Comment period still open for 2027 Grant PUD budget

EPHRATA — Grant County Public Utility District customers can still submit their opinions on the proposed 2027 budget in writing on the PUD website until the budget is adopted. Utility district commissioners are scheduled to vote on the final budget Nov. 24.

The PUD is projected to spend $738.1 million in 2027, according to a presentation at the budget hearing Oct. 27. That's about a 5% increase over the 2026 budget. 

Some of those expenses will be offset by money the PUD gets from its customers and from selling power to outside customers. That's projected to be about $224.6 million. 

Overall revenue is projected to be about $754.2 million, with net operating income at about $166.8 million. The PUD is projected to finish 2027 about $176.4 million in the black, called "Change in Net Position." 

Labor costs are going up, projected to be about $220 million.  Chuck Allen, senior manager of external affairs and communications, said that's driven in part by wages and benefits. 

"Collective bargaining agreement and general wage increase for non-bargaining unit employees make up the majority of the labor budget growth," Allen said. 

The PUD is adding the option for up to 40 more full-time positions and 10 apprentice positions. Allen said the need for more workers comes from anticipated growth in demand. 

"We have new and existing customers who have made a significant financial commitment to apply for new power services. Because of these applications from large power-consuming customers, and also projected growth for our residential, small business and agriculture customers, we expect our average power load to double over the next 10 years," Allen wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. "We are building the workforce required to design, develop and operation the infrastructure needed for this expected growth. We have also made a commitment to grow our own workforce in Grant County. That also means having a robust apprentice program to train workers to fill key positions."

Operations and maintenance expenses are projected to be about $109.8 million in 2027. Spending is projected to increase by about $4.9 million for research into new sources of electrical generation, including geothermal and nuclear power.  

The PUD's commitments under the Columbia River treaty with Canada account for about $12.2 million in the growth of O&M expenses. The Grant County, Chelan County and Douglas County public utility districts filed a lawsuit against the US government in 2024 over their treaty obligations, a suit that was settled in September. The three PUDs agreed to pay 25% of the required obligations under the new treaty, which is still in negotiations.

The PUD also has an agreement with the Energy Authority, which Allen said gives the utility better access to markets. That's adding about $4.9 million to PUD expenses. 

"The Energy Authority will function as an extension of Grant PUD's staff," Allen said.

The company will help with short-term energy trading, planning and participation in regional and Western capacity-sharing programs and getting the most out of the PUD's own resources, among other things.

Some costs are going down, including debt service, which is the PUD's payback of existing bonds. That's projected to be about $64.6 million in 2027, down from $67.1 million in 2026. One bond will be paid off in January 2027, and other bonds are getting closer to payoff.