PORT TOWNSEND — It would cost the Public Utility District between $34.9 million and $69.8 million to acquire Puget Sound Energy’s facilities in East Jefferson County, a report from D. Hittle & Associates Inc. estimated.
But that’s not the most important finding in the feasibility study, the firm’s president, Bob Schneider, told about 60 people attending a forum at Port Townsend Community Center Tuesday night.
“Puget Sound Energy’s future rates, and what price PUD will be able to supply power for, is most important,” Schneider said.
New PUD rates would come to about 1 cent per kilowatt hour for the first three years of service, Schneider said on Tuesday.
Then, low-cost Bonneville Power Administration “tier 1” rates would kick in for the next 10 years at a “net present value savings” of $31.1 million to Jefferson County power ratepayers, he added.
The PUD commissioners contracted Hittle for up to $30,000 to produce the feasibility study, information of which is intended to inform voters so they can make an educated decision on a Nov. 4 general election ballot question.
The question on the ballot will be whether PUD should have the authority to acquire PSE’s system from Mount Walker to Port Townsend, and provide electric service.
PSE now provides power to East Jefferson County customers.
The PUD now provides only water and sewer services.
