Customer Services Fiber Plan
Thank you for sending in your comments and suggestions as we evaluated options for the PUD fiber-optic program over the past year or so. We all appreciate the time everyone has taken to share their thoughts.
It is clear that most customer-owners see value in the fiber-optic network and like the concept of maintaining local control. However, we’ve heard consistently from our customer-owners over the past few years that a majority do not want to pay higher electric rates to pay for any expansion of the fiber-optic network.
On April 16, the PUD Board of Commissioners decided to continue operating the fiber optic system and asked staff to take steps to move the fiber system toward being self-sustaining and ending its reliance on dollars from the overall PUD electric system. The goals in this approach are to keep the network functioning reliably and to move it toward covering its annual and long-term expenses. Our fiber staff will also be looking closely at suggestions we have received from many of you on additional ways to connect more customers outside of our existing footprint in a way that is financially sustainable. This will all take time, and I ask for your patience.
It is my sincere desire that this approach will open the door to future possibilities for the fiber-optic network by putting fiber as a specific service on more solid financial footing over the long term and maintaining the financial health of the PUD as a whole. If you have additional comments or questions, please email the fiber team, or call them at 661-4151.
— John Janney, PUD general manager
April 16, 1 p.m. PUD Board room, Wenatchee
- Board consideration
April 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. PUD Auditorium, Wenatchee
- Recommendations
Feb. 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Confluence Technology Center
Watch a video from the meeting. Download the presentations and reports.
- EES Consulting on benefit/cost analysis
- Fifth Element Associates on phone survey, focus group, service provider interviews and community leader interviews
- PUD staff on benchmarking
- CCG Consulting on business plan options