Avista pauses data center negotiations

Avista, a regulated utility company, has announced a pause in its negotiations with an unnamed data center developer. The decision was made to allow for broader coordination with various government agencies and to thoroughly consider community feedback. As a utility, Avista is mandated to review service requests, including large proposals like those from data centers, and the developer must secure all necessary permits. The company emphasized that multiple reviews and approvals are required before any project can proceed.

Avista has established four guiding principles for evaluating large data center developments. These principles include customer protection, ensuring existing customers do not bear the costs of new large customers; system reliability, maintaining the integrity of the power grid; regulatory approval, adhering to all necessary governmental oversight; and responsible growth, which dictates that large projects must provide net benefits for customers.