The two Clallam County electrical utilities will receive nearly $80,000 to be used for weatherization or low-income assistance programs through the state’s Enron settlement, which also provides money for Jefferson County residents through Puget Sound Energy.
The funds come from the state’s share of a $1.52 billion settlement in summer 2005 made between Enron and three states — California, Oregon and Washington.
The states settled with Enron over Enron’s manipulation of the market during the energy crisis of 2000-01, with restitution being made earlier this month.
$9 million to state
Washington state received $9 million, which it announced earlier this month will be distributed to Washington state utilities based on how many customers they serve.
Clallam County Public Utility District will get $59,724 and the city of Port Angeles will receive $19,505.
The state’s only stipulation is that all the money be spent in 2010 to help low-income residents pay their bills or for weatherization programs that will improve energy efficiency.
PUD spokesman Jeff Beaman said the commissioners will decide next month what to do with the money.
He said a staff recommendation will likely be to allocate it to the PUD’s energy-efficiency program that helps pay for customers’ home improvements that reduce energy use.
Beaman said that could be a better use of the funds rather than direct assistance to low-income customers because it would save customers more money in the long run.
‘Long-term benefit’
“You get the long-term benefit of that type of investment,” he said.
“So a customer who incorporates those measures will save more money in the long run rather than having a fixed amount, one-time assistance.”
Port Angeles Power Resources Manager Phil Lusk said the city is moving in the other direction.
Lusk said the city’s weatherization program already has a hefty budget, so in all likelihood the money will be used to help low-income residents pay their bills.
“At this point, we think our weatherization budget is fully funded,” he said. “It seems like that bucket is full.”
PSE, which serves electrical customers in East Jefferson County, will get $2.1 million from the settlement.
Rebekah Anderson, PSE spokeswoman, said that money will be allocated to its own low-income weatherization program, added to the $3.25 million already budgeted in 2010 by the utility for the program.
Anderson said that in Jefferson County, that program is administered by Olympic Community Action Programs, which can be contacted at 360-385-5185.
For more information about PSE’s assistance programs, phone 800-562-1482.
To apply for low-income assistance or compensation for energy improvements through the city of Port Angeles, phone 360-457-0411.
For the same assistance through the PUD, phone 800-542-7859.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
