Avista Corp (NYSE: AVA) is talking to potential buyers although it has no "formal sales process" in place, according to a report Tuesday.

Avista, a regional electric and gas utilities company based on Spokane, Washington, closed Tuesday up 6 percent on four times its average daily trading volume. Shares were nearly unchanged in the extended session.

TheDeal.com cited unnamed sources in its report, saying Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is among potential buyers. News of TheDeal.com's report was also carried by Bloomberg news service.