CHIMACUM — Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioners enthusiastically await the results of their own contracted feasibility study after hearing Wednesday what a Puget Sound Energy consultant believes it would cost to take over PSE’s electric service.
Puget Sound Energy-contracted consultant Bob Bellemare reiterated a feasibility study report he released Tuesday, telling the audience that a Jefferson County Public Utility District takeover of Puget Sound Energy’s electric service would cost at least $77 million. The price would lead to rate increases upwards of 19 percent, he said.
That is not sitting well with the PUD commissioners, who say the numbers are inflated.
“I’m even looking more forward to seeing the Hittle study,” said PUD Commissioner Dana Roberts, referring the PUD-contracted study now being conducted by D. Hittle & Associates Inc.
Roberts said he hopes to have highlights of the study available at next week’s Jefferson County Fair, scheduled Friday through Sunday, where PUD will man a booth.
After PSE consultant Bob Bellemare, president of Albuquerque, N.M.-based UtiliPoint International Inc., presented the report, PUD Commissioner Wayne King continued to expressed skepticism about the numbers PSE presents.
“Their presentation kind of looks like their power bill,” King said after the PUD meeting at Chimacum Grange, which was attended by more than 30 people, many of whom were there to question Bellemare, who has been involved in studies of 10 other public utility attempts to assume control of privately owned power utilities.
King said since Bellemare presented what Jefferson PUD’s rates would be, that he also should forecast rates for PSE.
Bellemare acknowledged the request but did not commit to delivering the information.
Aside from PUD officials, the report was not received well by Bill Wise, co-facilitator for Citizens for Local Power, which successfully petitioned voters to call for a Nov. 4 election. Jefferson County commissioners called the election Monday.
The ballot would ask voters if PUD should be given the authority to provide East Jefferson County with power service, whether it be to buy or lease the existing poles, wires and substations.
