Your PUD News Release

Series of evening meetings set to plan for PUD’s future

Chelan County PUD
News Release
8/16/2006

People from throughout Chelan County are invited at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 23 to the first in a series of public meetings to discuss issues important to the future of the Chelan County PUD. The meeting will be held at the Confluence Technology Center in Olds Station, 285 Technology Center Way.

“This could be one of the most important opportunities for public input on the future of Chelan County PUD,” said Board President Gary Montague.

There will be opportunities to ask questions and to comment on information being discussed by board members and others, including new General Manager Rich Riazzi.

 “We are launching this series of meetings that we hope will provide a solid foundation for making important decisions that will shape the PUD’s future,” said Riazzi.

He noted that the PUD now relies heavily on surplus wholesale power sales to provide enough revenue to balance the budget each year. That revenue is projected at $58 million this year. However, that source of income may  fluctuate greatly depending on energy markets and water conditions or runoff. (The price this year has been as low as $1 per megawatt hour and as high as $400.) The PUD may need to find more stable ways to cover the costs of running three dams, operating water and wastewater systems, building a fiber-optics network, distributing power to more than 40,000 customers, providing for recreation and caring for fish and wildlife.

The first meeting is designed to review where the PUD stands today and to report on the products, services and activities offered by the PUD, along with the revenue and costs associated with each.

In future meetings, topics will cover the financial and operating challenges faced by the PUD, priorities for the future, action plans and principles to be adopted by the board to guide future direction.

At least three more meetings are expected to be held in the next six months or so. Dates for the following meetings have not been set. Meetings will be recorded and will be available afterward on the PUD’s Web site. People can also offer comment at any time by using the Web site, www.chelanpud.org. 

***

Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
661-4639, direct line
679-0148, cell
stevel@chelanpud.org