Your PUD
PUD News Line
2/24/2009
FERC issues new license for Rocky Reach
A new 43-year license for Chelan County PUD to continue operating the Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project was issued Thursday.
The new license provides a continued low-cost power supply for PUD customers, along with new environmental protections for the community.
"This is an important day for the customer-owners of this PUD and for the entire region," said Rich Riazzi, Chelan County PUD general manager. "We are pleased to have a new license, assuring the clean, renewable hydropower from Rocky Reach will continue to provide its many benefits for a long time to come."
As conditions worsen, PUD continues to tighten belt
A declining snowpack forecast and continuing low wholesale power prices have triggered slowdowns in two large Chelan County PUD capital-spending projects as the utility continues trying to avoid a surcharge for 2009. PUD commissioners have agreed with plans to slow down construction of the fiber-optic network to new service areas for the rest of this year, reducing costs by about $4 million. Another $9.2 million will be saved by delaying a project to replace all electric meters in the county with automated meters.
The PUD pared back spending on 2009 capital projects by another $4.8 million this last Monday as revenue forecasts continue to drop.
In January, General Manager Rich Riazzi hosted an evening public meeting to talk about the 2009 budget and the general PUD financial situation. Riazzi will host another public meeting in mid-March. Watch http://www.chelanpud.org/ for a date.
PUD taking online job applications
Chelan County PUD debuted an online job application process this month. Prospective employees have been able to view job openings on the PUD Web site for several years, but paper applications were still required.
Now applicants can review job openings, post their resumes and submit applications online at http://www.chelanpud.org/ in the new "Careers" section.
With the new technology in place, the PUD will accept only online applications. For individuals without computers, the District has installed dedicated computers for job applications in the lobbies of its offices in Wenatchee, Chelan and Leavenworth. The computers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis during business hours.
Save energy. Save money.
Are you ready to buy a new fridge but not sure what to do with the old one? Or maybe you're interested in buying a new TV and want to know whether going big-screen means bigger energy bills. Answers to those questions and more are available in Chelan County PUD's energy newsletter, called Lightly.