On July 1st, Avista Utilities filed tariffs to suspend its natural gas energy efficiency programs in both Idaho and Washington. The company, reacting to declining natural gas commodity prices, determined that its natural gas program portfolio was not cost effective using a total resource cost test and took the action to call for quick suspension of these offerings. In a written communication to the utility’s advisory committee, Avista’s Bruce Folsom stated; “[t]he Company is further committing to closely monitoring proxies for the natural gas avoided cost and returning the natural gas DSM programs to our menu of offerings if commodity costs, efficiency technologies or program delivery options change in such a manner as to make these programs cost-effective under the Total Resource Cost test. This monitoring will be performed on an ongoing basis in addition to our regularly scheduled annual DSM business plans and the biennial IRP process.” Regulatory approval of the filing is pending in both states