Phone scammers claim to be PUD

A recent phone scam frightened a few local businesses and residents when the caller threatened to turn off power if their electric bill was not paid within a very short period of time.

The Wahkiakum PUD board of commissioners want county residents to know these calls are not coming from their local utility.

“That is not how we do business,” General Manager Dave Tramblie said at Tuesday morning’s PUD Board of Commissioner’s meeting. The scam has been reported to the sheriff’s office.

During the manager’s report, Tramblie shared that he had already purchased 200 LED street lights and planned to purchase another 200 next year for the street light project. The PUD will take advantage of a rebate program from Bonneville to offset the price of the lights.

“The LED lights have a 10 year warranty,” Tramblie said, “which should alleviate a lot of maintenance, labor and parts.”

The water crew has been chasing down a leak in Eden Valley, according to Tramblie. They will replace 1,400 feet of water line and plan to take advantage of the situation to put in an electric line at the same time. He hopes to have that project completed before the end of the week, before a shift in the weather.

Other employees are still working on a project to replace copper weld along Altoona Road.

Auditor Erin Wilson and all three commissioners shared what they had learned at recent conferences around the state.

The commissioners approved an interlocal agreement to provide personnel and equipment to Port 2 in order to perform water testing and maintenance for the water lines at Vista Park and County Line Park as needed.