<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AVISTA CORPORATION, INCLUDED IN THE
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000, AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,500,752
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 1,119,422
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,353,464
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 311,048
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,284,686
<COMMON> 602,342
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> (12,205)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 71,060
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 661,197
145,000
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 695,558<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 97,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 4,470
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 21,100
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 41,623
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 3,119
<LEASES-CURRENT> 1,189
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 4,614,430<F2>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 6,284,686
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 5,599,693
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 25,305<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 5,530,462
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 5,530,462
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 69,231
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 29,421
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 98,652<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 49,774
<NET-INCOME> 23,573
23,127
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 446
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 16,956
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> (58,097)
<EPS-BASIC> 0.01
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.01
<FN>
<F1>LONG-TERM DEBT-NET DOES NOT MATCH THE AMOUNT REPORTED ON THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITALIZATION AS LONG-TERM DEBT DUE TO THE OTHER
CATEGORIES REQUIRED BY THIS SCHEDULE.
<F2>OTHER ITEMS CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES INCLUDES THE CURRENT LIABILITIES,
DEFERRED CREDITS AND MINORITY INTEREST, LESS CERTAIN AMOUNTS INCLUDED UNDER
LONG-TERM DEBT-CURRENT PORTION AND LEASES-CURRENT, FROM THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET.
<F3>THE COMPANY DOES NOT INCLUDE INCOME TAX EXPENSE AS AN OPERATING EXPENSE ITEM.
IT IS INCLUDED ON THE COMPANY'S STATEMENTS AS A BELOW-THE-LINE ITEM.
<F4>INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE IS NOT A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM ON THE COMPANY'S
INCOME STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY COMBINES TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME
TO CALCULATE INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES.
</FN>
</TABLE>
