Time for PUD to accept small rate increase

To The Eagle:

I find it so sad to read that the city (Cathlamet) and the PUD (public utility district) cannot sit down and negotiate a new contract. Webster's defines negotiate, "To confer with another so as to come to terms or reach an agreement."

The PUD needs to remember the city's water plant was built with tax payer funds and only has a true obligation to provide water to the city proper. The PUD has made the decision to supply water to Puget Island. However, the PUD wants to be able to buy water below cost from the city and mark it up by a factor of 200 percent and pocket the profit.

Now that the city's cost of supplying water has increased, the PUD wants the city to prove costs have escalated. The Town of Cathlamet should not have to prove anything. Maybe the PUD should remember that when Bonneville Power Administration increases its rates, the PUD cannot demand proof from the BPA that the cost of making power has increased. They just have to accept it and, in most cases, they raise our electric rates to make up the difference.

I believe it is time for the PUD to accept the small rate increase that the city is asking for and then pass it on to the water users. It is time for the PUD to negotiate in good faith, not to challenge the city about their costs. In my mind, that makes the PUD commissioners look cheap and small.

The folks on Puget Island should not want the PUD to build a new water plant just for the Island. Islanders' water cost could skyrocket maybe 1000 percent or more.

Doug Silver, Cathlamet