $ 38,579    $ 38,461    26,662    27,341

Commercial

     22,527      22,138    17,951    17,729

Interruptible

     1,268      1,039    1,245    979

Industrial

     1,190      1,381    1,093    1,295
                       

Total retail

     63,564      63,019    46,951    47,344

Wholesale

     37,757      19,682    56,198    35,663

Transportation

     1,901      1,757    33,960    38,048

Other

     966      1,123    64    95
                       

Total

   $ 104,188    $ 85,581    137,173    121,150
                       

Natural gas revenues increased $18.6 million due to an increase in retail and wholesale natural gas revenues. The $0.5 million increase in retail natural gas revenues was due to higher retail rates (increased revenues $1.2 million), partially offset by a decrease in retail sales volumes (decreased revenues $0.7 million). We sold less retail natural gas in the second quarter of 2007 primarily due to a decrease in use per customer. The increase in our wholesale revenues of $18.1 million was due to an increase in volumes (increased revenues $13.8 million) and prices (increased revenues $4.3 million). Wholesale sales reflect the balancing of loads and resources and the sale of resources in excess of load requirements as part of the natural gas procurement process.

The following table presents our average number of electric and natural gas retail customers for the three months ended June 30:

 

    

Electric

Customers

   Natural Gas
Customers
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Residential

   305,383    299,582    272,546    266,645

Commercial

   38,340    37,772    32,265    31,635

Interruptible

   —      —      14    42

Industrial

   1,370    1,390    260    252

Public street and highway lighting

   425    433    —      —  
                   

Total retail customers

   345,518    339,177    305,085    298,574
                   

The following table presents our utility resource costs for the three months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2007    2006  

Electric resource costs:

     

Power purchased

   $ 28,112    $ 23,972  

Power cost amortizations, net of deferrals

     8,366      16,397  

Fuel for generation

     12,239      7,714  

Other fuel costs

     23      7,931  

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     171      (1,037 )

Other electric resource costs

     2,990      2,721  
               

Total electric resource costs

     51,901      57,698  
               

Natural gas resource costs:

     

Natural gas purchased

     81,821      58,231  

Natural gas amortizations, net of deferrals

     546      5,783  

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     1,252      374  
               

Total natural gas resource costs

     83,619      64,388  
               

Total resource costs

   $ 135,520    $ 122,086  
               

 

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Power purchased increased $4.1 million due to an increase in the price of power purchases (increased costs $7.8 million) due to overall increases in wholesale markets. This was partially offset by a decrease in the volume of purchases (decreased costs $3.7 million) consistent with lower wholesale sales volumes and decreased resource optimization activity as part of the balancing of loads and resources.

Net amortization of deferred power costs was $8.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $16.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. During the second quarter of 2007, we recovered (collected as revenue) $6.7 million of previously deferred power costs in Washington and $1.1 million in Idaho. During the second quarter of 2007, we deferred $0.5 million of power costs in Idaho below the amount included in base retail rates. We did not defer any power costs in Washington during the second quarter of 2007, as power supply costs were within the $4.0 million deadband under the ERM.

Fuel for generation increased $4.5 million primarily due to higher natural gas fuel prices and an increase in thermal generation volumes.

Other fuel costs decreased $7.9 million. This represents fuel that was purchased for generation, but was later sold when conditions indicated that it was not economic to use the fuel in generation as part of the resource optimization process. The associated revenues are reflected as sales of fuel. Other fuel costs exceeded revenues we received from selling the natural gas. We account for this shortfall under the ERM in Washington and the PCA in Idaho. The decrease in other fuel costs was primarily due to almost all of our fuel purchases being used as fuel for generation.

The expense for natural gas purchased for sale to customers increased $23.6 million primarily due to an increase in total therms purchased. This was primarily due to an increase in wholesale sales as part of the balancing of loads and resources as part of the natural gas procurement process. The increase was also partially due to an increase natural gas prices. During the second quarter of 2007, we amortized $0.5 million of deferred natural gas costs compared to $5.8 million for the second quarter of 2006.

Six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006

Net income for the utility was $37.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $43.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Utility income from operations was $96.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $112.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease in income from operations was primarily due to decreased gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs). The decrease was also due to an increase in other utility operating expenses (primarily maintenance expenses, natural gas distribution expenses, compensation and benefits, outside services and the settlement of the shareholder litigation case). This was partially offset by a decrease in utility taxes other than income taxes (primarily due to decreased property taxes, partially offset by increased revenue related taxes).

The following table presents our utility gross margin for the six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Electric    Natural Gas    Total
     2007    2006    2007    2006    2007    2006

Operating revenues

   $ 353,977    $ 394,502    $ 328,286    $ 286,864    $ 682,263    $ 681,366

Resource costs

     143,965      172,102      261,541      221,589      405,506      393,691
                                         

Gross margin

   $ 210,012    $ 222,400    $ 66,745    $ 65,275    $ 276,757    $ 287,675
                                         

Utility operating revenues increased $0.9 million and utility resource costs increased $11.8 million, which resulted in a decrease of $10.9 million in gross margin. The gross margin on electric sales decreased $12.4 million and the gross margin on natural gas sales increased $1.5 million. The decrease in our electric gross margin was primarily due to the difference in electric resource costs as compared to the amount included in base retail rates resulting in the expense of $2.4 million (of the $4.0 million deadband) of power supply costs in Washington during the first half of 2007. We received a benefit of $7.2 million under the ERM in the first half of 2006. The increase in power supply costs for 2007 (as compared to the amount included in base rates) was primarily due to lower hydroelectric generation (second quarter), higher fuel costs and greater use of our thermal generating resources (particularly Coyote Springs 2). The increase in natural gas gross margin was primarily due to colder weather in the first quarter of 2007 and customer growth.

