Your PUD
PUD News Line
7/1/2008
Free Visitor Center program invites students into the wild
Rocky Reach Visitor Center will offer “River Ramble,” a free program July 17-18, spotlighting local animals, raptors, native plants and Native American life.
The hands-on program, designed for elementary- and middle-school children, includes a day in the classroom and a guided walk through the Horan Nature Area at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers.
Chelan PUD wildlife biologist Kelly Cordell-Stine will provide an interactive presentation of locally common wildlife and teach the art of making track castings of wildlife footprints.
Raptor House Rehabilitation Center director Marsha Flamm will have live birds of prey and talk about their ecological significance. Discover how Chelan County PUD programs are helping these birds.
Renowned Native American artist Roger Amerman will teach the cultural significance of native habitats with a presentation that includes building a traditional structure with native plants and a fun treasure hunt in the Museum of the Columbia.
Click in anytime
Our Web site lets you get things done 24/7. Watch for your bill insert. It has a list of cool things to see and do at www.chelanpud.org.
Alcoa power sales contract reintroduced
On June 16, PUD commissioners again reviewed a proposed power sales contract with Alcoa to start in 2011 that would provide power for its Wenatchee aluminum smelter through October 2028.
The contract would provide Alcoa with electricity equal to 26 percent of the output of Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams, in exchange for the company paying 26 percent of the cost of producing and delivering the power, plus other costs.
PUD commissioners tabled final consideration of the new power sales contract until July 14. State law requires power sales agreement to be tabled for at least 10 days.
The agreement is based on terms approved by PUD commissioners in December 2007, with some changes made based on commission and community feedback. An outline of major points of the proposed power sales contract and two related agreements are posted on the PUD Web site, along with background information.
Rate design discussions continue
Commissioners continue discussing cost of service and rate design for PUD customers. A possible rate increase and rate adjustments within specific classes such as residential and commercial are being analyzed as options to bring the PUD closer to covering the full cost of providing electrical service. Future discussions will include a look at rates for PUD water and sewer customers. If proposed by the board, rate changes would go through public hearings this fall.
Public comment is welcome at board meetings, by e-mail at board2@chelanpud.org and by phone at 661-4212. The results of the cost-of-service analysis are posted on the PUD’s Web site.