PUD to hike all rates by 5 percent

Commissioners of Wahkiakum PUD voted 2-1 to raise water and electricity rates 5 percent at their meeting Tuesday.

Commissioners Bob Jungers and Gene Healy voted for the increase; Commissioner Dennis Reid voted against.

“It was important to me to understand that we were going to take just under $180,000 out of reserves to make this budget as it is,” Healy said. “If we didn’t have any kind of a rate increase, it would be double that.

"I think the budget that was proposed does the kinds of things that our rate payers expect us to do to keep our systems clean and we’ve got to pay for it sometimes. It’s unfortunate. We’re all against rate increases, that’s for sure.”

Commissioners also approved the 2016 budget and an amendment to the PUD’s service charges. The amendment adds a fee to cover any difficulties with electronic payments. There will be a $30 fee for electronic payments not honored by the bank and a $30 fee for charge backs to credit and debit cards.

General Manager David Tramblie gave a quick update on work being done around the county, and announced that crews would be trimming trees.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. in the PUD meeting room.