Avista Corporation Faces Devastating Wildfires in Spokane, Washington
Avista Corporation's second quarter 2026 earnings conference call was overshadowed by the devastating wildfires that ravaged the Spokane area over the weekend. The fires, fueled by dry and windy conditions, have had a profound impact on the community, displacing thousands of people, including many Avista employees.
The company's President and CEO, Heather Rosentrater, expressed her condolences to those affected by the fires, stating that "our hearts are with everyone who has had to evacuate their homes, everyone who has suffered loss, and all who continue working on the front lines." She emphasized that the company's facilities were not involved in starting any of these fires in the Spokane area.
However, Avista's transmission and distribution infrastructure serving parts of West Spokane has been severely impacted. Multiple transmission lines sustained damage from wildfire activity, and the transmission system was operating with reduced capacity due to the damage. Despite efforts to repair and energize a key transmission line earlier this morning, the situation remains dynamic, and the fires have yet to be contained.
The company has identified significant impacts to its transmission and distribution infrastructure, with approximately 7,300 of its 429,000 electric customers still without power and about 5,300 of its 386,000 natural gas customers without service. The outages are not related to the public safety power shutoff event but rather due to damaged infrastructure, evacuation restrictions, and ongoing safety concerns associated with the fires.
Avista's focus has shifted from financial reporting to supporting its customers and employees affected by the tragic event. The company is working to assess damage to its facilities, plan for restoration, and provide additional information as it becomes available. Its primary priority remains the safety of its customers, employees, contractors, and the communities it serves.
During the Q&A session, a representative from Wells Fargo Securities asked about the extent of the damage to the transmission system and how Avista is thinking about cost recovery and insurance treatment while the cause is still under investigation. Heather Rosentrater explained that while repairs have been made to some critical lines, there are still a couple of lines out, indicating the severity of the damage.
The situation in Spokane remains fluid, with emergency responders working tirelessly to contain the fires. Avista's response has been swift and decisive, with the company prioritizing the safety and well-being of its customers and employees above all else.
