Avista has paused negotiations tied to energy service for a proposed 500-megawatt data center while it seeks broader coordination with regulators, local leaders and community stakeholders.
The company said the pause comes after growing public concern over its previously announced memorandum of understanding with the developer. Avista said it needs more time to align on a planning process that addresses transparency, customer protection and regional priorities.
The utility said existing customers will not be charged for the cost of serving a new large customer, and that engineering studies and system upgrades must be completed before any service can begin. It also said any final service agreement must be reviewed and approved by state regulators.
Avista emphasized that the scale of current data center requests is unprecedented. The company said it has served large-load customers for more than 137 years, but that new projects of this size require additional planning and coordination.
The company serves 429,000 electric customers and 386,000 natural gas customers across a 34,000-square-mile service area in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of Oregon. Following these announcements, the company's shares moved 1.0%, and are now trading at a price of $42.43. For the full picture, make sure to review AVISTA CORP's 8-K report.
