Three route alternatives considered for new 115-kilovolt transmission line in Royal City After evaluating numerous route segments, Grant PUD staff and engineering consultants have identified three potential construction routes for the new "Red Rock" 115-kilovolt transmission line near Royal City. The public will have a chance to view detailed maps ...

About eight of every 10 Grant PUD customers show high levels of satisfaction with the utility, according to the results of a recent telephone survey among customers throughout the county. Senior Manager of External Affairs, Andrew Munro, told commissioners that the results of the biennial survey showed an overall satisfaction score of 82%, down fro...

The Grant PUD electric system from Royal City north to Quincy and Ephrata will become more resilient to power outages and gain capacity for new customers following a 2-year, approximately $58 million package of upgrades slated to begin construction in mid-2020. Total project cost will be refined in the coming months. Grant PUD project managers Davi...

Commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday that no Grant PUD customer, except those classified as "evolving industry" under Rate 17, will receive an electric-rate increase in 2020. Commissioners Tom Flint, Judy Wilson and Nelson Cox were present for the vote. They said the absent commissioners, Dale Walker and Larry Schaapman, also agreed. "This is a...

With the official completion of Grant PUD's fiber-optic network to customers in Sunland Estates, expansion work is now complete for two of the nine predetermined areas scheduled to get service this year. Construction continues to progress on the remaining seven areas slated to receive access in 2019. Grant PUD's Senior Manager of Wholesale Fiber, R...

Grant PUD forecasters see reduced need for electric-rate increases, as a strong financial outlook for Grant PUD is expected to continue, commissioners heard Tuesday during the first two of three scheduled public hearings on the proposed $291 million 2020 budget. "We're in the best financial position we've been in for many, many years at the Distric...

Commissioners invite all customers to attend, ask questions and provide comment. Grant PUD Commissioners will hold three budget hearings before adopting the utility's 2020 budget later this year. The hearings provide customers with the opportunity to learn how Grant PUD proposes allocating and spending its money next year. The three hearings are al...

New processes that allow Grant PUD to more accurately track its costs, together with improvements to forecasting methods, are expected to produce more accurate budgets and ease the rate burden on customers, commissioners learned Tuesday. Commissioners will get their first look at a detailed 2020 budget forecast at their Sept. 24 commission meeting,...

Grant PUD is expected to end the year with a bottom line more than $18 million greater than originally budgeted, spurred by higher-than-forecast wholesale prices from the sale of surplus electricity and reduced capital costs, commissioners learned Tuesday. The latest forecast through June (second quarter 2019) predicts a bottom line of $76.1 millio...

Grant County irrigators who draw their water from the federal Columbia Basin Project irrigation system will pay the same "wheeling" fee for one more year to transport over Grant PUD power lines the federal electricity they need to power their water pumps. Grant County PUD commissioners unanimously approved the extension of an existing agreement wit...

Grant County still has a very attractive combination of low-cost land and electricity, temperate climate and seismic stability that data center developers are looking for, commissioners heard Tuesday. But the state's lack of tax-break incentives make it hard for Washington to compete with tax incentives other states are offering to lure in these bi...

Award recognizes exceptional commitment to the people we serve EPHRATA — The collective efforts of Grant PUD and its employees to give back to the communities we serve were recognized June 11 with the American Public Power Association's (APPA) 2018 Community Service Award. The national award honors exceptional commitment on behalf of utilities and ...

S&P Global Ratings has upgraded from AA to AA+ the credit rating of Grant PUD's electric system, citing strong, sustained finances and risk management."The rating action reflects our view of the district's maintenance of extremely strong financial and operating metrics over several years and the credit strengths provided by its core generating ...

Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday asked staff to describe the pros and cons of a potential new policy for rate setting that isn't pinned directly to "cost of service" — what it costs Grant PUD to provide electricity to each category of customer, from residential and ag to big industry. They should have their answer in the coming months. "As long as t...

Data center operator provides $480,000 to benefit Grant County residents Grant PUD's board of commissioners recognized Microsoft officials today after the technology leader agreed to contribute a $480,000 energy conservation rebate the company is forgoing into initiatives to benefit Grant County residents as part of the utility's Pay-it-Forward Par...

Data center operator provides $480,000 to benefit Grant County residents EPHRATA — Grant PUD's board of commissioners recognized Microsoft officials today after the technology leader agreed to contribute a $480,000 energy conservation rebate the company is forgoing into initiatives to benefit Grant County residents as part of the utility's Pay-it-F...

Local libraries to host Grant PUD as part of their summer program EPHRATA —Have you ever wondered how salmon make their way from their birthplace in the Columbia River all the way to the ocean and back again? Then be sure to attend Grant PUD's hands-on learning activity coming to a library near you. As part of the North Central Regional Library's s...

Commissioners continued learning more about potential expansion of the "the backbone" of Grant PUD's electrical system, 230 kV transmission. The topic has been a point of discussion during the past two commission meetings and on Tuesday commissioners were advised of what the potential electrical upgrades may entail. Senior Manager of Power Delivery...

GEORGE — With a snip of an orange ribbon, speeches, games, music and thank-yous, every address in this tiny, rural city officially gained access May 21 to one of the world's fastest internet services. But when you're in kindergarten, that announcement came with the best benefit of all. "Ice cream!" Shouted the five girls, big smiles on their faces,...

Microsoft pays forward its energy conservation rebate Grant PUD commissioners heard a proposal on Tuesday outlining Microsoft's plan to defer its $480,000 power conservation rebate from Grant PUD and instead use the money as a way to broadly benefit Grant County residents through Grant PUD's Pay it Forward Program. The rebate is a result of energy-...