PORT TOWNSEND — A Puget Sound Energy-contracted analysis says that Jefferson County and two other public utility districts would face a lengthy phase-in process to get low-cost Bonneville Power Administration energy — and that could raise rates for all PUDS providing electrical service.
The report, released Wednesday by Randy Hardy, principal of Hardy Energy Consulting, says that Jefferson, Skagit and Island counties — and all existing PUDs depending on BPA power — would pay significantly increased rates, a result of the long phase-in, if they went into the business of providing electricity to the people who are now PSE’s customers.
A proposal that would grant the Jefferson County Public Utility District — which now provides water and sewer services — the authority to provide electric power and take over PSE’s system in the county, should it choose to do so, is on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
Similar movements are in the works for PUDs in Skagit and Island counties.
Supporters of Jefferson County PUD providing electric service lambasted the new findings Wednesday.
“This is a repackaging of old news,” said Bill Wise, co-chairman of Citizens for Local Power, which gathered enough registered-voter signatures to put the question on the Jefferson County ballot.
“Frankly, it’s another scare tactic by Puget Sound Energy and their paid consultant.”
Wise said BPA officials have already “assured us that we would have BPA power for the PUD.”
And a study contracted by the Washington Public Utility Districts Association contends that access to low-cost BPA power would mean that a new electric-service public utility district would be able to charge rates up to 20 percent lower than rates projected for PSE.
