Your PUD
News Release
Power-sales contract proposed
Chelan County PUD
News Release
1/16/2006
PUD commissioner Monday introduced a resolution to authorize a 20-year power-sales contract with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and plan to vote on it Jan. 30. Commissioners are required to table such a resolution for 10 days according to state statute.
The 20-year agreement, which would allocate to PSE 25 percent of the power output from Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams through 2031 in exchange for paying 25 percent of the costs, would maintain local control for Chelan County PUD and provide long-term financial stability.
The contract would allow the PUD to pay down debt, pay for some future capital improvements at the dams without borrowing, and PSE would provide an $89 million payment as soon as contract is approved.
Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Craig Larsen spoke Monday and asked commissioners to approve the agreement on Jan. 30, adding, “We’re excited about it.” Larsen continued, “Getting more power back within our control is a great thing for existing residential ratepayers that live here, for the industries that are here currently…and for future industrial users that provide jobs to the area.”
Legislative update
Commissioners Monday received an update on the state legislative session from Governmental Affairs Director Andrew Munro.
Munro told commissioners the PUD is watching many bills closely, including bills that could require a potential renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that could enforce a minimum amount of renewable “green” power production each year as a percentage of a utility’s power load.
Chelan County PUD considers hydropower clean and renewable, and hopes any RPS would include hydropower, as do all but one of the 23 states in the nation who have enacted RPS. Texas has a goal of establishing 10,000-megawatts of hydro. Washington state already produces 21,000 megawatts, more than double the Texas standard.
Staff will watch the legislative session closely on this and other issues.
In other business, commissioners:
- Heard that the PUD saved around $1.5 million by moving part of its fixed-rate debt to variable-rate debt in 2004.
- Accepted a $311,000 bid from Omega-Morgan Rigging & Industrial Contracting, Tacoma, to move a number of transformers at Rock Island Dam as part of modernization.
- Voted to join Northwest River Partners, a partnership of farmers, electric utilities and businesses on the Columbia and Snake rivers with a goal of balancing fish and power production. Chelan County PUD has participated informally in the past to comment on federal Columbia River operations, as the federal system impacts PUD operations. The PUD will pay around $21,000 to join.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission will start at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23, in the boardroom of the Headquarters Building, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s Web site, www.chelanpud.org.
Christy Shearer
Communications Audio-visual Specialist
(509) 661-4258
(509) 421-4258 cell
christy.shearer@chelanpud.org