EPA Names Advantage IQ Energy Star 2006 Partner Of The Year

Advantage IQ receives second consecutive award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency.

Spokane, Wash., Mar. 1, 2006 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Advantage IQ, a subsidiary of Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA), with the Excellence in Promoting Superior Energy Performance 2006 Award for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Advantage IQ’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2006.

Advantage IQ, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, is being honored for its ongoing commitment to providing services and products to help businesses and organizations adopt smart energy practices. In 2005, Advantage IQ handled more than 90 percent of all automated building ratings the EPA processed during the year. Advantage IQ was also named ENERGY STAR Partner of Year for 2005.

Across the U.S., companies and organizations are benefiting from the value of strategic energy management through participation in ENERGY STAR. Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR, Americans saved $12 billion on their energy bills and enough peak energy to power 28 million homes. Through those savings, according to EPA, they avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 23 million vehicles.

"At Advantage IQ, we are committed to giving organizations tools to protect the environment through energy efficiency," said Stu Stiles, Advantage IQ president & chief executive officer. "Our entire business model is based on assisting companies achieve superior energy performance. We have found that participating in the ENERGY STAR program just makes good business sense."

The ENERGY STAR partnership has added increased value to Advantage IQ's clients. "As energy costs continue to rise, strategic energy management is a priority for more and more companies," said Ed Schlect, Advantage IQ vice president, product development. "Our clients actively utilize our system for managing these and other facility related costs. By applying the facility data collected by our service to the ENERGY STAR tools, our clients have an even greater advantage for effectively managing their energy usage."

The Partner of the Year Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize efforts to promote ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners are selected from thousands of organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

"Partners like Advantage IQ are helping their customers find and invest in energy efficient solutions – and our environment benefits," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division.