Moses Lake ratepayers unhappy over proposed hike in utilities rates

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake residents voiced their concerns over the Grant County PUD's 2013 proposed budget, specifically regarding rate increases, during a public hearing at the Moses Lake Civic Center.

Proposed rate increases include a 50 percent increase per month in basic charges for Industrial and Ag Food Processor customers and a few cents per month for residential ratepayers.

The majority of comments made this week by audience members during the meeting dealt with the budget's proposed rate increases across several classes of ratepayers.

An audience member asked PUD commissioners to consider the impact any increase in residential rates could have on elderly ratepayers, or any customers who may have a hard time paying for power.

She said she recently spoke with an elderly resident who was worried that the recent cold weather would require her to turn on her home's heater.

"That's what some older people are facing," she told commissioners. "They make a choice, am I warm enough to be safe, or do I have enough money to pay for medications or my food?"

Under the proposed budget, residential ratepayers will see a 10 percent increase in basic per-day charges in 2013 compared to 2012 rates. A 5.6 percent increase from 2012 per-kilowatt hour energy charges for residential customers will also occur if the 2013 budget is adopted.

The changes amount to a few cents according to budget documents, but the audience member said that ratepayers who are experiencing financial hardships may still have a tough time affording energy.

"I am concerned about seniors," she said.

Representatives from large industrial and agricultural ratepayers were also present during the meeting, and raised similar concerns over rate increases in their respective rate classes.

Don Strickler, an audience member who attended the hearing on behalf of J.R. Simplot, urged commissioners to keep rates at a reasonable amount for larger processors like Simplot.

"We want to express our support in keeping rates as low as we can keep them," he said.

The highest increases occur in the Industrial and Ag Food Processing rate classes, according to PUD documents. Those rate schedules will see a 50 percent increase in basic per-month charges under the proposed budget.

PUD officials said they included the rate increases in order to meet their targeted 8 percent revenue increase that was previously adopted by the commission.

Staff also said the increase in revenue will help pay for capital improvement projects, and is necessary to make sure the PUD has enough funding to protect its financial health in the event of an emergency.

According to budget documents, the PUD proposed budget totals $312.4 million.

The Moses Lake meeting was the second of three public hearings scheduled to provide ratepayers a way to discuss the 2013 PUD budget with staff, as well as provide additional feedback on the proposed budget.

The first meeting was held earlier on Monday at PUD headquarters in Ephrata.

PUD staff and commissioners hold their last meeting at the Quincy Community Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

According to PUD officials, the agency hopes to adopt a 2013 budget by the end of November. Budget documents can be found on the PUD's website at gcpud.org.