 

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The following table presents our utility electric operating revenues and megawatt-hour (MWh) sales for the six months ended June 30 (dollars and MWhs in thousands):

 

     Electric Operating
Revenues
   Electric Energy
MWh sales
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Residential

   $ 121,676    $ 116,931    1,841    1,780

Commercial

     107,840      105,983    1,503    1,482

Industrial

     46,183      46,275    1,019    1,029

Public street and highway lighting

     2,773      2,599    13    12
                       

Total retail

     278,472      271,788    4,376    4,303

Wholesale

     59,098      72,429    1,019    1,404

Sales of fuel

     8,149      39,247    —      —  

Other

     8,258      11,038    —      —  
                       

Total

   $ 353,977    $ 394,502    5,395    5,707
                       

Retail electric revenues increased $6.7 million due to an increase in:

 

   

total MWhs sold (increased revenues $4.7 million) primarily due to customer growth and partially due to an increase in use per customer, and

 

   

revenue per MWh (increased revenues $2.0 million) due to a slight change in revenue mix with a lower percentage of industrial sales.

The increase in use per customer was primarily due to colder weather in the first quarter.

Wholesale electric revenues decreased $13.3 million due to:

 

   

a decrease in sales volumes (decreased revenues $22.3 million) consistent with decreased wholesale purchases and decreased resource optimization activities, partially offset by

 

   

an increase in sales prices (increased revenues $9.0 million).

When electric wholesale market prices are below the cost of operating our natural gas-fired thermal generating units, we sell the natural gas purchased for generation in the wholesale market as sales of fuel. Sales of fuel decreased $31.1 million as a greater percentage of our fuel purchases were used in generation.

Other electric revenues decreased $2.8 million primarily due to revenues of $3.0 million from the sale of claims we had against Enron Corporation and certain of its affiliates received in 2006 (first quarter), partially offset by increased transmission revenues.

The following table presents our utility natural gas operating revenues and therms delivered for the six months ended June 30 (dollars and therms in thousands):

 

     Natural Gas Operating
Revenues
   Natural Gas Therms
Delivered
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Residential

   $ 151,118    $ 143,594    110,525    108,403

Commercial

     83,905      80,231    67,759    66,452

Interruptible

     2,856      2,747    2,806    2,652

Industrial

     3,258      3,408    2,974    3,171
                       

Total retail

     241,137      229,980    184,064    180,678

Wholesale

     81,291      50,897    121,660    81,557

Transportation

     3,576      3,365    77,765    80,231

Other

     2,282      2,622    303    308
                       

Total

   $ 328,286    $ 286,864    383,792    342,774
                       

Natural gas revenues increased $41.4 million due to an increase in retail and wholesale natural gas revenues. The $11.2 million increase in retail natural gas revenues was due to higher retail rates (increased revenues $6.7 million) and increased volumes (increased revenues $4.5 million). We sold more retail natural gas in the first half of 2007 primarily due to an increase in use per customer (due to colder weather in the first quarter) and customer growth. The increase in our wholesale revenues of $30.4 million was due to an increase in volumes (increased revenues $26.8 million) and an increase in prices (increased revenues $3.6 million). Wholesale sales reflect the balancing of loads and resources and the sale of resources in excess of load requirements as part of the natural gas procurement process.

 

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The following table presents our average number of electric and natural gas retail customers for the six months ended June 30:

 

    

Electric

Customers

   Natural Gas
Customers
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Residential

   305,556    299,537    272,828    266,547

Commercial

   38,337    37,784    32,242    31,680

Interruptible

   —      —      40    41

Industrial

   1,369    1,392    259    256

Public street and highway lighting

   425    431    —      —  
                   

Total retail customers

   345,687    339,144    305,369    298,524
                   

The following table presents our utility resource costs for the six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     2007     2006  

Electric resource costs:

    

Power purchased

   $ 67,991     $ 67,890  

Power cost amortizations, net of deferrals

     15,028       26,576  

Fuel for generation

     46,370       33,041  

Other fuel costs

     10,919       42,388  

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     (2,183 )     (3,070 )

Other electric resource costs

     5,840       5,277  
                

Total electric resource costs

     143,965       172,102  
                

Natural gas resource costs:

    

Natural gas purchased

     248,160       204,974  

Natural gas amortizations, net of deferrals

     9,036       15,246  

Other regulatory amortizations, net

     4,345       1,369  
                

Total natural gas resource costs

     261,541       221,589  
                

Total resource costs

   $ 405,506     $ 393,691  
                

Power purchased increased $0.1 million due to an increase in the price of power purchases (increased costs $13.1 million) due to overall increases in wholesale markets. This was mostly offset by a decrease in the volume of power purchases (decreased costs $13.0 million) primarily due to increased thermal generation as well as decreased resource optimization activities as part of the process of balancing loads and resources. This was consistent with a decrease in wholesale sales.

Net amortization of deferred power costs was $15.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $26.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. During the first half of 2007, we recovered (collected as revenue) $15.9 million of previously deferred power costs in Washington and $2.4 million in Idaho. During the first half of 2007, we deferred $3.3 million of power costs in Idaho above the amount included in base retail rates. We did not defer any power costs in Washington during the first half of 2007, as power supply costs were within the $4.0 million deadband under the ERM.

Fuel for generation increased $13.3 million due to higher natural gas fuel prices and an increase in thermal generation volumes (particularly Coyote Springs 2).

Other fuel costs decreased $31.5 million. This represents fuel that was purchased for generation, but was later sold when conditions indicated that it was not economic to use the fuel in generation as part of the resource optimization process. The associated revenues are reflected as sales of fuel. Other fuel costs exceeded revenues we received from selling the natural gas. We account for this shortfall under the ERM in Washington and the PCA in Idaho. The decrease in other fuel costs was primarily due to an increased percentage of fuel used in generation.

The expense for natural gas purchased for sale to customers increased $43.2 million primarily due to an increase in total therms purchased. This was primarily due to an increase in wholesale sales as part of the balancing of loads and resources as part of the natural gas procurement process, and partially due to an increase in retail sales volumes. The increase was also partially due to an increase natural gas prices. During the first half of 2007, we amortized $9.0 million of deferred natural gas costs compared to $15.2 million for the first half of 2006.

Energy Marketing and Resource Management

The Energy Marketing and Resource Management segment primarily includes the results of Avista Energy. On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy completed the sale of substantially all of its contracts and ongoing operations. Completion of this transaction effectively ends substantially all of the operations of this business segment.

