• Customer Services
• Your PUD
  • Mission and Vision
  • Public Records Requests
  • Fast Facts
  • Governance
  • News
  • Finance
  • Licensing and Compliance
  • Facilities
  • Utility Services
  • Mid-C Services
  • Contact Us
• Conservation/Environment
• Learning Center
• Parks and Recreation
• Working At The PUD
• Vendors and Contractors
• En español

SEARCH

Locations set for rate meetings

Chelan County PUD
News Release
9/2/2008

PUD commissioners finalized plans for three public meetings on utility rate options that are designed to encourage power and water conservation and to better align rates between customer classes.

Meetings to gather customer comments will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

• Sept. 29 at Chelan County Fire District No. 3 station, 228 Chumstick Highway, Leavenworth.
• Oct. 1 at the Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee.
• Oct. 2 in the Riverside Room at Campbell’s Resort, 104 W. Woodin Ave.,  Chelan.

A hearing on the final proposal to be developed following public comment is scheduled for Oct. 20.

A review of rates began early this year following last year’s strategic planning sessions, which resulted in strategic principles to ensure the District’s finances are solid until 2012 when existing power sales contracts expire.

The option for electric rates is designed to encourage conservation by lowering the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) slightly for residential customers using moderate amounts of power and charging the highest rates for power use that tops 3,000 kWh a month.

The draft also calls for delaying any increase in electric, water and sewer rates until April 1, 2009, after peak winter use subsides.

Overall electric revenue could rise an average of 2.5 percent. Residential revenue is expected to increase an average of 3.2 percent; commercial revenue by 1 percent.

Average water revenue would increase 6.9 percent and 6.5 percent for sewer.

Customer Partnership Group meetings set

Commissioners scheduled five special meetings with Customer Partnership Groups. All meetings will start at noon at the following locations and dates:

• Sept. 25 at the Entiat Library building in Entiat.
• Oct. 23 at the Wenatchee Roaster and Ale House in Wenatchee.
• Oct. 30 at the Walnut Café in Cashmere.
• Nov. 12 at the Icicle Ridge Winery in Peshastin.
• Dec. 10 at the Best Western Icicle Inn in Leavenworth.

These meetings are designed to bring customers together with PUD staff and managers to exchange information and share ideas for new or improved utility services and activities. 

Rock Island modernization update

Commissioners traveled to Rock Island Hydro Project for an update on modernization and improvement projects taking place there.

The tour included a look at new transformers on Powerhouse 2 that are more efficient and provide improved safety and environmental safeguards. The group also saw new trash racks and a demonstration of a new trash rake that has streamlined cleaning debri from in front of the dam. The new cleaning process takes less staff and increases efficiency of power production.

Commissioners also heard an update on a $200 million modernization project at Powerhouse 1. The project started in 2001 and will be completed in 2014. Project manager Brett Bickford said that work done so far has come in on time and at or under budget. Projects so far have included a new, safer entrance to the dam; new cranes, and other plant upgrades as well as the modernization of the first of four generator units.

***

The next regular meeting of the PUD commission will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, 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 http://www.chelanpud.org.

Jeri Freimuth
Chelan County PUD
(509) 661-4504
(509) 668-0267 cell
Jeri.freimuth@chelanpud.org