COEUR d’ALENE — Avista filed a request last month for permission to raise rates on electricity and natural gas to generate $31.8 million for infrastructure repairs.

The request includes a 10.3-percent increase in electricity rates over a two-year period and an 8.3-percent increase in natural gas rates.

If approved, Avista’s request would increase monthly power bills for average residential electricity users by $5.92 a month in 2016, and another $6.10 a month in 2017. Average natural gas users would pay an additional $3.90 a month in 2016, and see another monthly increase of $1.79 in 2017.

“It’s important to note that this is just a request or proposal,” said Jessie Wuerst, a spokeswoman for Avista, as she explained the complexity of the request.

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