The Columbia River People's Utility District Board of Directors adopted a $49.6 million Operating and Capital Budget during their December meeting. This represents a 3.3% increase over the 2025 Budget.
The 2026 Budget was adopted with a 7.6% overall rate increase taking effect on April 1, 2026. The increase is being implemented because costs from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) increased on October 1, 2025. The PUD's wholesale power costs will go up by 8.9% and transmission costs will go up by 19.5% due to this increase.
Power costs from BPA constitute roughly half of the PUD's budget. CRPUD purchases all the power it distributes from BPA, its wholesale power provider.
BPA markets power produced by 31 dams on the Columbia River and sells it to 131 public power providers, like CRPUD. Increased demand for electricity and state carbonization laws have forced BPA to purchase more power on the market, which can be significantly more expensive than hydropower.
"When BPA increases its rates, we must offset those increases by raising our rates to pay the difference," said PUD General Manager Michael Sykes.
The PUD instituted a 7.5% rate increase in April of 2025 as well, choosing to split the increase over two years rather than implement a 15% increase to CRPUD customers all at once.
In 2026, the PUD has earmarked $5.7 million for capital improvement projects. This includes continuing to upgrade the utility's electric infrastructure to improve safety, security, reliability, and capacity. The PUD's budget includes improvements to existing substations, as well as phase two of a project tying the Deer Island Substation to the Goble Substation.
The PUD also plans to continue its ,multi-year meter replacement project.
Major capital improvement projects include overhead to underground power line conversions on NW Gilkison Road in Scappoose, and between Columbia City and St. Helens. These projects will help reduce the risk of wildfires and winter storms negatively affecting the utility's electric distribution infrastructure.
The PUD developed its budget using the mission, values, and strategic objectives contained within its 5-year strategic plan. The budget was set aiming to balance the necessary costs of maintaining, upgrading, and expanding the district's electric distribution system with its mission to provide quality services at the lowest practical cost.
The budget was created with input from a Budget Advisory Committee representing a cross-section of all customer classes, the Board of Directors, and staff. The PUD budgets with a conservative philosophy of estimating for higher expenses and lower revenues.
The PUD expects to end 2026 with a year-end cash balance of $10.5 million, as well as $4 million in its Capital Reserve Fund for future capital projects.
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