Commission workshop recap, 7/21/2026 --Grant PUD deploys heat-resistant wrap to protect poles from wildfire. More...

Grant PUD lost 15 wood distribution poles in the wildfire that threatened Coulee City earlier this month. Crews installed a new, fabric wrap around the lower portion of the new poles to make them more resistant to fire damage.

The project is part of an effort to improve wildfire resiliency along more of the Grant PUD power grid, for safety and to reduce wild-fire-related outages.

The fabric wrap creates a thermal barrier between the pole and fire, Ron Alexander, vice president of Power Delivery Operations, explained in a call after the commission workshop. Plans are underway to wrap the fabric around all wood transmission poles.

Earlier forms of protection, like wildfire-resistant paint and earlier versions of the fabric proved less effective than hoped, he said.

Other efforts will include better vegetation control around poles and electric infrastructure in the field, he said. Commissioners will get their first look at a complete resiliency strategy later this year.

View the full Power Delivery quarterly business report on pages 51-60 of the presentation materials.

Commissioners also:

--- Heard staff proposals for a “net power adjustment” for large customers to help protect Grant PUD from unplanned weather-related or power-market events that result in significant net power sales shortfall.

The adjustment would oblige Tier 1 and Tier 2 large customers to pay a temporary rate increase for one or two years to help the utility recover from the loss. Commissioners had many questions about this proposal and requested more time for study.

The commission also discussed further refinements to rate schedules, based on type of activity, and some new, proposed fees for transmission-system use and small, unmetered services. Discussion on these items will continue during August workshops, when commissioners will also get a look at the latest cost-of-service analysis.

See the full presentation on pages 12-40 of the presentation materials.

-- Heard that the budget season is in full swing. Preliminary 2027 budget will be presented to the commission in August. The budget hearing, where public comment will be received, will be in October and the final budget presented in November. Exact dates coming soon.

See the full presentation on pages 41-50 of the presentation materials.