It is no shock that Avista is a leading utility serving the northwestern US. The firm's regulated utility unit has a generation capacity of more than 1,940 MW of electricity. Avista Utilities provides electric service to 700,000 electric and natural gas customers. The company operates six hydroelectric projects and owns coal, natural gas, and wood waste plants. Avista has no natural gas reserves and purchases its supply from the wholesale market. The company also operated 79%-owned Ecova (which manages energy expenses and provides energy consulting expertise for about 700 multisite companies across the US) but sold this unit in 2014.