More fiber planned for Grant County Cost is $50 million to add 15,000 connections
Courtesy photo/Grant County PUDFiber installation shown in this photo taken in Ephrata during the early 2000s is set to restart in the area this spring. Grant County PUD commissioners approved a resolution this week to continue the expansion of the fiber-optic network.
Herald staff writer
EPHRATA - Grant County PUD expects to spend $50 million over five years to bring high speed Internet to 15,000 more homes or businesses in its service area.
PUD commissioners approved a plan this week for the build-out of the fiber optic network in a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Greg Hansen voted against the resolution.
"We have listened to the people of the county and understand that fiber optic service is important to the community," Commission President Tom Flint stated. "While we are aggressively moving forward with plans and budget to finish build-out to the county, we have learned from our past experiences and are taking this project forward with defined commission objectives and oversight. We are confident this will be a successful project."
But Hansen said Wednesday he believed the decision was "wrong" because customers are facing likely electrical rate increases next year and are already paying higher food and gas prices.
Commissioners haven't decided the amount of the electrical rate increases because they're still holding rate work- shops to determine the details, Hansen said.
The $50 million to pay for the fiber expansion would buy the fiber, electrical boxes and the labor to bring fiber to homes, Hansen said. The money would come from the utility's electrical revenue, he added.
The utility is considering increasing fiber rates to the direct retail service providers to help pay for the expansion's annual operations and maintenance costs of about $3 million to $4 million. The PUD currently provides fiber network access to the retail providers and charges the providers.
Most of the retail service providers in Grant County use the fiber optic network to bring high speed Internet to about 11,000 homes and businesses. One provider uses the network for phone service, said Sarah Morford, a utility spokesperson.
Also this week, the utility awarded a $4 million contract to a Georgia engineering firm for fiber-optic design and build services. The work will start the fiber expansion and is expected to begin this spring.