Grant PUD fiber buildout goes north of Moses Lake, to George

Grant PUD/courtesy imageGeorge expansion area in green. Purple denotes areas that already have fiber access near the community of George.

Grant PUD/courtesy imageMoses Lake expansion area in green. Purple denotes areas that already have fiber access in Moses Lake.

| April 24, 2018 6:13 PM

Grant PUD/courtesy imageMoses Lake expansion area in green. Purple denotes areas that already have fiber access in Moses Lake.

EPHRATA — The Grant County PUD fiber network will be expanded north of Moses Lake, in the area of Road K and south of Road 7, and the town of George in 2018. Where the fiber build goes from there will depend on how it fits into, and impacts, the district’s overall financial picture. The 2018 plan was reviewed at the regular commission meeting Tuesday. The expansion will make fiber optic service available to about 1,400 additional customers.

The PUD’s fiber system reaches about 70 percent of the utility district’s customers – it’s getting it to the remaining 30 percent that has generated a lot of conversation. Commissioners allocated $7 million from the district’s reserves to pay for expansion in 2018.

— Staff report