Avista, the Spokane-based utility, disclosed a confidential agreement with a large electricity consumer that could draw as much power as half of its current service area in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. The deal sets a goal for the customer to utilize 125 megawatts by 2029, scaling up to 500 megawatts by 2032.
To put the scale in perspective, Avista noted that 1 to 2 megawatts is enough to power a hospital, highlighting the vast energy requirements involved. While the utility has not revealed the customer’s identity or industry, energy analysts note that such demand aligns with operations like AI hyperscale data centers, which typically require massive power supplies.
An Avista spokesperson emphasized that accommodating this large load will not negatively affect other customers' rates. The utility insists that the new customer will cover all costs related to expanding any necessary electrical infrastructure. The agreement remains in preliminary stages, pending engineering contracts with financial guarantees and regulatory approvals at local, state, and federal levels before the project can proceed.