 

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Historical earnings from Avista Energy were derived from the following activities:

 

   

taking speculative positions on future price movements within established risk management policies,

 

   

optimizing generation assets owned by other entities,

 

   

capturing price differences between commodities (spark spread) by converting natural gas into electricity through the power generation process,

 

   

purchasing and storing natural gas for later sales to seek gains from seasonal price variations and demand peaks,

 

   

transmitting electricity and transporting natural gas between locations, including moving energy from lower priced/demand regions to higher priced/demand markets and hub locations, and

 

   

marketing natural gas to end-user industrial and commercial customers.

Avista Energy reports the net margin on derivative commodity instruments held for trading as operating revenues. Revenues from contracts that are not derivatives under SFAS No. 133 and derivative commodity instruments not held for trading are reported on a gross basis in operating revenues. Costs from contracts that are not derivatives under SFAS No. 133 and derivative commodity instruments not held for trading, are reported on a gross basis in resource costs.

The following table presents our net realized gains and net unrealized losses from Avista Energy for the three and six months ended June 30 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net realized gains

   $ 4,673     $ 12,197     $ 17,288     $ 17,472  

Net unrealized losses

     (3,661 )     (16,078 )     (24,594 )     (9,938 )
                                

Total gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs)

   $ 1,012     $ (3,881 )   $ (7,306 )   $ 7,534  
                                

Differences in the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management

Earnings from this segment were affected by the variability associated with the difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management of Avista Energy. These operations were managed on an economic basis reflecting contracts and assets under management at estimated market value. Under SFAS No. 133, certain contracts, which are considered derivatives, economically hedge other contracts and physical assets under management, which are not considered derivatives. Derivative contracts are generally recorded at estimated market value. Non-derivative contracts are generally accounted for at the lower of cost or market value. The accounting treatment does not affect the underlying cash flows or economics of our transactions. This difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting are generally reversed in future periods when market values change or when our contracts are settled or realized. However, the amount of the difference could increase or decrease prior to settlement due to changes in forward market prices. This primarily related to Avista Energy’s management of natural gas inventory and its control of natural gas-fired generation through a power purchase agreement related to the Lancaster Plant.

Analysis of operating revenues, resource costs and gross margin for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2006

Operating revenues increased $5.1 million to $19.4 million due to a $6.9 million increase from sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers (both through Avista Energy Canada and to Montana customers), partially offset by a decrease of $1.8 million in net trading margin on contracts accounted for under SFAS No. 133, as amended.

Resource costs increased $0.2 million primarily due to decreased resource costs related to sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers, partially offset by a change in natural gas inventory.

Our gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) from Avista Energy was a gain of $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a loss of $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The improvement was primarily due to the difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management. This reduced gross margin by $4.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and $12.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006.

Our net realized gains from Avista Energy decreased to $4.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 from $12.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease in net realized gains was primarily due to decreased net gains on physical electric transactions and increased net losses on physical natural gas transactions. These decreases were partially offset by the change in natural gas inventory.

 

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Our total mark-to-market adjustment from this segment was a net unrealized loss of $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a net unrealized loss of $16.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This change was primarily due to the difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management as described above.

Analysis of operating revenues, resource costs and gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006

Operating revenues decreased $27.1 million to $48.8 million due to a decrease of $26.7 million in net trading margin on contracts accounted for under SFAS No. 133, as amended, and a $0.4 million decrease from sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers (both through Avista Energy Canada and to Montana customers).

Resource costs decreased $12.2 million primarily due to decreased resource costs related to sales of natural gas to commercial and industrial end-user customers, and a change in natural gas inventory.

Our gross margin (operating revenues less resource costs) from Avista Energy was a loss of $7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a gain of $7.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease was primarily due to underperformance on the power side of the business, losses on the power purchase agreement for the Lancaster Plant, and the difference between the estimated market value and the required accounting for certain contracts and physical assets under management.

Our net realized gains from Avista Energy were $17.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to $17.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Net gains on physical electric transactions decreased and net losses on physical natural gas transactions increased. This was partially offset by increased net gains on settled financial transactions and decreased transmission and transportation fees.

Our total mark-to-market adjustment from this segment was a net unrealized loss of $24.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a net unrealized loss of $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

Energy trading activities and positions

The following table summarizes information for trading activities at Avista Energy during the six months ended June 30, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

     Electric
Assets net of
Liabilities
    Natural Gas
Assets net of
Liabilities
    Total
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 

Fair value of contracts as of December 31, 2006

   $ 34,044     $ (507 )   $ 33,537  

Less contracts settled during 2007 (1)

     (25,080 )     7,792       (17,288 )

Less contracts sold to Coral Energy (2)

     (13,571 )     5,670       (7,901 )

Fair value of new contracts when entered into during 2007 (3)

     —         —         —    

Change in fair value due to changes in valuation techniques (4)

     —         —         —    

Change in fair value attributable to market prices and other market changes

     4,607       (12,955 )     (8,348 )
                        

Fair value of contracts as of June 30, 2007

   $ —       $ —       $ —    
                        

(1) Contracts settled during 2007 include those contracts that were open in 2006 but settled during the six months ended June 30, 2007 as well as new contracts entered into and settled during 2007. Amount represents net realized gains associated with these settled transactions.
(2) Represents the estimated fair value of the contracts sold to Coral Energy on June 30, 2007.
(3) We did not enter into any origination transactions during the six months ended June 30, 2007 in which we recognized any dealer profit or mark-to-market gain or loss at inception.
(4) During the six months ended June 30, 2007, we did not experience a change in fair value due to changes in valuation techniques.

Advantage IQ

Three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2006

Net income for Advantage IQ was $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Operating revenues increased $1.9 million and operating expenses increased $2.2 million. The increase in operating revenues was primarily due to the expansion of Advantage IQ’s

 

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customer base as well as an increase in interest earnings on funds held for customers. The increase in interest earnings on funds held for customers was due in part to an increase in interest rates. The increase in operating expenses primarily reflects increased labor and other operational costs necessary to serve an expanding customer base, which included fees for consulting services in the second quarter of 2007.

