Grant PUD’s Commissioners heard more about the utility’s plan for power resources to serve its customers during a presentation and public hearing on the 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) on Tuesday, July 28.
The plan, which is required to be updated every two years by state law, calls for Grant PUD to increase capacity by adding 360 MW of four-hour battery storage. To satisfy expected long-term projections, another 800 MW of solar would be required by 2046 to meet clean energy targets. Purchases from the wholesale power market, and the Bonneville Power Administration, will also help Grant PUD meet expected demand.
During the hearing, commissioners received a variety of comments from those in attendance and those who sent in statements. The comments included asking that Grant PUD work with the county’s port districts to ensure adequate power resources to meet their growth expectations. Others asked for more coordination and communication with customers and other stakeholders about the infrastructure needed to deliver additional power resources to customers.
Grant PUD staff will finalize the draft of the 2026 IRP and present it to commissioners for a vote to approve the plan during their Aug. 25 meeting.
Learn more about the 2026 IRP at: Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). Hear public comments on the IRP on the commission recording.
Wholesale power sales continue to support strong financial outlook
Grant PUD’s current forecast continues to reflect a strong financial position, commissioners heard in their monthly update, even with a moderate increase in operations and maintenance expenses from prior forecast due to updated year-end projects coming in higher than prior projected amounts.
The Change in Net Position (bottom line) for 2026 is now projected at $294.5 million, a decrease of $10 million (-3.28%) from prior forecast. Results remain ahead of budget due to prudent cost management, reduced demand from some industrial customers, which increases energy available to sell on the wholesale market, and the recognition of Climate Commitment Act (CCA) revenues.
The long-term financial outlook remains strong, although the Change in Net Position for 2027–2031 is now expected to average $95.2 million annually, a decrease of $12.5 million, or 13% annual average, from the prior forecast. The current forecast reflects no material change to trends in demand from residential, irrigation, ag and general-service customers; however, large industrial assumptions were revised to reflect updated customer-specific expectations, Quincy capacity constraints and the timing of future large-load growth.
These updates lowered near-term retail revenue assumptions, particularly for large industrial and evolving-industry customers. This decrease is partially offset by higher projected Net Power revenue, driven in part by reduced forecasted capacity costs in the near term as those costs shift into later years.
Grant PUD’s long-term sustainability is driven through continued fiscal discipline, rate strategy, and careful management of power market and regulatory dynamics.
See the full report on pages 20-42 of the presentation materials. Find the treasury report in the FYI packet here.
Commissioners also:
Approved Resolution No. 9127, which authorizes the general manager to sell or purchase electric energy, capacity and environmental attributes in transactions with a duration not to exceed three years. The proposal would facilitate Grant PUD’s prudent management of energy resources while mitigating risk as the utility’s energy portfolio becomes increasingly more complex. The general manager would be required to report to the commission at least quarterly.
See pages 13-26 of the commission packet. Hear the vote at 43:06 of the commission recording.