News - Page 13

Top Stories:Decision delayed on proposed contract for general manager Grant County PUD commissioners Tuesday agreed by split decision to table discussion on a proposed employment contract for General Manager Kevin Nordt. Neither Commissioner Bob Bernd, who retires from the board at the end of this year, nor Commissioner Terry Brewer who'll also lea...

New year, new commissioners and officers at Grant PUD Judy Wilson and Nelson Cox officially took their seats on the Grant PUD Commission Tuesday, after a swearing-in by Grant County Superior Court Judge David Estudillo. Wilson defeated Commissioner Terry Brewer for the 6-year, District 1 spot, becoming the second woman in the history of Grant PUD t...

Scammers impersonating Grant PUD are calling and threatening to disconnect power EPHRATA — Grant PUD is reporting that a large number of customers are receiving phone calls from scammers using terms like "disconnect order" and telling them that they will have their power shut off unless they make an immediate payment. Some of the scammers have even...

Power Production earns praise for successful dam-safety audit Federal dam-safety auditors are pleased with Grant PUD's ongoing efforts to keep Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams safe via routine inspections, monitoring, surveillance, emergency action planning and training of dam operators and engineering technicians, commissioners learned Tuesday. Gran...

Grant PUD commissioners Thursday asked staff for alternatives to the 2-percent electric rate increase slated to begin April 1, but they first want to see the financial implications to the utility of each potential alternative. Alternatives requested during the rate workshop are: Three consecutive annual rate increase of 1 percent each through 2021....

Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday tentatively agreed to deviate from a rate policy in place since 2013 and support a flat 1-percent rate increase across all customer types, starting April 1. The decision won't become final until they vote on it at an upcoming meeting. Commissioners had been considering alternatives to the already budgeted 2-percent r...

Commissioners Tuesday agreed not to increase electric rates this year for most customer classes to give themselves a year to study potential rate-setting policy changes and the results of a new cost-of-service study expected to be finished by year's end. (3:28:50 on the commission audio) The proposal does not apply to the new Rate Schedule 17 for "...

Grant PUD line workers gave 4H kids, leaders and parents an up-close look at their protective gear and an "electrifying" demonstration of how important it is to be safe around high-voltage power equipment. The demonstration was a part of the "4H Super Saturday" event at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Feb. 23. Linemen Eric Huber, Ed Olson...

Most Grant PUD customers will not receive an electric-rate increase this year, commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday, to give the board a year to study and potentially modify the existing policy for setting rates. The new Rate 17 for cryptocurrency and other "evolving industries" will continue as planned with the first of a three-year, stepped r...

Verizon Media donates conservation savings to benefit local community EPHRATA — Grant PUD's community-sponsored Share the Warmth program received a considerable donation of $69,650 from Verizon Media data center in Quincy. The funding will go to help the neediest families throughout the county pay their electric bills when they have no other option...

Electric rates will not go up this year for most Grant PUD customers, but the first of a three-year phase-in of the new Rate Schedule 17 for higher-risk "evolving industry" customers will begin as planned, April 1. Commissioners approved the new rate Aug. 28 after months of public input. Rate 17 protects Grant PUD and its core customers from uninte...

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...

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 ...

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...

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-...

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,...