Board Calls for Public Hearing on Rates

July 29, 2015 – At their July 21 meeting, the PUD’s Board of Directors called for a public hearing on August 18 to take comments on a proposed 4.6% overall rate increase. The rate change is the result of increasing wholesale power costs and lower-than-expected revenues due to the mild winter.

Budget Reductions Made

In order to reduce the amount of the increase, the PUD has eliminated 7 unfilled positions and cancelled or deferred about $740,000 in projects, capital improvements and other expenses.  These changes represent a 10.8% decrease in controllable expenses for 2015.

Impacts to Customers

For residential customers, an increase in the monthly customer charge from $8 to $12 is proposed, and the cost per kilowatt-hour would remain the same. Customers who qualify for the Special Waiver Program would begin paying a $2 customer charge. For small general service customers, the monthly customer charge would increase from $15 to $20, and the cost per kilowatt-hour would remain the same.

Public comments are welcome at the August 18 hearing, which begins at 6 p.m. It will be held in the Community Room at that PUD office, located at 64001 Columbia River Highway, Deer Island, Oregon.

The rate changes, if approved, would take effect on October 1, 2015.

Summary of Proposed Changes – Residential/Small Commercial Customers

Residential
Customers
(RS 10)
Low-Income
Customers
(RS 13)
General Service – Small
(RS 20)
General Service – Small Non-Profit
(RS 22)
Customer Charge
(per Month) 
Increasing from
$8 to $12
Increasing from
$0 to $2
Increasing from
$15 to $20
Increasing from $8 to $12
Energy Charge
(per kWh used) 
Unchanged at $0.064 Unchanged at $0.064 Unchanged at $0.068 Unchanged at $0.064

Summary of Proposed Changes – Large General Service/Industrial Customers

General Service – Large
(RS 24)
Primary Voltage
(RS 30)
Transmission Voltage
(RS 40)
Customer Charge
(per Month) 
Increasing from
$40 to $50
Increasing from
$50 to $80
Increasing from
$100 to $150
Energy Charge
(per kWh used) 
Unchanged at $0.051 Unchanged at $0.044 Unchanged at $0.035
Demand Charge
(per kW-mo) 
Increasing from $4.80 to $5.45 Increasing from $4.95 to $5.75 Increasing from $3.00 to $3.90