<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AVISTA CORPORATION, INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,500,837
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    714,186
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,214,069
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       284,402
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,713,494
<COMMON>                                       310,491
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      (4,513)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             87,521
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 393,499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          145,000
<PREFERRED>                                    263,309
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           544,895<F1>
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             111,030
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                        5,097
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  10,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   49,401
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      4,810
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,650
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,184,803<F2>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,713,494
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    7,904,984
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            16,740<F3>
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   7,873,627
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   7,873,627
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         31,357
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              76,490
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 107,847<F4>
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        65,076
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,031
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     21,392
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,639
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        18,301
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       44,541
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         111,176
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.12
<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>