Six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006

Net income for Advantage IQ was $2.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Operating revenues increased $3.8 million and operating expenses increased $4.0 million. The increase in operating revenues was primarily due to the expansion of Advantage IQ’s customer base as well as an increase in interest earnings on funds held for customers. Advantage IQ has over 385 customers representing 227,000 billed sites in North America. The number of billed sites increased by 36,000, or 19 percent, from June 30, 2006. The increase in operating expenses primarily reflects increased labor and other operational costs necessary to serve an expanding customer base.

Other Business Segment

Three months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2006

The net loss from this business segment was $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 consistent with a net loss of $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Operating revenues decreased $0.3 million and operating expenses decreased $0.3 million.

Six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006

The net loss from this business segment was $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to a net loss of $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Operating revenues decreased $1.0 million and operating expenses decreased $1.5 million. Net income for AM&D was $0.2 million for the first half of 2007 consistent with $0.2 million for the first half of 2006. With respect to overall segment results, the improvement was due to:

 

   

the accrual for an environmental liability in 2006, and

 

   

gains on certain long-term venture fund investments in this segment in 2007 compared to losses in 2006.

New Accounting Standards

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” (FIN 48) which provides guidance for the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We adopted FIN 48 in the first quarter of 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a cumulative effect on our financial condition and results of operations. See Notes 2 and 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. We will be required to adopt SFAS No. 157 in 2008. We are evaluating the impact SFAS No. 157 will have on our financial condition and results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected would be reported in net income. We will be required to adopt SFAS No. 159 in 2008. We are evaluating the impact SFAS No. 159 will have on our financial condition and results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Changes in these estimates and assumptions are considered reasonably possible and may have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and thus actual results could differ from the amounts reported and disclosed herein. Our critical accounting policies that require the use of estimates and assumptions were discussed in detail in the 2006 Form 10-K and have not changed materially from that discussion with the exception of “Avista Energy Revenues and Trading Activities,” which will no longer be a critical accounting policy due to the sale of substantially all of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Review of Cash Flow Statement

Overall During the six months ended June 30, 2007, positive cash flows from operating activities of $158.0 million were used to fund the majority of our cash requirements. These cash requirements included utility property capital expenditures of $92.6 million, debt maturities of $12.3 million and dividends of $15.6 million. As cash flows from operating activities and other sources of cash inflows exceeded other funding requirements, our total cash and cash equivalents increased $75.1 million during the first half of 2007. This was primarily due to the liquidation of restricted cash and deposits with counterparties at Avista Energy.

Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities was $158.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $161.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Net cash provided by working capital components was $49.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared to $42.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The net cash provided during the six months ended June 30, 2007 primarily reflects positive cash flows from:

 

   

accounts receivable (representing net cash received from our customers),

 

   

deposits with counterparties (representing the return from counterparties of cash posted as collateral at Avista Energy), and

 

   

deposits from counterparties (representing cash received as collateral funds from counterparties at Avista Utilities).

This cash provided was partially offset by negative cash flows from accounts payable (representing net cash paid to our vendors).

The net cash provided during the six months ended June 30, 2006 primarily reflects positive cash flows from:

 

   

accounts receivable (representing net cash received from customers),

 

   

other current liabilities (primarily due to an increase in customer fund obligations at Advantage IQ), and

 

   

cash deposits from counterparties (representing cash received as collateral funds from counterparties).

These positive cash flows were partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable (representing net cash paid to vendors) and other current assets (primarily due to an increase in funds held for customers at Advantage IQ).

Significant non-cash items included $23.6 million of power and natural gas cost amortizations, net of deferrals, for the first half of 2007, a decrease from $41.4 million for the first half of 2006 primarily due to a decrease in recoveries of previously deferred costs from customers. Significant changes in non-cash items also included a $14.7 million change in the unrealized loss on energy commodity derivatives, representing the change to an unrealized loss of $24.6 million on energy trading activities for the first half of 2007 as compared to an unrealized loss of $9.9 million for the first half of 2006.

Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities was $71.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease compared to $78.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease was due to a change in restricted cash. We liquidated $26.3 million of restricted cash in the first half of 2007 representing the return of cash collateralizing energy contracts at Avista Energy and interest rate swap agreements at Avista Corp. This was partially offset by an increase in utility property capital expenditures in 2007 and other cash inflows in the first half of 2006, which included the receipt of $5.5 million from our sale of a claim against an affiliate of Enron Corporation related to the construction of Coyote Springs 2 and proceeds from asset sales of $7.7 million (primarily for a turbine at Avista Power).

Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities was $12.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to $73.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. During the first half of 2007, our short-term borrowings increased $12.0 million, which reflects an increase in the amount of debt outstanding under our $320.0 million committed line of credit. Cash dividends paid increased to $15.6 million (or 29.5 cents per share) for the first half of 2007 from $13.7 million (or 28 cents per share) for the first half of 2006. Debt maturities were $12.3 million for the first half of 2007.

During the six months ended June 30, 2006, short-term borrowings decreased $56.5 million, which reflected a decrease in the amount of debt outstanding under our line of credit.

 

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Overall Liquidity

Our consolidated operating cash flows have been primarily derived from the operations of Avista Utilities and Avista Energy. The primary source of operating cash flows for our utility operations is revenues (including the recovery of previously deferred power and natural gas costs) from sales of electricity and natural gas. Significant uses of cash flows from our utility operations include the purchase of electricity and natural gas, and payment of other operating expenses, taxes and interest, with any excess being available for other corporate uses such as capital expenditures and dividends. The primary source and use of operating cash flows for Avista Energy was revenues and costs from realized energy commodity transactions as well as cash collateral deposited to or held from counterparties. Significant operating cash outflows for Avista Energy also included other operating expenses and taxes.

