Bernd, Zemke vie for PUD commissioner position

EPHRATA - Two-term incumbent Bob Bernd, Moses Lake, will be challenged by Noah Zemke, Moses Lake, for a position on the Grant County PUD board of commissioners.

Bernd, 68, has lived all but two years of his life in Grant County, he said, and has lived in Moses Lake since 1959. He owned a regional moving company and Lakeside Disposal and Recycling before retiring and selling them in 2000, he said.

Zemke, 32, is a 2000 graduate of Ephrata High School and is a technology manager at the Takata facility in Moses Lake, he said.

Zemke said he decided to run for PUD commissioner because he wanted to get involved. Public service is something that doesn't seem to be a priority for a lot of people in his generation, he said. Bernd said he considered not running again, but thought he still had something to offer. There are some big projects and some big issues the commission has been working on, he said, and "I would just like to see some of those things through."

Bernd said meeting the obligations of the PUD's license, issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is always a high priority. "We have hundreds of obligations we have to meet in a timely manner," he said. When that's done, Bernd said he is focused on managing electrical generation, and rates, in a time of "unprecedented growth."

The PUD still has electrical capacity available for local customers, he said. But some of that growth in electrical use comes from large industrial customers making big demands on the system, he said. Those customers should be the first ones to pay the extra costs associated with buying power from outside sources, he said. Residential customers, small businesses and irrigators shouldn't have as much responsibility for that, he said. "We've passed a resolution saying that. Now we have to do it," he said.

Zemke said the PUD needs to be transparent about its expenses and how those impact rates. He cited the repairs to Wanapum Dam, which are projected to cost about $69 million, as an example. Many customers don't have the time to navigate the PUD's website to find all the relevant information, he said. Easy to understand information about the impact of expenses on rates should be readily available on the website, he said, preferably on the page for online bill pay.

Utility district commissioners and staff are discussing some ideas that would change the way the PUD sells that portion of the electricity generation not tied up in long-term contracts. Zemke said he thinks it's a good idea to look at the proposal, if it would benefit the utility and its ratepayers. But the timing has to be right, or it could cost the utility and customers a lot of money, he said.

Bernd said the commissioners always have to pay attention to the bottom line. "Our financial health. We can't ever take our eye off that ball." The PUD has been able to absorb the cost of repairing Wanapum Dam with a minimal impact on rates by reprioritizing expenditures, he said. Even with $69 million in unexpected expenses, the PUD is maintaining its bond rating, he said.

Bernd said one of his goals is the continuing expansion of the PUD's broadband network. "We can do better with that," he said. The PUD had good results from an experiment with wireless broadband, he said, and added he's open to different options.

Zemke said it's important that the PUD look ahead; "every entity should push for progress." As a power generator, the PUD should be promoting the use of electric cars, especially for local governments, he said.