Commission workshop, 7/14/2026 -- Power & market priorities review. More...

At their 7/14/2026 workshop commissioners:

-- Received an update from Jeff Grizzel, Senior Vice President of Power & Market Operations about major upcoming priorities in their near-term business plan, which include:

• Full operational and analytical integration throughout 2027 with The Energy Authority, the company that will be serving Grant PUD’s power-marketing needs in real- and day-ahead energy markets.

• Full participation in the Southwest Power Pool’s Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP) for resource sharing among participating utilities.

• Further exploration of geothermal energy potential in Central Washington in collaboration with Chelan and Douglas PUDs, as well as integration of contracted solar generation and battery-storage resources.

• Further refinement of costs involved in building a nuclear plant based on small modular reactor technology.

• Launch of the Provider of Choice, long-term power-purchase agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration.

See the full presentation on pages 2-11 of the workshop presentation packet.

-- Heard a staff proposal for the commission to grant the general manager authority to sell or purchase electric energy, capacity and environmental attributes in transactions with a duration of three years or less. 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.

The proposal would replace resolution language from 2002 that gives the general manager authority to enter into energy transactions of one year or less. The commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its July 28 business meeting at Ephrata Headquarters.

For more information see pages 7-28 of the workshop packet.