On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy completed the sale of substantially all of its contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy. Proceeds from the sale of Avista Energy’s net assets to Coral Energy and liquidation of Avista Energy’s remaining net current assets (primarily receivables, restricted cash and deposits with counterparties) are expected to total approximately $170 million to be received in the third quarter of 2007. Over time, we plan to redeploy the majority of the proceeds from the transaction into our regulated utility operations.

Over time, our operating cash flows usually do not fully support the needs for utility capital expenditures. As such, from time to time, we may need to access capital markets in order to fund these needs as well as fund maturing debt. See further discussion at “Capital Resources.”

We design operating and capital budgets to control operating costs and capital expenditures, particularly for our regulated utility operations. In addition to operating expenses, we have continuing commitments for capital expenditures for construction, improvement and maintenance of utility facilities.

We will continue to periodically file for rate adjustments for recovery of operating costs and capital investments to provide the opportunity to align our earned returns with those allowed by regulators. We filed a general rate case in Washington in April 2007 requesting general rate increases averaging 15.9 percent for electric and 2.3 percent for natural gas. This is designed to increase annual electric revenues by $51.1 million and annual natural gas revenues by $4.5 million. See further details in the section “Avista Utilities – Regulatory Matters.”

With respect to our utility operations, when power and natural gas costs exceed the levels currently recovered from retail customers, net cash flows are negatively affected. Factors that could cause purchased power costs to exceed the levels currently recovered from our customers include, but are not limited to, higher prices in wholesale markets when we are buying energy or an increased need to purchase power in the wholesale markets. Factors beyond our control that could result in an increased need to purchase power in the wholesale markets include, but are not limited to:

 

   

increases in demand (either due to weather or customer growth),

 

   

low availability of streamflows for hydroelectric generation,

 

   

outages at generating facilities, and

 

   

failure of third parties to deliver on energy or capacity contracts.

Our hydroelectric generation was 104 percent of normal in 2006. For 2007, we are forecasting hydroelectric generation to be near normal. This 2007 forecast will change based upon precipitation, temperatures and other variables during the remainder of the year.

We monitor the potential liquidity impacts of increasing energy commodity prices for our utility operations. We believe that we have adequate liquidity to meet the increased cash needs of higher energy commodity prices through our:

 

   

current cash and cash equivalents, and

 

   

$320.0 million committed line of credit.

Our utility has regulatory mechanisms in place that provide for the deferral and recovery of the majority of power and natural gas supply costs. However, if prices increase, deferral balances will increase, which will negatively affect our cash flow and liquidity until such costs, with interest, are recovered from customers.

 

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Capital Resources

Our consolidated capital structure, including the current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings, consisted of the following as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  
     Amount    Percent
of total
    Amount    Percent
of total
 

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 307,720    15.1 %   $ 26,605    1.3 %

Short-term borrowings

     16,000    0.8       4,000    0.2  

Long-term debt to affiliated trusts

     113,403    5.5       113,403    5.6  

Long-term debt

     655,377    32.0       949,854    46.7  
                          

Total debt

     1,092,500    53.4       1,093,862    53.8  

Preferred stock-cumulative (including current portion)

     26,250    1.3       26,250    1.3  
                          

Total liabilities

     1,118,750    54.7       1,120,112    55.1  

Stockholders’ equity

     926,590    45.3       914,525    44.9  
                          

Total

   $ 2,045,340    100.0 %   $ 2,034,637    100.0 %
                          

We need to finance capital expenditures and obtain additional working capital from time to time. The cash requirements needed to service our indebtedness, both short-term and long-term, reduces the amount of cash flow available to fund working capital, purchased power and natural gas costs, capital expenditures, dividends and other requirements. Our stockholders’ equity increased $12.1 million during the first half of 2007 primarily due to net income and other comprehensive income, partially offset by dividends.

We generally fund capital expenditures with a combination of internally generated cash and external financing. The level of cash generated internally and the amount that is available for capital expenditures fluctuates depending on a variety of factors. Cash provided by our utility operating activities and cash generated by the Avista Energy transaction (including the sale of net assets to Coral Energy and liquidation of net current assets not sold to Coral Energy) are expected to be the primary sources of funds for operating needs, dividends, capital expenditures, as well as maturing long-term debt and preferred stock for 2007. Borrowings under our $320.0 million committed line of credit may supplement these funds to the extent necessary.

We have $358 million of long-term debt maturities and mandatory preferred stock redemptions in the remainder of 2007 and 2008. While proceeds from the Avista Energy transaction should reduce our funding needs, our forecasts indicate that we will need to issue new debt securities to fund a portion of these requirements in 2008. In 2004, we entered into forward-starting interest rate swap agreements effectively locking in market fixed interest rates, which were relatively low compared to historical interest rates, for $125 million of our forecasted debt issuances in 2008.

We have a $320.0 million committed line of credit agreement with various banks with an expiration date of April 5, 2011. Under the agreement, we can request the issuance of up to $320.0 million in letters of credit. As of June 30, 2007, we had $16.0 million in borrowings outstanding, an increase from $4.0 million as of December 31, 2006. As of June 30, 2007, there were $44.3 million in letters of credit outstanding, a decrease from $77.1 million as of December 31, 2006. The committed line of credit is secured by $320.0 million of non-transferable First Mortgage Bonds issued to the agent bank. Such First Mortgage Bonds would only become due and payable in the event, and then only to the extent, that we default on obligations under the committed line of credit.

Our committed line of credit agreement contains customary covenants and default provisions, including a covenant requiring the ratio of “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization” to “interest expense” of Avista Utilities for the preceding twelve-month period at the end of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 1.6 to 1. As of June 30, 2007, we were in compliance with this covenant with a ratio of 2.50 to 1. The committed line of credit agreement also has a covenant which does not permit our ratio of “consolidated total debt” to “consolidated total capitalization” to be greater than 70 percent at the end of any fiscal quarter. This ratio limitation will be increased to 75 percent during the period between the completion of the proposed change in our corporate organization (see Note 13) and December 31, 2007. As of June 30, 2007, we were in compliance with this covenant with a ratio of 53.4 percent. If the proposed change in organization becomes effective, the committed line of credit agreement will remain at Avista Corp. (Avista Utilities).

