PEND OREILLE COUNTY, Wash. — If you live in Pend Oreille County, you might soon see a higher monthly electric bill.
The Pend Oreille Public Utility District (PUD) is recommending a 4.25% rate increase for electric services. This means if a customer uses around 1,500 kilowatt hours per month, they would see a monthly increase of around $5.50. The service availability charge will stay the same at $35.50 per month.
PUD says this increase is needed to keep up with the rising costs of materials, labor, infrastructure upgrades and regulatory requirements like the Clean Energy Transformation Act.
“Like our customers, we have seen costs rise significantly in recent years. We know that no one likes to see rates go up, and we don’t take this decision lightly,” said April Owen, Director of Finance for the PUD. “However, rising costs of energy, labor, materials, and expensive state regulations are outpacing our existing revenues. This adjustment is necessary to sustain the reliable service our customers expect and ensure we’re making the infrastructure investments needed for the future.”
Without a rate adjustment, PUD says it would face financial struggles that could delay necessary infrastructure upgrades which could lead to even higher costs in the future.
The last time PUD rates were increased for customers was in 2022.
A public hearing on this rate increase proposal will be held on February 18 at PUD’s Newport Field Office at 9:30 a.m. The Board will decide whether to approve or deny this rate increase on March 4.
If approved, the rate increase will go into effect on April 1.
You can find more information about the rate increase and a breakdown of utility costs here.
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