Your PUD
News Release
Work starts on PUD rate changes
Chelan County PUD
News Release
3/24/2008
Commissioners were asked Monday to start thinking about how utility rates should be set for the future to recover the cost of providing service to different types of customers.
The work follows discussions at last year’s strategic planning meetings when commissioners asked for a study of the District’s rates as part of setting financial direction for the next five years. Across-the-board rate increases of 5 percent for electric customers and 9 percent for water and sewer customers went into effect in January. Monday’s discussion was about how possible future increases may be applied.
Background on conservation programs, discounts for low-income seniors and disabled customers and how much money is needed to provide electric, water and sewer service was covered.
The PUD has about 45,000 electric customers; about half are residential accounts, 35 percent are commercial and the rest are large industrial customers. Rates and costs will be studied in April and May and the results discussed at public meetings in June and July. A decision on changes will be requested in August.
Commissioners emphasized the need for conservation programs as part of any change in rates.
PUD makes offer on Hawley Street property
Commissioners Monday approved the purchase of a 0.78-acre lot on Hawley Street in Wenatchee located between two pieces of PUD-owned property. The parcel will provide more room for the Distribution Service Center shop, storage and staging area on Hawley Street, just east of Wenatchee Avenue.
The agreement with Richard L. Scaman includes a purchase price of $425,000, but is contingent on the results of an environmental assessment of the former auto repair shop site and potential cleanup costs. The general manager is authorized to proceed with the purchase if the cost of the study and cleanup does not exceed $50,000. The property was appraised at $400,000. Staff told commissioners the negotiated price reflects the benefit to the PUD of joining the separate parcels.
In other business, commissioners:
- Set a hearing at 1 p.m. on April 7 as part of the regular board meeting to consider declaring surplus to District needs a 1.4-acre parcel located on the Columbia River shore in Chelan County about eight miles north of the Beebe Bridge. Click here for details.
- Rescheduled to 1:30 p.m. on April 7 a public meeting on a potential change in the policy on when the District would permit private docks on District-owned land on Lake Chelan and the Rocky Reach Reservoir. The meeting will be advertised and property owners along the lake and reservoir notified by letter.
- Discussed their board governance policy and asked staff to draft language to clarify whether (and in what circumstances) it is appropriate for commissioners to vote if they are participating in a board meeting by telephone. The board will continue its discussion at a future meeting.
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PUD commissioners will hold a special meeting from noon-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the Chelan County Fire District No. 1 station in Malaga to meet with the area’s Customer Partnership Group.
The March 31 PUD commission meeting has been canceled.
PUD commissioners have set another special meeting for noon-1:30 p.m. on April 3 at El Abuelo Restaurant, 601 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, to meet with members of the Hispanic Customer Partnership Group.
The next regular meeting of the PUD commission will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 7, in the boardroom at PUD Headquarters, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.,
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
509-661-4320, direct line
509-679-6858, cell
kimberlee.craig@chelanpud.org