Any default on the line of credit or other financing arrangements of Avista Corp. or any of our significant subsidiaries could result in cross-defaults to other agreements of such entity, and/or to the line of credit or other financing arrangements of any other of such entities. Any defaults could also induce vendors and other counterparties to demand collateral. In the event of any such default, it would be difficult for us to obtain financing on reasonable

 

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terms to pay creditors or fund operations. We would also likely be prohibited from paying dividends on our common stock. We do not guarantee the indebtedness of any of our subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2007, Avista Corp. and our subsidiaries were in compliance with all of the covenants of our financing agreements.

In December 2005, the WUTC issued an order approving the settlement agreement reached in our Washington general rate case with certain conditions. We agreed to increase the utility equity component to 35 percent by the end of 2007 and to 38 percent by the end of 2008. As further discussed at “Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements,” the IPUC accepted a stipulation that we entered with the IPUC Staff that sets forth a variety of conditions related to the implementation of our holding company structure. One of the conditions provides for the same utility equity components that are required in our January 2006 Washington general rate case. If we do not meet those targets, it could result in a reduction in base rates of 2 percent for each target in each of Washington and Idaho. We have also entered into a settlement agreement in Washington related to our proposed holding company formation. In this settlement agreement, we have committed to increase the utility equity component to 40 percent by June 30, 2008. However, the provision to reduce base rates by 2 percent does not apply if we fail to meet this target. The utility equity component was 39.5 percent as of June 30, 2007. We should be able to meet these equity targets through expected earnings and proceeds from the Avista Energy transaction.

In December 2006, we entered into a sales agency agreement with a sales agent to issue up to 2 million shares of our common stock from time to time. Due to the proceeds from the sale and liquidation of Avista Energy’s assets, we are not currently planning to issue any shares under this agreement.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Avista Receivables Corporation (ARC) is our wholly owned, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary formed for the purpose of acquiring or purchasing interests in certain of our accounts receivable, both billed and unbilled. On March 19, 2007, Avista Corp., ARC and a third-party financial institution amended a Receivables Purchase Agreement. The most significant amendment was to extend the termination date from March 20, 2007 to March 17, 2008. The Receivables Purchase Agreement was originally entered into on May 29, 2002 and provides us with cost-effective funds for:

 

   

working capital requirements,

 

   

capital expenditures, and

 

   

other general corporate needs.

Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, ARC can sell without recourse, on a revolving basis, up to $85.0 million of our receivables. ARC is obligated to pay fees that approximate the purchaser’s cost of issuing commercial paper equal in value to the interests in receivables sold. The Receivables Purchase Agreement has financial covenants, which are substantially the same as those of our $320.0 million committed line of credit. As of June 30, 2007, we had sold $66.0 million in accounts receivable under this revolving agreement.

Credit Ratings

The following table summarizes our credit ratings as of August 7, 2007:

 

    

Standard & Poor’s

  

Moody’s (1)

  

Fitch, Inc.

Avista Corporation

        

Corporate/Issuer rating

   BB+    Ba1    BB

Senior secured debt

   BBB-    Baa3    BBB-

Senior unsecured debt

   BB+    Ba1    BB+

Preferred stock

   BB-    Ba3    BB

Avista Capital II (2)

        

Preferred Trust Securities

   BB-    Ba2    BB

AVA Capital Trust III (2)

        

Preferred Trust Securities

   BB-    Ba2    BB

Rating outlook

   Positive (3)    Stable    Positive

(1) In June 2007, Moody’s placed all of Avista Corporation’s ratings under review for potential upgrade.
(2) Only assets are subordinated debentures of Avista Corporation.
(3) Changed to positive from stable in April 2007.

These security ratings are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities. The ratings are subject to change or withdrawal at any time by the respective credit rating agencies. Each credit rating should be evaluated independently of any other ratings.

 

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Pension Plan

As of June 30, 2007, our pension plan had assets with a fair value that was less than the benefit obligation under the plan. We contributed $15 million to the pension plan in 2006. We are planning to contribute $15 million to the pension plan in 2007 ($7.5 million was contributed during the first half of 2007). Our total pension plan contributions were $77 million from 2002 through the first quarter of 2007.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the Pension Act) was signed into law in August 2006. The Pension Act provides new funding rules for pension plans to improve the funded status of corporate defined benefit plans. The new funding rules could increase our minimum required cash contributions to the pension plan in the future. The legislation is effective in 2008; however, the law contains a transition period related to the funding rules. We do not expect the Pension Act to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Dividends

The Board of Directors considers the level of dividends on our common stock on a regular basis, taking into account numerous factors including, without limitation:

 

   

our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition,

 

   

the success of our business strategies, and

 

   

general economic and competitive conditions.

Our net income available for dividends has generally been derived from our regulated utility operations (Avista Utilities) and Avista Energy.

The payment of dividends on common stock is restricted by provisions of certain covenants applicable to preferred stock contained in our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and to long-term debt contained in various indentures. Covenants under the 9.75 percent Senior Notes that mature in 2008 limit our ability to increase common stock cash dividends to no more than 5 percent over the previous quarter, unless certain conditions are met related to restricted payments. As of June 30, 2007, we are meeting the conditions that would allow us to increase the common stock cash dividend in excess of 5 percent over the previous quarter.

On May 10, 2007, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on June 15, 2007 to shareholders of record on May 24, 2007. This was an increase of $0.005 per common share over the previous quarterly dividend declared in February 2007. This was the sixth common stock dividend increase authorized by the Board of Directors in the past four years.

As further discussed at “Note 13 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements,” the IPUC accepted a stipulation that we entered with the IPUC Staff that sets forth a variety of conditions if and when we implement a holding company structure. One of the conditions would require IPUC approval of any dividend to the holding company that would reduce utility common equity below 25 percent. Furthermore, we have entered into a similar agreement with the WUTC Staff. This agreement would require WUTC approval of any dividend to the holding company that would reduce utility common equity below 30 percent.

