PUD discusses outage, OK's water contract

The Wahkiakum PUD board of commissioners met Tuesday to discuss a variety of topics.

Monday’s county wide power outage was due to another utilities crew dropping a tree on a BPA 115 KV transmission line in the Vernonia area.

The Town of Cathlamet has agreed to a new contract with the PUD over charges they deemed as inappropriately removed. The contract, relating to the Puget Island Water System (PIWS) has been rewritten to the approval of both parties.

Manager Dave Tramblie explained the dispute arose when the Town submitted their expenses to Auditor Erin Wilson. She told the Town she needed documentation of the information provided.

The town complied, however Wilson discovered some mistakes. The town, after reviewing the submission, found that Wilson was correct and agreed to the new contract.

“Everything is fine now,” Tramblie said.

The money the PUD received from Bonneville Power Administration in the Ninth Court ruling in the Residential exchange program will be distributed based on individual usage as opposed to a flat rate coupon, Tramblie told the board. Instead, each customer will be credited according to their consumption during the period of overcharges in order to be refunded accurately.

Wilson found the coupons would not be an equitable distribution, however, to be in compliance with the ruling, a refund will appear on bills in the coming months. Wilson said she is hopeful to have the refunds completed by the end of the year.

The next meeting of the PUD will be November 18, at 8:30 a.m.