Allred runs for re-election

Wants to continue progress, low-cost power

GRANT COUNTY — Incumbent Randy Allred is running for re-election to Grant County Public Utility District commissioner position three to continue fiscal responsibility, prioritize spending and keep low-cost power available.

“All this must be done while keeping foremost in mind the continued effects management and commissioner decisions have on all our rate payers now and in the future,” he stated.

The PUD has several challenging decisions to address because they have long-term effects, Allred stated.

“I witnessed the positive change from management restructuring,” he noted. “This change produced collaborative efforts with and between the departments that improved efficiencies and lowered our costs.”

He has several goals he hopes to achieve if re-elected.

Allred wants to support building fiber-optic for business and residential customers without impeding on low-cost power to all customers.

He wants to seek new power resources and support hydro-system upgrades to lower future maintenance costs and to maximize power output.

He wants to provide an equitable rate design to keep power costs low to all customer classes and he wants to implement improved conservation practices.

He noted several skills that will help him fulfill the duties required for the position.

“I have been a successful agri-businessman and resident in Grant County for 46 years, a director of the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District for 23 years and served a six-year term as Grant County PUD commissioner, (serving twice) as president,” Allred noted.

He stated people should vote for him because his first priority is to serve PUD customers with affordable power.

“While providing this service along with a solid business plan, we may also be able to assist the public in other ways, for example, fiber build-out,” Allred stated.

He noted it’s important to investigate alternative energy sources.

“Our current estimates for project power costs after rebuild is double the present price,” Allred advised. “With growth in Grant County, we need to explore all potential power resources in order to support both growth of the county and continued reliable, low-cost power for all rate payers.”

He is in favor of building a fiber-optic network for business and residential customers as long as it doesn’t affect providing low-cost power to everyone.

Allred stated he will work to provide low-cost power to customers.

“We need low-cost project power to all rate classes with a simplified, equitable rate design,” he noted. “This design keeps low-cost project power to all small business owners and rate payers for generations to come. I believe those who put the largest demand on our project power should be responsible for the corresponding or participation in the increased costs associated with expanding our future power needs.”

Allred stated it’s important to have a board review and prioritize PUD spending.