Avista Energy holds a significant portion of cash and cash equivalents reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Covenants in Avista Energy’s credit agreement, certain counterparty agreements and market liquidity conditions resulted in Avista Energy maintaining certain levels of cash and therefore have effectively limited the amount of cash dividends that were available for distribution to Avista Capital and ultimately to Avista Corp. With the completion of the sale of contracts and the liquidation of Avista Energy’s remaining net current assets, Avista Energy’s cash and restricted cash will be available for dividends to Avista Capital. We are expecting to generate approximately $170 million in cash proceeds from the transaction in the third quarter of 2007 (substantially all received by the end of July), including the liquidation of Avista Energy’s net current assets not sold to Coral Energy (primarily receivables, restricted cash and deposits with counterparties).

Avista Utilities Operations

We are expecting utility capital expenditures to be in the range of $180 to $190 million for 2007. We expect to have a utility capital budget of over $200 million in each of 2008, 2009 and 2010. Significant projects include the continued enhancement of our transmission and distribution systems and upgrades to our generation facilities.

Our utility held cash deposits from other parties in the amount of $50.1 million as of June 30, 2007, which is included in deposits from counterparties on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. These amounts are subject to return if conditions warrant because of continuing portfolio value fluctuations with those parties or substitution of collateral.

 

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See “Notes 9 and 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional details related to our financing activities.

Energy Marketing and Resource Management (Avista Energy) Operations

On June 30, 2007, Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada, as co-borrowers, terminated a committed credit agreement with a group of banks in the aggregate amount of $145.0 million that had an expiration date of July 12, 2007. This credit agreement was terminated in connection with the closing of the sale of substantially all of the contracts and ongoing operations of Avista Energy and Avista Energy Canada as described at Note 3. There were not any early termination penalties incurred by Avista Energy or Avista Energy Canada.

Avista Capital provided performance guarantees to other parties with whom Avista Energy may be doing business. At any point in time, Avista Capital was only liable for the outstanding portion of the performance guarantee, which was $25.7 million as of June 30, 2007. The face value of all performance guarantees issued by Avista Capital for energy trading contracts at Avista Energy was $360.9 million as of June 30, 2007. These guarantees were terminated with the closing of the sale of Avista Energy’s contracts on June 30, 2007, but remained in effect through the July 2007 settlement of Avista Energy’s payables to counterparties.

Avista Energy managed collateral requirements with counterparties by providing letters of credit, providing guarantees from Avista Capital, depositing cash with counterparties and offsetting transactions with counterparties. Cash deposited with counterparties totaled $31.1 million as of June 30, 2007, a decrease from $79.5 million as of December 31, 2006. These cash deposits were returned to Avista Energy in July 2007. Avista Energy did not hold any cash deposits from other parties as of June 30, 2007.

As of June 30, 2007, Avista Energy had $104.9 million in cash, as well as $3.6 million of restricted cash. The increase in cash from a balance of $29.6 million at December 31, 2006 was primarily due to the liquidation of restricted cash and the return from counterparties of cash deposited as collateral for energy contracts.

Contractual Obligations

During the six months ended June 30, 2007, our future contractual obligations have not changed materially from the amounts disclosed in the 2006 Form 10-K with the following exceptions:

The amount outstanding under our revolving accounts receivable sales financing facility decreased from $85.0 million as of December 31, 2006 to $66.0 million as of June 30, 2007. In March 2007, the termination date of this facility was extended from March 20, 2007 to March 17, 2008.

The amount outstanding under our $320.0 million committed line of credit increased to $16.0 million as of June 30, 2007 from $4.0 million as of December 31, 2006.

Avista Energy’s contractual commitments to purchase energy commodities as well as commitments related to transmission, transportation and other energy-related contracts in future periods were as follows as of June 30, 2007 (dollars in millions):

 

For the 12-month period ended June 30,

   2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    Thereafter

Energy purchase contracts

   $ 21,700    $ 21,700    $ 23,901    $ 26,102    $ 26,102    $ 325,852

These contractual commitments of Avista Energy are primarily related to the power purchase agreement for the Lancaster Plant. These obligations and benefits of this agreement have been sold to Coral Energy through the end of 2009. Beginning in 2010 through 2026, the obligations and benefits of the power purchase agreement for the Lancaster Plant will be contracted to Avista Energy. We expect that these obligations and benefits will be transferred to our regulated utility, subject to future approval by the WUTC and IPUC.

Business Risk

Primarily through our utility operations, we are exposed to the following risks including, but not limited to:

 

   

market prices and supply of wholesale energy, which we purchase and sell, including power, fuel and natural gas,

 

   

regulatory allowance of the recovery of power and natural gas costs, operating costs and capital investments,

 

   

streamflow and weather conditions,

 

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the effects of changes in legislative and governmental regulations, including restrictions on emissions from generating plants and requirements for the acquisition of new resources,

 

   

changes in regulatory requirements,

 

   

availability of generation facilities,

 

   

competition,

 

   

technology, and

 

   

availability of funding.

Also, like other utilities, our facilities and operations are exposed to natural disasters and terrorism risks or other malicious acts. See further reference to risks and uncertainties under “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Our business risk has not materially changed during the six months ended June 30, 2007. However, our risk profile related to Avista Energy’s operations has changed with the closing of the sale of contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy. Please refer to the 2006 Form 10-K for further description and analysis of business risk including, but not limited to, commodity price, credit, other operating, interest rate and foreign currency risks.

Risk Management

Risk Policies and Oversight

We use a variety of techniques to manage risks for energy resources and wholesale energy market activities. We have risk management policies and procedures to manage these risks, both qualitative and quantitative. Risk management policies and procedures for Avista Energy have been suspended following the closing of the sale of substantially all of Avista Energy’s contracts and ongoing operations on June 30, 2007. Please refer to the 2006 Form 10-K for discussion of risk management policies and procedures.

Environmental Issues and Other Contingencies

We are subject to environmental regulation by federal, state and local authorities. The generation, transmission, distribution, service and storage facilities in which we have an ownership interest were designed to comply with all applicable environmental laws.

We monitor legislative developments at both the state and national level with respect to environmental issues, particularly those related to the potential for further restrictions on the operation of our generating plants.

