Couple devoted to progressive and innovative PUD

EPHRATA — Don and Colleen Long say they want the Grant County Public Utility District to succeed and be respected.

Because of their goal, they faithfully attend the weekly meeting of the Board of Commissioners. They believe by being aware of PUD news and events they can help ensure its policies remain progressive.

"Since the PUD commission is elected by the people of Grant County, the commission needs to have public input so that it knows that it is following the public's will," Don said.

His wife of 38 years, Colleen, has learned about the utility by participating and attending the weekly meetings.

"I started going to PUD meetings over two years ago when the newspaper was reporting problems (at the district)," Colleen said. "The first meeting I attended, the room was filled and people were shouting from their chairs at commission."

Empathizing with the district's staff and commission, Colleen jumped at the opportunity to become involved and get informed.

"I've learned this is not a business like Avista or Qwest," she said. "I've also learned about the role of commission, staff and ratepayers involved in a public utility district."

For Don, he dedicated 30 years as a professional engineer working at the PUD and has helped Colleen learn more.

"Originally, Colleen asked me to attend a few meetings where a lot of the discussion was going to be very technical," he said. "As time went on, I started seeing how some commissioners and staff appreciated my presence and support, so I started attending more regularly."

During his career at the district, he advanced to become Director of Power Management. Since retiring, he has run a consulting business concentrating on new power plant development, analysis of existing plant operations and power supply contracts.

"I wanted it to be a successful and well-respected utility then, and I still do now," he said.

The Longs both grew up in Grant County, married while Don was working on his engineering degree at Washington State University and raised two children. The couple now have 10 grandchildren.

Initially, Colleen says she never expected to attend the meetings for long. But, the importance of each issue became clear and the process grew more interesting. She eventually felt her interest was appreciated by district officials, she said.

"I think the word 'public' is very important about the PUD," she said. "No matter if it's concerning fiber optics or power, it's public and so it's a people's utility district."

The public utility districts in Washington are authorized to provide electricity, water, sewer and telecommunications, Don said, and Grant County PUD chose to provide two of those services.

Through those services, he said, the district is in a position "to have a positive influence on the economic health of Grant County."

The district produces low cost power for the county through the Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project, which includes Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams. The district compliments its power production service with its advanced fiber optic based telecommunication system, called the Zipp Network.

"Now we just need to be sure that both of the utility services that the PUD has chosen to offer are given the same level of attention to maintain the PUD's high standards of excellence," he said.

Don understands the Zipp Network has been a politically volatile issue at times, but his position remains one that embraces a continuation of the project. He supports continued build out of the system. That build out of the network almost completely stopped last year when the policy position of the Board of Commissioners changed and they adopted a "stand-pat" position.

"I was pleased to see the innovation and far-sighted thinking that went into the beginning of the Zipp fiber optics program," he said. "Since it was a new program, based on new laws, some misjudgments and errors may have been made."

But, he added, "Those issues have been resolved and it's time to put them behind us. There's too much at stake to dwell on the past."

So he attends meetings to see where the commissioners are headed on fiber build out. Along with others, Don and Colleen started up a pro-fiber group called FiberActive.

"FiberActive's message is that the Zipp fiber optics system will give our kids a better education, enhance the county's economy by giving our citizens more job opportunities and bringing in new citizens, provide quality health care and public safety services, and, last but not least, provide better entertainment and leisure activities for Grant County residents," he said. "Since Grant County is a highly rural county, high speed Internet just wouldn't happen if left to the private sector."

Finally, he added, "The public utility philosophy is equal access for all. That's how the power side of the utility works, and that's how the Zipp side should work."

Colleen wants more people to attend commission meetings, to express their views and participate.

"Others should be paying attention because decisions can be made and the first they may know about it is when they read a resolution has been passed and it's not the direction ratepayers could want the PUD to go," she said. "It can happen fast."