When a large-load customer is interested in siting in Chelan County, they submit an interconnection study request. An interconnection study identifies how large-load customers will connect to Chelan PUD’s transmission and distribution system, and any system upgrades required to do so.
Typically, the large-load customer bears the costs of the interconnection study, and any upgrades required for them to connect to the electrical grid. For example, Microsoft covered all costs for Chelan PUD to build the Jumpoff Ridge substation to serve its Malaga data center campus.
Chelan PUD may propose to share costs on system upgrades that benefit both the large-load customer and Chelan PUD customer-owners. For example, if a new transmission line adds capacity to how much electricity Chelan PUD can deliver – above and beyond what the prospective customer needs – the PUD may offer to pay a percentage of the cost.