EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will consider the passage of a 2024 budget, which includes a 2.5% to 3% overall rate increase, at their Nov. 14 meeting.

Whether commissioners opt for 2.5% or 3%, rates for individual classes may be higher or lower than that, depending on factors considered in PUD rate-setting policy, such as how much it costs to provide electrical service to different customer classes.

Some conditions in the resolution governing rates will not be met by the end of the year, which was the established deadline. Commission chair Nelson Cox said Oct. 24 that he thought the discussion over future rate-setting policy, and any changes commissioners want to make, should be conducted over the winter. 

The proposed budget does not establish rates past 2024, but PUD staff has proposed a 2% overall rate increase each year from 2025 to 2028. 

The budget proposal projects expenditures of $347.2 million in 2024 after other revenue is measured against expenses, with a year-end balance of about $118.6 million. 

The buildout of the PUD’s fiber network is projected to be completed by the end of 2024. Another ongoing project will continue, the upgrades to turbines and generators at Priest Rapids Dam. The upgrades at Priest Rapids began in 2016; each of the 10 generator-turbine combinations takes about 14 months to complete. 

Utility district officials will start working on the relocation of the PUD maintenance yard in Ephrata in 2024. Project design is scheduled for 2024-25, with construction expected to begin sometime in 2025 and be completed in 2027. The new maintenance facility will be built south of Ephrata.

Construction of the Red Rock transmission line to the Royal City area is planned for 2024. A transmission line is scheduled for relocation in the Stratford Road-Larson area, and the Ruff substation near Moses Lake is scheduled for upgrades. Construction of a transmission line from Wanapum Dam to Quincy is also planned for 2024, part of a larger project to expand service in the Quincy area. 

The budget also includes goals established by each division within the utility. Among those are improved customer service, work on developing techniques to meet the requirements of Washington’s carbon initiatives, developing a long-term power contract structure for industrial and large industrial customers and increased training for employees. Utility district officials also want to work on developing apprenticeship and continuing education programs to help current employees qualify for new jobs.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at [email protected]. She covers Grant County PUD, the medical beat and the cities of Soap Lake and Quincy.