Hearing on 2014 Grant PUD rates Tuesday

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD customers will have a chance to comment on the agency's 2014 proposed rates during a public forum Tuesday.

Customers could see a 2 percent rate increase next year, if the agency's $243.5 million proposed budget is adopted as is.

The PUD's 2014 proposed budget includes rate increases that will bring the agency to its targeted 2 percent revenue increase, according to an October Columbia Basin Herald article.

Ratepayers saw a 6 percent rate increase this past year, which translated to residential customers paying about $5 more for power each month.

During last year's budget process, PUD initially proposed an 8 percent rate increase for 2013, which fell in line with the agency's plan at the time to set revenue increases at 8 percent in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Commissioners adopted the 6 percent rate increase for 2013 instead as a result of public comments against the 8 percent increase.

PUD General Manager Tony Webb said the agency revised its financial plan this past year in order to achieve smaller annual rate increases.

"Last year we heard loud and clear from our customers that recommending an 8 percent rate increase wasn't going to work," he said during a PUD budget hearing last month.

PUD commissioners have until the end of the year to adopt a budget.

Next year's budget includes funding for the agency's Columbia to Rocky Ford transmission line, their fiber optic expansion project and several major electric system improvements- including $8 million for countywide distribution system improvements and $10.6 for the West Quincy Substation build-out.

The public forum on the proposed rates will be held at 2 p.m. at the agency's Ephrata headquarters, located at 30 C St. SW.