Avista Utilities is an energy company with its headquarters in Spokane, Washington

Spokane, Washington

Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...

 in the United States. It employs nearly 2,000 people who work in five western states. They serve customers with hydro, natural gas

Natural gas

Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...

, coal and biomass

Biomass

Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....

 generation delivered over 2100 miles (3,379.6 km) of transmission line, 17000 miles (27,358.8 km) of distribution line and 6100 miles (9,817 km) of natural gas distribution mains.

The company was founded in 1873 as Washington Water Power Company, until 1998 when the board of directors approved a name change to Avista Utilities. At that time, the company also bought naming rights for Spokane's minor league baseball park, Avista Stadium

Avista Stadium

Avista Stadium is a ballpark located in Spokane Valley, Washington, United States. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team, a Class A short-season affiliate of the Texas Rangers...

.

The total service territory is over 30000 square miles (77,699.6 km²) and almost 500,000 customers.