WENATCHEE – Fall is budget-planning season at Chelan PUD. Commissioners Monday reviewed the five-year business plan, which is built to support the PUD’s strategic initiatives, such as the fiber network build-out and improved reliability. (Starting at 12:25 on the board meeting audio recording).
Four strategic goals guide the five-year business plan:
1)Invest in assets and people. The five-year plan calls for greater hydropower capability, from about 70 percent now to 89 percent by 2024, by investing in maintenance and improvements at each dam. The PUD plans to reduce outage time for residents with more tree-trimming around power lines, and undergrounding where feasible. The PUD will also invest in new technology in order to offer better customer service tools and outage information.
2)Maintain strong and resilient financials. The PUD will continue to meet its financial goals with flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.
3)Enhance quality of life in Chelan County. The five-year plan maintains a $6-million investment annually for public power benefit projects, including the expansion of the utility’s fiber internet network to 5,800 more homes by 2024.
4)Economic growth, while ensuring stable rates. The PUD is planning to build more distribution infrastructure, including additional substations, to accommodate residential and industrial growth.
Commissioners will review the 2021 budget on Oct. 19.
In other business, commissioners:
• Heard a quarterly update about electrical loads and planning for growth and development.
• Heard about the progress and outreach regarding the new Bavarian and North Shore substations in Leavenworth and Chelan.
• Reviewed the exhibit plan and approved a contract with Pacific Studios of Seattle for the Rocky Reach Discovery Center. (02:46:00)
The next regular PUD commission meeting is at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19. The public is welcome to attend remotely in accordance with the latest guidance from the state Department of Health.
Chelan PUD records most commission meetings, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org. Find us at Facebook.com/ChelanPUD and follow us on Twitter @ChelanPUD.
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