Local briefly: PUD won’t yet decide on refund for $19 million

Published 11:17 pm Tuesday, December 18, 2007

EVERETT — Snohomish County PUD leaders Tuesday decided to delay making a decision whether to accept a $19 million check from the Bonneville Power Administration.

Under court order, the federal energy wholesaler has proposed refunding money that the PUD has been overcharged. The overcharging dates back to 2002, but this refund would cover only a one-year period.

Even if the check is accepted, BPA and regional utilities still have to figure out a way to fairly divvy up the hydroelectric and nuclear power resources that the energy wholesaler delivers to the region.

A federal appeals court ruled last May that the BPA was being too favorable to private utilities at the expense of public utilities, including the PUD.