PUD destroying our beautiful valley

Chelan County PUD has been searching for a site to build a new substation to accommodate an increase in power demand largely due to the continuing development of The Lookout, Crystal View Estates, Reserve, Legacy and others in the works. Any site chosen will have taller, wider power poles carrying more and thicker power lines than those currently existing in both currently proposed sites: Henderson and Hellyer. Both of these sites have adjacent properties that will be negatively impacted to varying degrees. However the owner most affected by a proposed substation at the Hellyer site is Mr. Hellyer himself – and he is the one selling the site to the PUD. By contrast, we have a home and two adjacent building lots comprising a 7 acre parcel directly across the street from the Henderson site. PUD is definitely leaning toward this site. The Henderson site will directly impact both of our lots and our home with substation noise, night lighting, a direct view of the substation itself and more and taller poles and more lines running through our beautiful view of Lake Chelan. In addition, our neighbor and a number of homes in Chelan Hills will be negatively impacted and PUD doesn’t care. 

PUD has a policy of “like for like” meaning if poles and power lines are currently overhead, new poles and lines will also be installed overhead. Power that is undergrounded will continue to be undergrounded when new lines are added. Anywhere you look in Lake Chelan, it is guaranteed there will be more poles, more lines and more blight upon the iconic views people come here to enjoy. The focus group working with PUD for the past 2 years has given the PUD a clear path for the Hellyer site, if PUD will underground both the distribution and the transmission lines for the new substation, which is entirely feasible.

After attending countless meetings to explain to PUD why constructing a substation with taller poles and more lines across an established residential area where people have invested time, energy and money in their properties is not acceptable, it has become clear PUD is not listening to the concerns of homeowners adjacent to these sites. 

We seriously question why our property is going to bear the brunt of the need for additional power for not only the new developments but the entire Northshore area. We believe it’s because we have been outspoken in our opposition to having residential property values severely impacted and the enjoyment of one’s property severely reduced when a substation is built directly across the street.  

Every ratepayer/owner in the Lake Chelan Valley should be disturbed by this because you could be next. Several other PUD substations are almost or at full capacity now.