Advantage IQ adds Energy Manager to Consulting Services Team

Company increases focus on strategic energy management initiatives

SPOKANE, Wash. – Feb. 22, 2006 – Advantage IQ, a subsidiary of Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA), continues to expand its energy conservation offerings by the addition of Mark Breuker, a Certified Energy Manager, to its consulting services team. This addition will allow Advantage IQ to strengthen its strategic energy management initiatives on behalf of clients.

Advantage IQ offers a suite of strategic energy management services that include advanced analysis and reporting, rate analysis and optimization, and supply side management. Over the past two years, the company has increased its focus and commitment to providing these and other consulting services to meet the needs of its growing client base.

"Lately it seems like the entire country is focused on energy consumption issues," said Ed Schlect, vice president of consulting services. "Advantage IQ has created a successful business model based on helping clients manage and reduce energy spending."

In his role as the director of energy consulting, Breuker will be responsible for leading and developing the company’s energy management programs. Breuker joins Advantage IQ with more than 14 years of experience in the energy industry. For the last eight years, Breuker has been assisting retail, commercial, and industrial clients in establishing and implementing energy strategies that tie directly to corporate objectives and the realities of the ever-changing energy marketplace. As a Certified Energy Manager and registered Professional Engineer, Breuker has helped clients save millions of dollars through the implementation of supply-side and demand-side initiatives. He holds a masters degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

"Mark's talents and client focus will be a great asset to our continued growth in energy management services", said Schlect. "Advantage is committed to assisting our clients with the increasingly complex energy sector, and Mark's arrival allows us to increase this focus."

"I'm excited about joining the Advantage IQ team," said Breuker. "There is already an excellent team of professionals in place, providing top-notch consulting services to some of the most recognized brands in the country—and their 95 percent retention rate speaks volumes about the job they're doing. I look forward to being able to contribute to this effort."

Advantage IQ provides facility cost management services to more than 350 of the largest multi-site organizations in America, including invoice management, auditing, analysis and comprehensive reporting services. Advantage clients utilize the company's patented Facility IQ system to gain insight into utility, telecom and waste expenses, allowing them to effectively manage and understand their costs. Advantage continues to add to its customer base with an overall growth rate of 35 percent over the past year, including significant additions in the food service, entertainment and retail service sectors.