Commission Recap, 12/13/22 — Electric-rate increase approved for 2023

EPHRATA — In a measure to help Grant PUD withstand the impact of inflation, Grant PUD’s commissioners on Dec. 13 approved a plan for new electricity rates in 2023. The new rates take effect April 1.

This is the first power rate increase for Grant PUD customers since 2018. The overall increase of 3% will be allocated partly on Grant PUD’s cost to serve each rate group. The 3% increase and careful financial planning will help the utility withstand the 8.7% impact of inflation to its 2023 budget, which was approved by commissioners in November.

The new rates mean a typical residential customer using 1,700 kilowatt-hours in a month will pay an additional $3.24 a month. By comparison, a large industrial customer with an average monthly usage of 20 million-kilowatt hours would see an increase of $12,600 a month.

“No one likes rising costs,” stated commission President Judy Wilson after the meeting. “This increase is necessary for us to try to keep pace with inflation while at the same time continuing to provide our vital services to our growing county.”

Grant PUD’s proposed all-in Residential power rate of 5.8 cents per kilowatt hour is much lower than the average Washington residential rate of 10.19 cents per kilowatt-hour and the average United States rate of 14.88 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Commissioners also:

-- Heard from Tom Dresser, manager of Fish, Wildlife and Water Quality, that Grant PUD has secured a contract with Irrigation Technology and Control, Inc. of East Wenatchee to drill much-needed wells to increase the supply of water needed for fish and human use at the utility’s Carlton Acclimation Facility in Okanogan County near the community of Carlton. Search for a contractor began prior to the COVID pandemic.

Methow River has naturally migrated away from the facility’s water intake, Dresser has explained. This, coupled with severe cold snaps that can occur in the Methow Basin during February-March, has the potential to restrict water supply when summer chinook salmon are at the facility prior to their release into the river during April-May of each year. 

Dresser also reported that Grant PUD needs to make substantial improvements to its video fish counting program prior to fish counting next year to improve accuracy. Human error and lagging technology have contributed to fish-count inaccuracy.

See Dresser’s full report on pages 14-25 of the https://www.grantpud.org/block/documents/639384f1867c3-2022-12-13-presentation-packet.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="0">presentation materials. Hear the full discussion at 1:41:52 on the https://www.grantpud.org/commission-meetings. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="1">commission audio.

-- Received an update from Archaeology Supervisor Andrew Murphy and Cultural Resource Specialist Lela Buck that described the Cultural Affairs Department’s continuing efforts to monitor for artifacts or other cultural sensitivities on Grant PUD lands and lands slated for capital projects. Monitoring during excavation for the ongoing work on a new embankment at Priest Rapids Dam hasn’t revealed a need to stop work for recovery. Read the full report on pages 26-36 of the https://www.grantpud.org/block/documents/639384f1867c3-2022-12-13-presentation-packet.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="2">presentation materials. Hear the full discussion at 2:08:55 on the https://www.grantpud.org/commission-meetings. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="3">commission audio.

-- Heard from Community Engagement Coordinator Annette Lovitt and Senior Manager of External Affairs Chuck Allen about the participation of Grant PUD’s Public Affairs Department’s in a host of community events in 2022, including the county fair, local festivals, food distribution, parades, a science fair and chamber of commerce events. Both also described recent efforts for an increased presence on social media and new marketing campaigns to promote fiber-optics. Read the full report on pages 37-54 of the https://www.grantpud.org/block/documents/639384f1867c3-2022-12-13-presentation-packet.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="4">presentation materials. Hear the full discussion at 2:38:20  on the https://www.grantpud.org/commission-meetings. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="5">commission audio.

-- Unanimously approved a new, 3-year collective bargaining agreement with Central Washington Pubic Utilities and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 77, effective April 1, 2023

The agreement includes the following general wage increases:

Apprenticed craft employees: Year 1: 8%. Year 2: 5.25%. Year 3: 5.25%
Non-apprenticed craft employees: Year 1: 8%. Year 2: 3%. Year 3: 3%

A majority of union employees approved the agreement Nov. 17, 2022.

“I think its’s safe to say this keeps us competitive with our counterparts,” Commissioner Larry Schaapman said, prior to commissioners’ approval, pointing to the due diligence that resulted in the agreed-upon wage increases.

View the more details and the full agreement on pages 76-81 of the https://www.grantpud.org/block/documents/639384f184053-2022-12-13-commission-meeting-packet.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="6">commission packet. Hear a short discussion at 4:26:00 on the https://www.grantpud.org/commission-meetings. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="7">commission audio.

-- Unanimously approved the following new slate of officers, effective Jan. 1, 2023: President, Nelson Cox; Vice President, Tom Flint; Secretary, Terry Pyle; Commissioners, Larry Schaapman and Judy Wilson.

-- Unanimously authorized the general manager/CEO, on behalf of Grant PUD, to increase by $3.1 million the contract with IMCO General Construction for a new, not-to-exceed contract amount of $61 million. The increase will fund a revised plastic concrete mix design, installation of a river-water-supply system and additional dust-control measures needed for the ongoing construction of a new embankment on the Yakima County side of Priest Rapids Dam. For more information see pages 1-13 of the https://www.grantpud.org/block/documents/639384f1867c3-2022-12-13-presentation-packet.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="8">presentation materials. Hear the full discussion at 58:13   on the https://www.grantpud.org/commission-meetings. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="9">commission audio.

-- Agreed to table for further discussion next year both Resolution 9004, which would create a rate for commercial charging stations for electric vehicles, and the part of Resolution 9006 that would increase Rate Schedule 17 for evolving industries. Hear discussion on Resolution 9004 at 3:02:54 and on Rate Schedule 17 at 3:12:22 on the https://www.grantpud.org/commission-meetings. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="10">commission audio.

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