Your PUD News Release
Chelan County PUD reverses withdrawal from state association
Chelan County PUD
News Release
6/29/2010
Chelan County PUD commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon to reverse their action of last week and give the Washington PUDs Association more time to restructure itself to be more effective before facing potential withdrawal by Chelan PUD.
Chelan PUD took action last week because it faced a deadline of June 30 if commissioners wanted to avoid being obligated to pay 2011 dues to WPUDA. This year’s dues are $132,224. Commissioners said they were worried that dues might increase significantly because Clark PUD had recently voted to withdraw from the association as well, taking its large share of dues away.
But action by WPUDA this week paved the way for reconsideration. The organization asked all members to vote to extend the deadline for deciding on yearly membership from June 30 to Oct. 31, for this year only. If all members of WPUDA agree, that will give Chelan PUD and others more time to see how WPUDA might reorganize itself in the meantime. A reorganization plan is scheduled to be discussed by WPUDA members on July 15-16 at the association’s headquarters in Olympia.
“We all want the organization to be effective for public power in the state,” said Chelan PUD Commissioner Randy Smith, a member of WPUDA’s Energy Committee.
“This buys us more time,” added Commissioner Ann Congdon, the lone commissioner to vote against the withdrawal motion last week.
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The next regular commission meeting is at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, in the PUD boardroom at 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.
Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org