Bernd on ag, industry, economic diversification

EPHRATA - Agriculture has been and will continue to be the base

of our economy here in Grant County. Approximately fifty percent of

our jobs are directly or indirectly associated with agriculture.

When I ran for election four years ago I promised that I would work

with the ag community to find a rate structure that was simpler and

more fair to all irrigators. I fulfilled that promise, and will

continue to work with farmers to ensure the PUD is meeting their

needs.

EPHRATA - Agriculture has been and will continue to be the base of our economy here in Grant County. Approximately fifty percent of our jobs are directly or indirectly associated with agriculture. When I ran for election four years ago I promised that I would work with the ag community to find a rate structure that was simpler and more fair to all irrigators. I fulfilled that promise, and will continue to work with farmers to ensure the PUD is meeting their needs.

I also recognize the benefits that industry brings to all of us in Grant County. Unlike those who would put a "No Trespassing" sign around Grant County, I believe we need balance and are fortunate that our agricultural base is supplemented with many diversified industries. I like the jobs and amenities that these industries have brought. I welcome the six hundred permanent jobs that REC will have with its recent expansion. I welcome SGL/BMW, their 200 construction jobs and 80 permanent jobs. I welcome opportunities for small business to grow by serving these new industries and their employees. I welcome additional opportunities for current residents, our children and our grandchildren to get good family wage jobs without leaving Grant County. And the billions of dollars of additional tax base have kept property taxes and school levy rates well below what they would otherwise have been.

Your PUD and our low power rates have played a big role in attracting many of these industries. Let me assure you that Grant PUD has no separate deals or concessions with any industrial customer. Their rates may be slightly lower per kilowatt than residential, many irrigators and most small businesses, but remember that it is cheaper to buy nails at the hardware store by the case than by the individual nail, or buy water in five gallon containers rather than twenty ounce bottles. Our independent cost of service study three years ago suggested that the largest industries actually paid a higher return to the PUD than our other customer-owners.

I heard you say that you were concerned about our low-cost hydro power being used up by these large industrials and that then we would all be forced to pay higher rates for more expensive electricity. Since my election four years ago, we adopted a policy and a rate schedule that assure the benefits of our low-cost hydro projects go first to residential, agricultural, and small business, our core customers. When the benefits of this low-cost power are exhausted, power will be withheld on a pro-rata basis from large power users who will then have to purchase higher cost energy to supplement their needs. This assures low-cost hydro power for our core users for many decades into the future. No commission before had formally taken this position or these steps to legitimize a policy in this regard.

I made several promises four years ago, and I've kept every one of them.

There's much left to be done and I hope to continue serving as an effective and financially responsible PUD commissioner.