On January 24th we warned that utility rates would be going up. Now we have more clarification on the 4.9% PUD rate increase starting in April.
Severe weather events the region experienced in 2024 are the main driver of the rate increase.
The PUD spent an additional $45 million purchasing electricity in January of 2024 due to the unusual sub-freezing temperatures on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, when higher-than-normal electricity demand coupled with below-average Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) hydropower generation sent energy market prices soaring.
The PUD also spent $16 million on restoration efforts after the powerful bomb cyclone windstorm in November.
The rate increase for PUD residential electric customers will only be applied to the daily base charge. The energy charge for residential customers will remain 10.26 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Residential customers will see an increase to their bill of about 13 cents per day for small (multi-family customers or those with an amp size at or below 100), and 21 cents per day for medium customers (majority of single-family homes with 200-amp service). Here’s the breakdown:
For PUD small business customers, the rate increase will see their base charge grow by 80 cents per day and their energy charge decrease slightly from 9 cents/kWh to 8.365 cents/kWh.
The PUD implemented cost-cutting measures to minimize this year’s rate increase. PUD staff prioritized projects and identified multiple ways to reduce expenditures in the 2025 budget, saving $24 million.
The PUD also altered its contract with BPA (scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1, 2025), which will significantly reduce the cost impact of future extreme weather events that drive up electricity costs such as the PUD experienced in 2024 on MLK weekend.
“We faced significant challenges in 2024 and I’m proud of how the organization worked together to minimize this rate increase,” said John Haarlow, PUD CEO/General Manager. “We recognize the impact cost increases can have on our customers and remain committed to providing reliable and environmentally sustainable power, and an exceptional customer experience.”
The PUD has tools to help customers with their bill, including robust income-qualified assistance programs that offer 25% or 50% bill deductions for qualifying customers.
February 3, 2025
Everett Government, Everett Economy