PORT TOWNSEND — When it comes to taxes, public utility districts pay about the same taxes as investor-owned utilities and communities that switch from a for-profit electric utility to a nonprofit PUD, a Washington Public Utility Districts Association study shows.
The report comes at a time when the Jefferson County Public Utility District will ask voters to decide if the agency should have the authority to provide power service to the county.
Voters could give Jefferson PUD the authority to acquire the Puget Sound Energy distribution network in the eastern portion of the county, except for Brinnon.
A Nov. 4 election has been set on the PUD power authority question.
Puget Sound Energy now provides power to most of East Jefferson County.
“PSE has claimed if they leave the county we won’t get any property tax, and that’s wrong,” said Jefferson County PUD Manager Jim Parker.
Washington Public Utility Districts Association Executive Director Steve Johnson said the association, which represents 22 PUDs that provide electric service across the state, released the analysis to refute misinformation in communities considering new electric PUDs.
