PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners have approved a 3 percent electricity rate increase by a unanimously vote.
A 3 percent hike amounts to about $3.30 per month for a residential customer.
The change approved Monday will take effect Jan. 1.
PUD officials have said the main reason for the increase is the Bonneville Power Administration’s 8 percent wholesale power rate increase, which took effect Oct. 1.
The PUD held community meetings on the proposal earlier this month in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Sekiu.
Also cited in the proposal to raise electric rates were pressures from the rising costs of materials, operations, maintenance and technology.
In addition, renewable-energy mandates from the Washington Energy Independence Act, which voters approved in 2006 as Initiative 937, are beginning to take their toll, PUD officials said.
Initiative 937 requires utilities the size of Clallam PUD to get 3 percent of their power from renewable sources next year.
That requirement jumps to 9 percent in 2016 and to 15 percent by 2020.
Hydroelectric power, which is Bonneville’s primary source of electricity, isn’t considered renewable under the state law.
In May, the three PUD commissioners approved a 6 percent water rate increase.
Water rates are scheduled to go up another 6 percent in 2012 and 6 percent in 2013.
For more information on the Clallam County PUD, visit www.clallampud.net.
A 10-minute video presentation on the electricity rate increase is posted on the PUD website.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
