Federal talks on the future of the flood-control agreement with Canada continue

Grant PUD’s commissioners received an update during their workshop on Tuesday, April 28 about how the ongoing Columbia River Treaty negotiations between the U.S. Federal government and Canada are impacting Grant PUD.

The historic treaty, signed by both countries in 1961, governs how the U.S. and Canada work together to manage flows on the Columbia River for flood control and optimum power generation. Most provisions of the original treaty expired in 2024, however the two countries announced an Agreement in Principle outlining key elements of a modernized Treaty in July 2024 Jeff Grizzel, Senior Vice President of Power and Market Operations, told commissioners.

Presently, Congressional appropriations will be necessary to continue interim flood control provisions as outlined in the Agreement In Principle beyond federal fiscal year 2027. If funding isn’t made available, Canada will continue to assist in flood control but only after the U.S. asks for it, and only after the U.S. first exhausts all the available reservoir capacity on its own part of the Columbia.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required to compensate Grant PUD for any lost power generation caused by drawing down Priest Rapids and Wanapum reservoirs to capture more water for flood control. However, to date, the Corps has said it has no means to compensate for such losses, Grizzel said.

It is also unclear how such drastic drawdowns would conflict with a host of Grant PUD’s other federal obligations, including fish and wildlife protections under the Endangered Species Act and cultural resource protections under the National Historic Preservation Act.

Grizzel said Grant PUD staff and contractors are working with federal officials to clarify or modify the conflicting obligations. See the full report on pages 70-77 of the presentation materials.

Grant earns clean audit of 2020-2025 financial statements

Independent auditor Baker Tilly issued Grant PUD an unmodified opinion on the utility’s financial statements, concluding they are presented fairly and in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), commissioners learned Tuesday. The audited financials include statements of net position for the years ending Dec. 31, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2024, along with related statements reflecting the utility’s revenues, expenses, changes in net position and cash flows, as well as the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

“In our opinion, the accompanying financials statements…present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the District, the auditors said in their written April 14, 2026 report. See the full report on pages 1-18 in the meeting’s “FYI Packet.” 

Commissioners also:

-- Heard in the  April financial report that Grant PUD’s current forecast continues to reflect a strong financial position The Change-in-Net-Position “bottom line” for 2026 is projected at $288 million, an increase of $8.7 million (+3.01%) from prior forecast. Results remain ahead of budget, supported by solid wholesale performance, and prudent cost management.

See the full financial report on pages 1-24 of the presentation materials. 

-- Approved Resolutions 9118 and 9119, establishing an Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) and adopting the Rate Schedules 32 and 33 for open-access transmission and ancillary services. The OATT is a standardized master plan that will foster the most-efficient use of the capacity on the Grant PUD transmission system. The OATT will not affect existing transmission rates or apply to those transmission customers on legacy contracts. For more information, see the commission recap from 3/30/2026 and the recap from 3/24/2026. See full details about the OATT in this week’s commission packet, starting on page 13. Hear the vote and discussion  at 8:17 on the commission audio.

-- Approved Resolution No. 9120 to award accept a bid and award a contract for the construction of the Mountain View Expansion as part of the Quincy Transmission Expansion Plan. Michel’s Pacific Energy, of Tumwater, was accepted as the lowest bidder with a proposal of $16.564 million for labor and materials to expand the Mountain View Switchyard. The winning bid was less than the engineer’s estimate of $36.525 million. For more information, see pages 423-516 in the commission packet. Hear discussion and vote at 10:21 on the commission audio. 

-- Approved Resolution No. 9121, which ratified the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Grant PUD and Local Union 77 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The agreement extends from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029. For more information, see pages 517-676 in the commission packet. Hear discussion and vote at 11:23 on the commission audio. 

-- Approved Resolution No. 9122, which amended Grant PUD’s Cross-Connection Control Program. The resolution documents Grant PUD’s compliance measures to prevent contamination within water systems through cross connections. For more information, see pages 677-684 in the commission packet. Hear discussion and vote at 12:25 on the commission audio.