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Hydro One, Avista to request Washington State regulator to reconsider order denying acquisition

Click to play video: '‘People are struggling to pay their hydro rates’: Ontario appoints new Hydro One board'
‘People are struggling to pay their hydro rates’: Ontario appoints new Hydro One board
WATCH ABOVE: Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Wednesday that his government has appointed 10 new Hydro One board members to replace its previous 14-member board. (Aug. 15) – Aug 15, 2018

TORONTO – Hydro One Ltd. and Avista Corp. say they plan to formally request that the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission reconsider its order last week denying approval of the $6.7-billion takeover of the U.S.-based energy utility.

The two companies say they will file a petition no later than Dec. 17 but haven’t indicated on what grounds they are making the request.

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Under Washington State law, the UTC has 20 days to consider the petition, otherwise it is deemed to be denied.

If it reconsiders its decision, the UTC can modify the prior order or take any actions it deems appropriate including extending deliberations.

Washington State regulators said they would not allow Ontario’s largest utility to buy Avista for fear the provincial government, which owns 47 per cent of Hydro One’s shares, might meddle in Avista’s operations.

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Hydro One’s shares have risen since the order because the deal, announced in July 2017, would have eroded earnings per share and weakened Hydro One’s balance sheet, according to analysts.

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