More money for fiber build-out recurring theme at budget hearings Grant PUD commissioners hosted the first of three public hearings at Tuesday's commission meeting to discuss next year's proposed $279.6 million budget, which includes a 2-percent increase in 2019 electric-rate revenue toward a goal of much lower increases in 2020 and beyond. ( 2:42 ...

One day for adults. Two days for youth. Insights, fun and learning for all. MATTAWA — The Wanapum People and Grant PUD invite you to the Wanapum Heritage Center for Archaeology Days 2018. Youth Days, Oct. 29 and 31 , 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Both days are already booked solid with hundreds of visiting students. Space is still available for homeschool...

Grant PUD commissioners to hold public budget hearings Customers invited to attend the hearings, ask questions and provide comment. Grant PUD Commissioners will host three budget hearings before adopting the utility's 2019 budget. The budget hearings are held in locations throughout the county to more easily allow customers an opportunity to attend...

Note: This meeting was not recorded because it took place at Grant PUD's Hydro Office Building in Beverly Grant PUD commissioners received a first look of the 2019 budget during their meeting at the Hydro Office Building near Wanapum Dam on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The presentation will be shown to customers during three budget hearings on Oct. 9 and 11....

Initiative 1631, which will appear on the state's November ballot, would impose a fee on carbon emissions that could result in a 5 percent — $16 million — increase in average annual costs for Grant PUD. That's the latest estimate by Grant PUD analysts Jeremy Nolan and Paul Dietz. The estimate is based on the six-year period following the year when ...

The Wanapum Heritage Center will exhibit the work of Lee Moorhouse (1850-1926), a noted photopgrapher from Pendleton, Oregon, who produced more than 9,000 images of urban, rural and Native American life in the Columbia Plateau from 1888 to 1916. Moorhouse's photographs of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla are of particular significance for the ...

By Thomas Stredwick Sr. manager of wholesale fiber for Grant County PUD Bouncing along the back roads of Grant County you wouldn't know that you are likely cruising past one of the most state-of-the-art superhighways in the country. As communities throughout the country scramble to extend reliable, robust broadband, Grant County Public Utility Dist...

Wheeling-fees conversation continues with irrigators, Bureau The issue of fees charged to the Federal Bureau of Reclamation for wheeling services was back as a topic of discussion during Tuesday's meeting. Commissioners heard directly from both PUD staff and the Quincy-Basin Irrigation District regarding a proposed new contract that would establish...

Phase-in of new Evolving Industry rate to begin April 1 New rate responds to large influx of high-power cryptocurrency miners, protects Grant PUD and its customers from risk. Starting April 1, cryptocurrency miners and other "evolving-industry" firms will pay the first of a three-year, graduated increase to a new, above-cost electric rate designed ...

Grant PUD staff proposes phase-in of Evolving Industry rate Grant PUD staff proposes to phase in the new Evolving Industry Rate 17 over three years in graduated increments of 15 percent the first year, 35 percent the second year and 50 percent the third year. If approved, the first increase would begin April 1, 2019, commissioners heard Tuesday. (1...

Commissioners to consider options as discussion continues On July 31, Grant PUD staff members presented a recommendation to commissioners for a multi-year phase-in of new rates for customers in the proposed Evolving Industry rate class. The recommendation was given to the commissioners during a special workshop in the Ephrata Commission Room to dis...

Drainage drilling is finished and monitoring devices are now being installed EPHRATA —Drilling for drainage and inspection in the spillway monoliths at Priest Rapids Dam is complete, as around 230 core samples have been extracted from the dam's grout gallery. The discovery of excess leakage due to a disbonded lift joint earlier this year, resulted ...

Grant PUD officials expect analysis to continue for the next several weeks Crews continue investigating the leakage discovered in spillway monoliths at Priest Rapids Dam. Initial analysis shows that a disbonded lift joint is the source of the leakage. A lift joint is the area between two concrete blocks poured at different times. A monolith is the ...

DURING TUESDAY'S MEETING COMMISSIONERS -Unanimously approved a $2.8 million increase to the contract with Voith Hydro Inc. and an extension of 15 days, bringing the total revised contract maximum to $14.3 million. Voith is a contractor on an approximately 10-year project to rehabilitate the 10 turbine /generator units at Priest Rapids Dam. This cha...

Grant PUD officials declare a non-failure emergency Out of an abundance of caution, Grant PUD officials have declared a non-failure emergency at Priest Rapids Dam, after inspection drilling revealed leaking in spillway monoliths. Grant PUD will reduce reservoir elevation behind the dam to normal operating minimums while inspection work continues. P...

Microsoft officials announced during the commission meeting in Beverly on March 27 that the company is making a $200,000 contribution toward building out wholesale fiber optic service to residents in the City of George. Paul Englis, of Microsoft, told the commissioners that his company as an organization has a desire to give back to the community, ...

Funding will help bring additional connectivity to customers and businesses through fiber service EPHRATA, Wash. – Microsoft will contribute $200,000 for the buildout of Grant PUD's wholesale fiber-optic network in the George area, Grant PUD commissioners learned Tuesday. Since 2006, when it opened a data center in Quincy, Microsoft has supported c...

New rate will increase average monthly residential power bill by $1.49 EPHRATA — Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday approved the next of a proposed series of small, annual electric-rate increases that will generate an estimated 2-percent more revenue over 12 months. New rates take effect April 1. The increase aligns with commissioners' strategy of sma...

Grant PUD Commissioners set rates for 2018 (2:47:30) New rate will increase average monthly residential power bill by $1.49 Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday approved the next of a proposed series of small, annual electric-rate increases that will generate an estimated 2-percent more revenue over 12 months. New rates take effect April 1. The increase...

Visitors will have access to the on-island boat launch by Memorial Day weekend EPHRATA, Wash. – Crescent Bar Island has been bustling with construction activity for the past several months all in an effort to finish three final large projects – the on-island Riverbend Park Boat Launch and day-use marina, water system renovation, and wastewater-trea...