BEVERLY - Grant PUD's Board of Commissioners have been presented a preliminary estimate of $61 million for repairs to the fracture at Wanapum Dam's spillway.

The estimate of $61 million, given during the commission meeting of April 22, includes all costs associated with: fracture investigation, spillway repairs, fish passage modifications, shoreline protection and power supply costs, according to Public Information Officer Thomas Stredwick.

"The estimate is based on information presently available and may vary depending on results from the analysis into the cause of the fracture and the investigation of the fracture's geometry, as well as how soon repairs can be completed," he said.

The PUD is evaluating how it will use a combination of reserve funds, debt financing and expense reductions to cover the cost of restoring the Wanapum Dam spillway. Staff continues to work with its insurers to explore potential insurance coverage as well.

Stredwick said Grant PUD plans to maintain the current 2 percent rate trajectory adopted by commissioners last December and will consider rate increases as a last resort.

"Maintaining a strong financial position to ensure long-term low rates for customers continues to be a priority," he said.

Investigative drilling into the spillway has resumed. Grant PUD's engineering team and the independent board of consultants determined that construction of a platform was no longer required to finish the necessary drilling.

Drilling will resume from a corridor under the dam's spillway known as the grout gallery. Once the drilling and the root-cause analysis are finished, Grant PUD will begin making repairs to the spillway.

The reservoir level will not be raised to its normal minimum of 562 feet above sea level until the repairs are complete, Stredwick said.