History
Washington Water Power was incorporated in March 1889 with the aim of generating hydroelectric power from the Spokane River[9]. Earlier in 1889, F. Rockwood Moore, then affiliated with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, purchased property on both sides of the Spokane Rvier with the intent of developing a power plant for the company[10]. Because of skepticism as to the reliability of hydro power from Eastern investors, and high royalties from Edison Electric, local businessmen including Mr. Moore incorporated the company, sought investors for the new company to build the project.
In the 1890s through the 1930s, Washington Water Power bought up streetcar companies in the city of Spokane and had cornered the transportation market by 1900. Despite seeing a peak in 1910, ridership declined through the 1930s and Washington Water Power's final streetcar line closed in 1936. The company would never again seek to enter the public transportation market.[11]
In 1892 Washington Water Power purchased a park called Twickenham Park on the banks of the Spokane River. The company renamed the attraction Natatorium Park and expanded it with a large swimming pool in 1895 and it became an all-purpose recreation site for the city. Washington Water Power eventually sold the park in 1929.[11] Washington Water Power expanded in Oregon and into California by acquiring the natural gas operations of CP National from Alltel in 1989.[12] The California operations were sold to Southwest Gas in 2005.[13]
In 2014, Avista acquired Alaska Electric Light & Power, the electric utility for Juneau in an all stock transaction worth $170 million.[14]
Avista supports adoption of electric vehicles. In 2016, Avista proposed a two-year pilot program that would install 265 charging stations for electric cars in the eastern part of Washington state. The program was estimated to cost around $3.1 million. It would install fast electric vehicle charging stations in 120 homes, 100 workplaces, and 45 public areas.[15]
In 2017, Ontario-based electrical utility Hydro One agreed to purchase Avista.[16]
In December 2018, The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission rejected the proposed takeover by Hydro-One, saying the Ontario government (its largest shareholder) led by recently elected premier Doug Ford, had interfered politically in Hydro One's business affairs, most glaringly ordering the removal of CEO Mayo Schmidt, who he dubbed "the Six Million Dollar Man" during the election, and vowing to fire him if elected.[17]
