PUD to waive water connection fee for one year

Wahkiakum PUD commissioners approved a resolution eliminating the system development fee for new water customers over the next year at their December 6 meeting.

The temporary abolishment of the fee takes effect immediately and will expire December 31, 2012.

Both potential Western Wahkiakum Water System and Puget Island Water System users are eligible. Customers will be responsible for the cost of installing water meters and will need to sign a two year service agreement.

The proposal was the result of customer input at a recent rate hearing held in the Westend of the county.

PUD manager Dave Tramblie said the resolution was “a result of fresh ideas being brought forth and the willingness of commissioners to accept input from ratepayers.” He said the PUD needs to make decisions like a competitive business.

He estimated that extending an existing water main 50 feet would probably cost close to $5,000, but with a system development fee in place, it would be $8,500.

Puget Island resident Lee Tischer attended the meeting and asked if any wording in the initial grant to fund water system expansion in the Westend in 2001-2002 would be in conflict with waiving the system development fee.

Tramblie responded to Tischer’s concern, saying, “The total project was over $1.5 million and benefited around 40 customers. Combined, the county and federal governments pitched in about $1.45 million taxpayer dollars. The residents who connected to the water system paid around $3,500, but the actual costs were close to $40,000 per customer."

Auditor Erin Wilson explained that the system development fee from those customers was used as the required matching funds for the initial grant.

Additionally, Tramblie reported that several recent power outages in the Westend had been caused by storm-related downed trees. He thanked the county road crew for removing one tree. He explained that a water main break on Eden Valley Road on Sunday was caused by coupling that came apart under the middle of the road.

Wilson reported on changes to the PUD website’s online payment setup. Customers are now prompted to enter the account and meter numbers from their monthly statements and to create an account in order to pay online. Creating an account will give usage and payment history. A number of people are paying via the website, said Wilson. The staff have also tested auto-pay and are beginning to sign people up. Those signed up for auto-pay would still receive monthly statements.

Wilson announced ratepayers had given several hundred dollars in donations to the residential energy assistance fund during the last month.