Loss of protection and regulation

"Keeping control closer to home should result in outcomes that are better suited to to those affected"
Tony De Leo

One of the things we lost (or gained) when our PUD took over power delivery from PSE was the rate regulation and assistance with customer issues provided by the Washington State UTC.

For a privately or investor owned utility to raise the rates it charges its customers, that increase has to be approved by the Washington State Utilities and Transportation commission.  Now, as a PUD, the rates charged, including rate increases, are solely under the authority of your PUD Commissioners. In fact, RCW 54.24.080 (section 1 below) requires the PUD to set rates high enough to assure payment of its obligations:

1) The commission of each district which shall have revenue obligations outstanding shall have the power and shall be required to establish, maintain, and collect rates or charges for electric energy and water and other services, facilities, and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the district. The rates and charges shall be fair and, except as authorized by RCW 74.38.070 and by subsections (2) and (3) of this section, nondiscriminatory, and shall be adequate to provide revenues sufficient for the payment of the principal of and interest on such revenue obligations for which the payment has not otherwise been provided and all payments which the district is obligated to set aside in any special fund or funds created for such purpose, and for the proper operation and maintenance of the public utility and all necessary repairs, replacements, and renewals thereof.

As to assistance with customer billing disputes, service complaints, disconnect notices, deposit problems, etc,  the state UTC had provided access to consumer protection specialists, but now your issues will be addressed locally by PUD customer service people.

Thank you for viewing this.
Tony