EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD fiber network will be expanded north of Moses Lake, in the area of Road K and south of Road 7, and into the town of George in 2018. Where the fiber build goes from there will depend on how it fits into, and impacts, the district’s overall financial picture.

The 2018 plan was reviewed at the regular commission meeting Tuesday. The expansion will make fiber optic service available to about 1,400 additional customers.

The PUD’s fiber system reaches about 70 percent of the utility district’s customers – it’s getting it to the remaining 30 percent that has generated a lot of conversation. Commissioners allocated $7 million from the district’s reserves to pay for expansion in 2018.

Construction should begin by midsummer, said Russ Brethower, senior manager of the wholesale fiber program. The area north of Moses Lake was chosen because “this is some of the higher-density areas that we have in our remaining build,” Brethower said.

The area north of Moses Lake was on the list for expansion when the fiber build was suspended. “We actually had the majority of the materials (for the project) sitting in the yard, and still do today,” he said. “It just made sense, since we had that material actually here,” to use it rather than have it languishing in inventory, he said.

“And then George – several years back, when the cable company defaulted on their pole attachments, instead of forcing them to take the stuff off the poles, we said, we’ll keep it. So in George, there’s actually quite a bit of telecommunications strand that’s in place.” The PUD will have to buy some equipment.

“From my perspective, the town of George is a relatively easy build.” In addition, the Microsoft corporation donated $200,000 to pay part of the cost of extending fiber to George. “It makes that one very cost effective for us.” Utility district officials said the Microsoft donation will pay about half the cost.

“I think we can actually get it all built by the end of 2018,” Brethower said.

Commissioners decided on a yearly review of the fiber program, with continuation depending on its impact on the PUD’s overall financial picture. Jeff Bishop, the PUD’s chief financial officer, said the fiber buildout has to meet or exceed designated targets of return on the investment the PUD had made and is making. If it passes that test, the build can’t impact the PUD’s ability to pay off its debts. If it does, the project will be put on hold for at least a year.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].