Grant PUD fiber program subject of discussion

EPHRATA — How to proceed with the Grant County PUD’s fiber program was the subject of a discussion, but no decision, at Tuesday’s regular commission meeting.

Currently the PUD’s fiber system covers about 70 percent of the utility’s customer base. Fiber to the last 30 percent, however, has been stalled. Utility district commissioners have been reviewing the fiber program for about six months. That review determined the PUD doesn’t have enough money to complete the build-out without an increase or surcharge in electrical rates, or finding an alternative way to raise the money.

Utility district officials conducted extensive customer surveys, asking people about the fiber system and where it should go from here. About 70 percent of the people surveyed supported continuing the buildout to the remaining 30 percent without fiber - when respondents were asked not to consider the cost. But when respondents were asked to consider a surcharge on electric rates to pay for the buildout, support dropped to about 43 percent.

The survey asked respondents about “fairness.” All PUD customers paid to build the system to its current size, and the survey asked if it was fair that some customers who paid for the buildout so far won’t be able to benefit from it.

When the question was asked that way, support increased about 2 percent, but was still below 50 percent, said chief executive officer Kevin Nordt.

In addition, industrial customers were not in favor of surcharges, Nordt said. “Pretty clearly, there wasn’t much interest or support for taking on additional cost.

Commissioners are scheduled to make a decision on how to proceed sometime in September.

Nordt said the tentative conclusion from PUD staff, based on what they heard from commissioners, has been to stop the buildout, except when customers can pay for the installation, and work on other avenues to generate money for fiber.

That includes initiatives to obtain state and federal assistance, and partnerships with existing industrial customers to find other ways to expand the system.

Commissioners Dale Walker and Tom Flint said they were in favor of continuing.

“I want to build more too. It’s figuring out how to pay for it,” said commissioner Bob Bernd.

“I don’t disagree,” Flint said.

“There are serious consequences to more rate increases,” Bernd said.

Flint said he doesn’t think the PUD has adequately evaluated the benefits of the fiber network, the businesses it has attracted and the opportunities it has provided to Grant County residents. “I think we need to move forward. We have to wrestle with how we pay for it, but that’s where I’m at,” Flint said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbabasinherald.com.