Current environmental laws and regulations have, and future modifications may have, the effect of:

 

   

increasing the lead time for the construction of new generating plants,

 

   

requiring modification of our existing generating plants,

 

   

increasing the risk of delay on construction projects,

 

   

reducing the amount of energy available from our generating plants, and

 

   

restricting the types of generating plants that can be built.

As such, compliance with such environmental laws and regulations could result in increases to capital expenditures and operating expenses. However, we intend to seek recovery of incurred costs through the rate making process.

Long-term global climate changes, particularly with respect to the Pacific Northwest, could have a significant effect on our business. Changing temperatures and precipitation, including snowpack conditions, affect the availability and timing of hydroelectric generation capacity. Changing temperatures could also increase or decrease customer demand. Our operations could also be affected by any legislative or regulatory developments in response to global climate changes, including restrictions on the operation of our power generation resources.

We continue to monitor and evaluate the possible adoption of national, regional, or state greenhouse gas requirements. In particular, a greenhouse gas bill has been passed by the legislature in the state of Washington and bills have been introduced in the U. S. Senate and House of Representatives. There will most likely be continuing activity in the near future.

The greenhouse gas bill passed by the legislature in the state of Washington would place significant restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from any new generation plants built in the state of Washington. Furthermore, utilities would be prevented from entering into contracts to purchase energy produced by plants in other states that do not meet the same restrictions. Currently, the only type of thermal generating plants that meet these restrictions are combined-cycle natural gas-fired generation turbines. This greenhouse gas bill sets goals to reduce emissions in the state of Washington to 1990 levels by 2020; to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035; and to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

 

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Greenhouse gas requirements could result in significant costs for us to comply with restrictions on carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions. Such requirements could also preclude us from developing certain types of generating plants, including coal-fired plants.

Initiative Measure 937 (I-937) was passed into law through the General Election in Washington in November 2006. I-937 requires certain investor-owned, cooperative, and government-owned electric utilities (including Avista Corp.) to acquire new renewable energy resources and/or renewable energy credits in incremental amounts until those resources or credits equal 15 percent of the utility’s total retail load in 2020. I-937 also requires these utilities to meet biennial energy conservation targets beginning in 2012. Failure to comply with renewable energy and conservation standards will result in penalties of at least $50 per MWh being assessed against a utility for each MWh it is deficient in meeting a standard. A utility would be deemed to comply with the renewable energy standard if it invests at least 4 percent of its total annual retail revenue requirement on the incremental costs of renewable resources and/or renewable credits. Our most recent draft Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which we plan to file with the WUTC and IPUC before the end of the third quarter 2007, includes the acquisition of additional renewable resources such that, if the draft IRP is implemented, we would be compliant with the requirement by the various milestone dates. In the draft IRP, we do not anticipate adding a major generation project until 2014. The amount of renewable resources in our future IRPs could change if the cost effectiveness of those resources changes.

For other environmental issues and other contingencies see “Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations: – Business Risk and – Risk Management,” “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Energy Marketing and Resource Management – Energy trading activities and positions,” and “Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company has disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports it files or submits under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company has evaluated its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon the Company’s evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level as of June 30, 2007.

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second quarter of 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See “Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in “Part I. Financial Information Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Please refer to the 2006 Form 10-K for disclosure of risk factors that could have a significant impact on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), and elsewhere. These risk factors have not materially changed from the disclosures provided in the 2006 Form 10-K.

 

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Our risk factors related to Avista Energy’s operations have changed with the closing of the sale of contracts and ongoing operations to Coral Energy, as many of the risk factors specifically related to Avista Energy have been eliminated.

In addition to these risk factors, please also see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Forward-Looking Statements” for additional factors which could have a significant impact on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Avista Corp. was held on May 10, 2007. The election of four directors with terms expiring in 2010 and one director with a term expiring in 2009, to amend the Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to allow for annual election of directors and the ratification of the appointment of the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for 2007 were the only matters voted upon at the meeting. The proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws required an affirmative vote of 80 percent of the outstanding shares of the Company, which was not received and the proposal was not approved. There were 52,724,612 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 9, 2007, the proxy record date, with 48,001,005 shares represented at said meeting. The results of the voting are shown below:

 

Issue

   For    Against or
Withheld
   Exceptions
or Abstain

Election of Directors:

        

Eric J. Anderson (term expires 2010)

   47,028,071    972,934   

Kristianne Blake (term expires 2010)

   47,375,964    625,041   

Jack W. Gustavel (term expires 2010)

   47,379,869    621,136   

Scott L. Morris (term expires 2009)

   47,394,078    606,927   

Michael L. Noel (term expires 2010)

   47,061,005    940,000   

Amend the Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to allow for annual election of directors

   36,839,789    1,170,140    9,991,076

Ratification of appointment of Deloitte & Touche, LLP

   47,495,472    159,570    345,963

The terms of directors Roy Lewis Eiguren, Gary G. Ely, John F. Kelly, Lura J. Powell, Ph.D., Heidi B. Stanley and R. John Taylor continued. On February 9, 2007, Gary G. Ely, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Avista Corp., announced to the Company’s board of directors, that he will retire from the Company and the board effective December 31, 2007. The Company’s board of directors elected Scott L. Morris to the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Avista Corp. effective January 1, 2008.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

10.1    Indemnification Agreement entered into as of June 30, 2007 by Coral Energy Holding, L.P. and certain of its affiliates and Avista Energy, Inc. and certain of its affiliates.*
10.2    Guaranty Agreement effective as of June 30, 2007 entered into by Avista Capital, Inc. in favor of Coral Energy Holding, L.P. and certain of its affiliates.*
10.3    Security Agreement dated as of June 30, 2007 given by Avista Capital, Inc. in favor of Coral Energy Holding, L.P. and certain of its affiliates.*
12    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements*
15    Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information*
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer*
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer*
32    Certification of Corporate Officers (Furnished Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)**

* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.

 

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SIGNATURE

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 8, 2007    

/s/ Malyn K. Malquist

    Malyn K. Malquist
   

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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