Commission Workshop, 10/20/2026 -- Grant PUD’s $738 million budget for 2027 reflects growth, progress
Grant PUD commissioners invite the public to hearings, Oct. 27, at the utility's Ephrata Headquarters, 30 C St. SW, to learn more about the $738.1 million proposed gross budget for 2027.
The identical hearings will take place in-person at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Remote and call-in options are available for each hearing. Visit grantpud.org/2027budget for details.
The 2027 proposed budget is nearly 5% higher than the $703.3 million budgeted this year.
Revenue "offsets" totaling $224.6 reduce gross expenses to a net budget of $513.5 million. Offsets include contributions from Grant PUD customers to pay for the infrastructure to serve them, energy sales to Grant PUD's long-term power purchasers at cost, and net energy sales.
Operations & Maintenance(O&M) costs total $109.8M million, an increase of $20.9 million, or 24%, driven primarily by:
- $12.2 million for Grant PUD's share of regional hydropower benefits under the Columbia River Treaty.
- $4.9 million for the utility's membership in "The Energy Authority (TEA)," a public-power-focused energy-portfolio manager that will help Grant PUD achieve the best value for its trades on the energy market.
- $4.9 million for geothermal and Small Modular Reactor exploration and research to access new energy resources to meet future customer demand.
Capital Investments Grant PUD's $326.6 million capital budget is a 1% increase over 2026, driven by estimated spending of:
- $118.6 million for transmission and related projects under the Quincy Transmission Expansion Plan (QTEP).
- $103.3 million for continued construction of a new Ephrata Service Center.
- $49.7 million for turbine/generator upgrades at Priest Rapids Dam.
- $33.7 million for spillway-stabilization improvements at Priest Rapids Dam.
- $17.8 million for embankment improvements on the Grant County side of Wanapum Dam.
- $17.7 million to rebuild the existing Ancient Lake to Frenchman Hills Transmission line.
Labor costs for both the O&M and capital spending categories total $220.4 million, an increase of $21.8 million, or 11%. This reflects workforce growth, contracted wage adjustments, and general wage increases. The plan includes 40 new positions and 10 apprenticeship opportunities, supporting Grant PUD's grow-your-own approach to developing the skilled workforce needed to meet future operational needs.
Debt Service The utility's debt service is forecast to decline by 3.8% to $64.6 million in 2027, as Grant PUD fully repays one of its series of bonds in January and other debt obligations approach maturity. Tax expenses remain relatively consistent with prior years, while timing of financial allocations will drive a 36.5% decrease to $16.7 million.
Revenue forecast A complete 2027 revenue forecast wasn't yet available for commissioners' Oct. 20 workshop budget review but will be shared at the Oct. 27 hearings and posted on www.grantpud.org/2027budget, along with other hearing materials
Commissioners will review public comment collected at the budget hearings and via email to
See this week's complete 2027 budget-expense review on pages 17-33 of the workshop's presentation packet.
2027 electric-rate increases shield core customers from rising load-growth costs
Grant PUD's proposed rate changes for 2027 protect residential, irrigation, ag and general service "core" customers from rising costs driven by the utility's largest, most energy-intense customers. If approved, the 2027 rates will take effect April 1, 2027.
Core customers are ensured first-priority access to the Grant PUD's lowest-cost energy – the electricity generated by the utility's Columbia River dams, Priest Rapids and Wanapum. These customers can expect increases from 3.1% to 3.5%. This amounts to a $3 - $5 monthly increase for average residential customer.
This year's rate proposal creates two new "high-density compute" rate classes, 20 and 21. These new rates apply to customers that use 70% or more of their electricity for data processing, data storage, cloud computing, crypto currency operations and artificial intelligence. Proposed rate increases for these groups range from 12% to 24%.
High Density Compute customers are driving 65% of Grant PUD's forecasted growth in energy demand. Serving this new demand will require energy purchases beyond what the utility's Columbia River dams can supply.
See more details about these new rate classes on pages 37-39 of the staff presentation materials.
Rates proposed for Tier 1 and Tier 2 customers (large general service or industrial customers) include a temporary discount to ease them over the next two years to step up to the rate needed to cover their forecasted costs.
See the individual rate increases for Tier 1 and Tier 2 customer classes on pages 44-45 of the staff presentation materials.
These proposed rate classifications and rate increases result from a commission directive for a cost-of-service analysis that "unbundles" – separates – Grant PUD's generation and electric system resources into separate categories that can be more closely aligned with the customers driving the costs.
A rate hearing to collect additional public comment and answer questions is scheduled for 2 p.m., Nov. 10 at Grant PUD's Ephrata Headquarters. Commissioners are accepting comments here on the proposed rate design and increase through Nov. 12 and are scheduled to vote at their Dec. 15 business meeting. Visit grantpud.org/2027rates to learn more.
To view the entire rate proposal from the Oct. 20 commission workshop, see pages 36-72 of the staff presentation materials.
'Grow-your-own' workforce effort yields three newly graduated apprentices
Grant PUD commissioners hosted a celebration, 10/20/2026, of the three newest graduates from the utility's apprentice program, marking another milestone in an ongoing effort to recruit and train in-house the workforce of the future.
Commissioners and coworkers shared words of appreciation with the graduates. Celebratory cupcakes were adorned with tiny hard hats and lightning bolts. The graduates are:
- Craig Wood, Power System Electrician. Started 2/6/2023, completed 2/6/2026
- Ryan McDaniel, Lineman. Started 7/7/2023, completed 7/6/2026
- Aaron Lindell, Power System Electrician. Started 7/7/2023, completed 7/6/2026
"Growing our own is hugely important for us, Commissioner President Tom Flint told the graduates and all those gathered. We're pleased you took the challenge and we're proud of what you've accomplished. We hope we can keep on doing this. This is a great day. Thank you."
Approximately 70 (33%) of Grant PUD's full-time union employees are within five years of retirement and will need replacements who have at least journeyman-level skills. The apprentice program helps to address that need.
Twelve apprentices are currently working their way through the program. Another 10 are expected to begin next year. Apprentices are full-time employees throughout their training.
Most apprenticeships last three years. Apprentices receive 4,000-6,000 hours of on-the-job training, under supervision of journeymen in their trade. Another 144 or more hours of "related supplemental instruction" is provided in-house from outside training providers, including community colleges, trade schools or other utility districts.
Their progress and performance are reviewed every six month by a committee of management and trade volunteers who are invested in the apprentice program's success.
After training, graduates each take the journeyman exam administered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union. If they pass, they become journeymen in their chosen trade. Congratulations to the graduates!
For more information about apprenticeships at Grant PUD, contact Apprenticeship Coordinator Emily Anderson,
Commissioners hosted a celebration, Oct. 20, to honor From left, Aaron Lindell and Craig Wood, both power system electricians, and Lineman Ryan McDaniel (inset photo) for graduating from Grant PUD's apprenticeship program and earning their journeyman qualifications. Photo by Janae Babak, Grant PUD. McDaniel couldn't attend the event but was also celebrated.
Commissioners also:
-- Heard quarterly business reports or project updates from the Enterprise Technology, Finance and Power Delivery departments. See their reports on pages 79-89, 90-99 and 100-110, respectively, of the staff presentation materials.
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