2nd PUD budget to be offered

By KATHY DAY

Herald Writer

EVERETT — Tuesday may be Election Day, but it’s also the day Snohomish County PUD commissioners and the public will get to look at a budget proposal that’s already been revised once.

Because district officials just completed a contract with the Bonneville Power Administration for about 85 percent of the power needed to serve local customers, the first-draft budget for $466 million presented in early October is outdated, said Glenn McPherson, assistant general manage.

The 2000 spending plan totaled $940 million.

The first draft of the budget indicated that 47 percent of the district’s power would be purchased from the federal agency, which generates hydropower along the Columbia and Snake rivers. The change means that less power will have to be purchased at higher prices on the open market, McPherson said.

But, he added, BPA prices will be higher than they are today and will account for a significant amount of the spending plan increase. Initially, the cost of power was estimated at $287.6 million, or $68.3 million more than a year ago. McPherson still won’t have a concrete figure on Tuesday, however, because BPA hasn’t settled on its rates after the October 2001 effective date of the new contract.

What that means in terms of what customers will pay for will be decided by the commission once all the numbers are in place.

McPherson will present the budget to the board during its 1:30 p.m. session Tuesday at the district office, 2320 California St., Everett.

During the morning session, which begins at 9:30, commissioners will get an update on the Northwest energy picture from Dick Watson, executive director on the Northwest Power Planning Council.