Through a time of rapid energy changes, the Snohomish County PUD has managed to keep itself in a surprisingly solid position.
The PUD has made tough rate-hike decisions to cope with a changing power market and the drought conditions. Still, the utility has stayed in the good graces of the public, an impressive achievement.
Next week, the public will begin paying for electricity under the latest rate hike, an increase of 18 percent. The PUD commission unanimously made the tough but necessary choice for the raise, and most people appear willing to accept the added hit.
The acceptance of rate increases is a rather impressive sign of trust in the good judgment of the PUD. As we move forward, PUD commissioners and officials ought to gratefully keep the public’s faith in mind.
After holding a firm course, the PUD now has a chance to look ahead and make sure that such trust is maintained and nurtured. There would seem to be several implications.
With the economy rocky, the PUD must do everything possible to stabilize or reduce its rates. That should be a priority even while considering moves into new power production ventures. The way the power crisis suddenly arose and now seems to be easing suggests added caution. If you don’t know what’s happening to the economy or the power market, there’s reason to make production decisions at a deliberate pace.
The public in Snohomish County has shown strong interest in environmentally friendly sources of power — to the extent that the PUD is about to offer customers the chance to pay slightly more for "green power." Minimally, the public’s environmental commitment means that before approving fossil-fuel facilities, such as natural gas turbines, the PUD will want to be sure that there is no comparably priced power on the market from wind, solar or geothermal sources. If there are new investments to be made in a national crisis, there should be a preference for innovations aimed at reducing our dependence on insecure sources of energy. The role of conservation programs in creating jobs, as well as protecting the environment, should be kept in mind.
Nurturing trust requires reflecting on the PUD’s fundamental strength: its public ownership and its historic identity as a part of the public power movement. The PUD showed deep commitment by fighting hard, and successfully, for the Bonneville Power Administration this year in a faceoff between the BPA and aluminum companies. With the energy crisis having thrown cold water on a craze for privatization and partnerships with private utilities, the PUD can now stick to its roots. Finally, trust requires assuring that all major decisions are made with ample time and opportunity for public discussion and examination.
With just a few simple precautions, the PUD can ensure that it continues earning such strong support.
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