Avista just sent my client a bill for a 63-day period with zero proration on the demand charges. Client is on Schedule 25 Large General Service and normally pays around $2,800/month in demand charges. This bill was $5,900 with Avista claiming "meter reading difficulties due to weather." The tariff clearly requires proration for periods over 35 days. Anyone dealt with Avista on billing period issues before?
Avista 63-day billing period - no proration applied
Greg, I'm also in Spokane and have seen Avista pull this before. They love to blame "weather" or "access issues" but never properly prorate. Last winter I had a client with a 58-day period - took three months of fighting to get the $4,200 overcharge refunded. Start with their customer service, then escalate to the UTC if they won't budge.
Ted, thanks for the advice. Customer service already gave me the runaround about "standard billing practices." I've got the tariff language printed out and ready for round two. Did you have to file a formal UTC complaint or did Avista cave before that?
I had to threaten the UTC complaint but didn't actually file. Once I mentioned specific tariff sections and regulatory violation language, they suddenly found a way to "adjust" the bill. These utilities bank on customers not knowing their rights.
Classic utility behavior - claim operational difficulties but never adjust billing to comply with their own tariffs. I've seen MLGW try similar stunts. The key is knowing the exact tariff language and being willing to escalate. Document every conversation and don't accept their first three excuses.
Update: Avista finally agreed to prorate after I cited Schedule 25 Section 4.2 and mentioned UTC complaint procedures. Client getting $3,100 credit on next bill. Thanks for the guidance, Ted and Randy. Sometimes you have to speak their language to get results.