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Morris to lead Avista Utilities Medford exec takes over troubled subsidiary By David Preszler Medford�s Scott Morris has made a big move up the corporate ladder. Morris was named president of Avista Utilities, the largest subsidiary of Avista Corp., this week. He had been general manager of Avista�s Oregon and Northern California utility businesses. "I feel I�m ready for the challenge," said Morris, a prominent figure in Medford�s business community who is in the final weeks of his term as president of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County. Morris, 42, takes the helm of a recently troubled division. Avista Utilities lost more than $100 million in the spring on wholesale electricity-trading deals. He will replace Edward Turner, who resigned Wednesday along with two other high-ranking executives. The company�s announcement did not specifically link the departures to the spring losses. Morris, who joined the utility company in 1981, said it was too soon to discuss specific plans but said he is excited about the opportunity to lead the utility group. "Avista has a tradition of being a real innovative utility with great employees," he said. "As long as I keep my eye on the ball and stay focused on customers and employees, I�ll do fine." Morris moved to Medford in 1991 but isn�t leaving just yet, despite the fact that Avista is headquartered in Spokane, Wash. "I�m going to report in Spokane, but I�m going to commute," he said. He plans to work four days a week in Spokane and one day in Medford. He said the arrangement will allow his four children to remain in school here. In particular, he said he wanted to allow his son Joe, a sophomore at North Medford this fall, to finish high school here. Morris has built a reputation as a community-minded citizen, having served on numerous nonprofit boards including the Rogue Valley YMCA, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Providence Community Health Foundation Board and Rogue Community College�s advisory board. He said he will evaluate whether to continue those commitments, since he will be in Spokane so much. Avista has yet to name a replacement for Morris. Avista Utilities has 1,500 employees and operations in five states: natural gas or electric service in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California and generation facilities in Montana. In 1999, Avista Utilities had revenues of $1.1 billion, a significant chunk of Avista Corp.�s $7.9 billion in revenues. The utility hasn�t fared well in 2000 because of energy trading troubles. In April, an energy trader for the utility made several deals obligating the company to deliver power at preset prices over several months. Avista did not have enough power to meet the contracts and had to buy electricity at a time when prices were soaring. The trader took his own life. The company lost $126 million on wholesale electricity-trading deals in the quarter ending June 31. Tom Matthews, president, chief executive and chairman of Avista Corp., offered to resign because of the losses, but the board of directors refused to accept his resignation. Several shareholder lawsuits followed a stock plunge that dropped the company�s market capitalization by almost half compared to April levels. The stock closed Thursday�s trading at $18.81 a share, down 6 cents. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA