Grant County irrigators' power group organizes

GRANT COUNTY — A nonprofit group for irrigators called the “Ag Power Users of Grant County” recently elected temporary officers in an effort to become more organized and add members.

The officers are: President David Stevens of Wilson Creek, vice president Spud Brown of Royal City, secretary Cindy Ray of Soap Lake, treasurer Tom Pfeifer of Wilson Creek, and bookkeeper Bill Blue of Ephrata.

Stevens said the group reformed last year to have a voice during rate negotiations and in the future.

Wilson Creek irrigator Don Schmauder originally formed the group five years ago to study power rates. He is involved with the reorganized group.

Stevens said interested people motivated the group again after interest began to wane.

The group is working on hiring a consultant for representation during meetings with Grant County PUD and with other organizations, explained Stevens.

The consultant will be paid with membership fees.

For annual membership fees, the group is charging $50 per horsepower with a $1,500 cap per entity.

In July, Grant PUD commissioners decided to hold off on rate increases for all customers for 2009, but study possible rate structure changes for irrigation and industrial customers.

The PUD was examining changes to the current power rate structure for irrigators, which some consider complicated, as well as a system charge which previously included power for irrigators.

No decisions were made about changes to irrigators rates.

Industrial power users also have retained a representative for help during rate talks.

For more information about the irrigators’ group, people can call Stevens at 509-750-6464 or Brown at 509-750-1777.