PUD prepares to pass city tax to PIWS

Refunds, rebates, and ways to implement a line item charge occupied Wahkiakum PUD commissioners on March 20.

The commissioners authorized Auditor Erin Wilson to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster assistance funds to cover the labor costs incurred by PUD employees as a result of a January 12 windstorm.

The total cost to the PUD was $8,700. Wilson said FEMA has reimbursed about 75 percent of the cost in the past.

PUD employee Lia Sealund reported to the commissioners that Wahkiakum PUD customers have received $17,565 in Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rebates. The majority ($12,000) of the rebate money came from ductless heat pump installation. Rebates are also available for the purchase of energy-efficient refrigerators and insulation installation.

Sealund said she is working to implement a BPA rebate program for energy-efficient windows. One of the criteria for program eligibility is that electricity must be the home’s primary heat source, said Sealund. The program will require pre- and post-installation inspections by a PUD employee. The rebate will total $6 per square foot of glazing.

Commissioners heard back from Manager Dave Tramblie and Wilson about adding a line item on Puget Island Water System bills to recoup the Town of Cathlamet’s utility tax.

At the last meeting, the commissioners voted to add an informational line item to PIWS invoices regarding what portion of the cubic foot charge was paid to the town as excise tax.

Tramblie explained that implementing that directive on PIWS invoices would require the billing software company to take on programming work at an estimated minimum cost of $1,100.

A text line without a calculation or a calculation line included in the overall charge would incur no additional programming costs, added Wilson. But if the line needs to perform a calculation without adding it as a charge on the bill, that would require additional programming.

The PUD purchases water from the town to sell to PIWS customers. The utility tax rate went from 3 to 6 percent on February 18.

Wilson and Tramblie recommended reducing the customers’ cubic foot charge by three percent of what the PUD pays to purchase water from the town (the previous tax charge that was embedded in the customers’ cubic foot charge) then calculating six percent of the PUD’s cost for purchasing water and adding that charge on PIWS bills.

That would fit the software’s parameters, said Wilson.

The commissioners authorized Attorney Tim Hanigan to prepare a resolution regarding the rate. The commissioners will consider the resolution at the next meeting.