During its strategic planning process,the PUD heard customers’ preference for smaller, predictable rate changes to reduce the risk of larger increases in the future. In February 2020, the PUD Board of Commissioners approved the following rate changes:
- 3-percent annual electric rate change – about $1.75/month each year for residential customers
- 4-percent water and wastewater change per year to move the systems toward sustainability
- 3-percent per year wholesale fiber rate change
Chelan PUD has not raised electric rates for 9 years and has only had a 9% rate increase since 2000, while cumulative inflation has been about 40%. Increasing electric rates at approximately the rate of cost growth decreases the risk of large rate increases in later years.