Snohomish PUD Says No 2019 Rate Increase

March 1, 2019

Everett Economy

Pretty timely for this announcement as customers look at some very high bills for February. Today the Snohomish PUD announced there would be no rate increase for 2019. Here’s the full announcement.

meter readers

PUD meter reader. Photo credit: Snohomish PUD

The Snohomish County PUD Board of Commissioners approved staff’s recommendation to implement no rate increases in 2019. The Board agreed to assess financial performance throughout 2019 and determine if a rate adjustment is needed in 2020.

The original 2019 budget created in mid-2018 indicated the need for a 2.9% general rate increase. In December, the Board approved the utility’s 2019 budget, which included a modest 1.3% rate increase that was to go into effect in April. The decision to defer a general increase was based on stronger than expected financial results in 2018 and internal cost control measures.

“PUD employees have worked hard to minimize costs and maximize efficiency over the past year and the results are evident in the Board’s latest decision to have no rate increases this year,” said Snohomish PUD CEO/General Manager John Haarlow.

The PUD’s residential rate remains 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), keeping it competitive with other Northwest electric utility rates and below the national average of 12.95 cents/kWh. Further review of the 2019 budget, which includes a $665 million operating budget for the PUD’s electric system, showed stronger than forecasted financial performance from increased energy sales in 2018, additional transmission capacity sales, higher investment income and realization of many cost cutting measures.

A focus on controlling internal operating costs saved the PUD millions of dollars in recent years, including limiting new hiring, realizing lower medical benefit premiums, and use of fewer external consultants and reduced employee travel.

As a not-for-profit utility, the PUD’s rates are set to cover its cost of doing business. That includes money for public benefits, including fish and wildlife programs, infrastructure and reliability capital projects, and reinvesting money in the community through energy efficiency efforts and energy assistance programs that help those in need.

Along with smart fiscal management, the PUD continues to work toward a promising future of energizing life in the communities it serves. Rates allow for analysis and development of electric vehicles, community solar, optimizing the electrical grid with proven technologies and increasing options for how its customers do business with the utility.



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