S&P Global Ratings has upgraded from AA to AA+ the credit rating of Grant PUD's electric system, citing strong, sustained finances and risk management."The rating action reflects our view of the district's maintenance of extremely strong financial and operating metrics over several years and the credit strengths provided by its core generating ...

Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday asked staff to describe the pros and cons of a potential new policy for rate setting that isn't pinned directly to "cost of service" — what it costs Grant PUD to provide electricity to each category of customer, from residential and ag to big industry.They should have their answer in the coming months."As long as the...

Data center operator provides $480,000 to benefit Grant County residentsEPHRATA — Grant PUD's board of commissioners recognized Microsoft officials today after the technology leader agreed to contribute a $480,000 energy conservation rebate the company is forgoing into initiatives to benefit Grant County residents as part of the utility's Pay-it-Fo...

Local libraries to host Grant PUD as part of their summer programEPHRATA —Have you ever wondered how salmon make their way from their birthplace in the Columbia River all the way to the ocean and back again? Then be sure to attend Grant PUD's hands-on learning activity coming to a library near you.As part of the North Central Regional Library's sum...

Commissioners continued learning more about potential expansion of the "the backbone" of Grant PUD's electrical system, 230 kV transmission. The topic has been a point of discussion during the past two commission meetings and on Tuesday commissioners were advised of what the potential electrical upgrades may entail.Senior Manager of Power Delivery ...

GEORGE — With a snip of an orange ribbon, speeches, games, music and thank-yous, every address in this tiny, rural city officially gained access May 21 to one of the world's fastest internet services.But when you're in kindergarten, that announcement came with the best benefit of all."Ice cream!" Shouted the five girls, big smiles on their faces, m...

Microsoft pays forward its energy conservation rebateGrant PUD commissioners heard a proposal on Tuesday outlining Microsoft's plan to defer its $480,000 power conservation rebate from Grant PUD and instead use the money as a way to broadly benefit Grant County residents through Grant PUD's Pay it Forward Program. The rebate is a result of energy-e...

Grant PUD eyes expansion of transmission system to support county growth Load growth was the topic of Tuesday's transmission workshop held during the commission's regularly scheduled meeting. While many utilities around the country struggle with flat or reduced load growth, low-cost power has helped foster economic growth throughout Grant County.Ba...

The release schedule for access to Grant PUD's fiber-optic network in 2019 is out. During Tuesday's commission meeting, Senior Manager of Wholesale Fiber, Russ Brethower reported to commissioners that construction is either progressing or scheduled for each of the nine pre-determined areas set to receive access this year.The off-island Crescent Bar...

Increasing energy efficiency and a reduced need for California to buy electricity from the rest of the region are contributing to the lower price Grant PUD and other utilities are getting on the regional wholesale market from the sale of surplus electricity.A proliferation of solar energy in California has reduced the state's energy consumption at ...

Lawsuit undermines good-faith effort to achieve mutual clean-water goalsEPHRATA — Grant PUD will not alter its plan to apply for and obtain a Clean Water Act pollutant-discharge permit for Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams, despite the recent lawsuit filed by Columbia Riverkeeper.The lawsuit follows months of intensive analysis, dialog with Riverkeepe...

A worker at Priest Rapids Dam was injured today about 10:20 a.m. while performing maintenance on fish ladder equipment. His coworkers provided him with first aid until emergency medical services arrived and transported him to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash., where he was treated and released.Grant PUD's Safety Department is investigating t...

Electric rates will not go up this year for most Grant PUD customers, but the first of a three-year phase-in of the new Rate Schedule 17 for higher-risk "evolving industry" customers will begin as planned, April 1.Commissioners approved the new rate Aug. 28 after months of public input.Rate 17 protects Grant PUD and its core customers from unintend...

Most Grant PUD customers will not receive an electric-rate increase this year, commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday, to give the board a year to study and potentially modify the existing policy for setting rates.The new Rate 17 for cryptocurrency and other "evolving industries" will continue as planned with the first of a three-year, stepped ra...

Verizon Media donates conservation savings to benefit local communityEPHRATA — Grant PUD's community-sponsored Share the Warmth program received a considerable donation of $69,650 from Verizon Media data center in Quincy. The funding will go to help the neediest families throughout the county pay their electric bills when they have no other options...

Grant PUD line workers gave 4H kids, leaders and parents an up-close look at their protective gear and an "electrifying" demonstration of how important it is to be safe around high-voltage power equipment. The demonstration was a part of the "4H Super Saturday" event at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Feb. 23.Linemen Eric Huber, Ed Olson,...

Commissioners Tuesday agreed not to increase electric rates this year for most customer classes to give themselves a year to study potential rate-setting policy changes and the results of a new cost-of-service study expected to be finished by year's end. (3:28:50 on the commission audio)The proposal does not apply to the new Rate Schedule 17 for "e...

Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday tentatively agreed to deviate from a rate policy in place since 2013 and support a flat 1-percent rate increase across all customer types, starting April 1. The decision won't become final until they vote on it at an upcoming meeting.Commissioners had been considering alternatives to the already budgeted 2-percent ra...

Grant PUD commissioners Thursday asked staff for alternatives to the 2-percent electric rate increase slated to begin April 1, but they first want to see the financial implications to the utility of each potential alternative.Alternatives requested during the rate workshop are:Three consecutive annual rate increase of 1 percent each through 2021. T...

Scammers impersonating Grant PUD are calling and threatening to disconnect powerEPHRATA — Grant PUD is reporting that a large number of customers are receiving phone calls from scammers using terms like "disconnect order" and telling them that they will have their power shut off unless they make an immediate payment. Some of the scammers have even ...