Recently the Snohomish County PUD sent out its Spring 2001 news magazine, Current.
One of the articles, titled “Boeing, Lighting the Way to Big Energy Savings,” really twisted my gut. This article is about a PUD program that pays up to 70 percent of a project’s costs for major corporations to modernize their equipment at ratepayer expense. Being on a fixed income, I can tell you what PUD would say if I was to ask for any assistance with their ever-increasing rates. If I modernize or upgrade my home will PUD pay up to 70 percent of the cost? No way. They may give you a loan, but you are still expected to pay in full with interest. Why are ratepayers expected to pay for the upgrade of Fortune 500 companies? Didn’t Boeing post profits topping $1 billion last year?
The PUD should start treating companies the same way it treats its residential customers. If Boeing, Safeway, Wells Fargo Bank or any other corporation doesn’t or won’t upgrade their equipment at their own cost to conserve electricity, then the PUD should start charging them an inflated rate to justify the cost of upgrading said equipment.
Ratepayers should not be forced to subsidize these companies that are posting multi-million dollar profits.
Granite Falls
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