⚙️ Skamania in Motion: Land Use Certainty & 2026 Utility Plans - Oct PUD & 10/21 BOCC Recap

⚡️ Skamania PUD – October 2025 Meeting Recap

A month of budget hearings, rate decisions, and clean-energy planning

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📅 October 2, 2025 – 2026 Budget Workshop

Commissioners opened the month with a detailed review of the 2026 draft operating and capital budgets. Staff walked through cost drivers and major projects across the Electric, Carson Water, and Underwood Water systems.

Key priorities outlined:

• Electric system: $18.9 million in revenue, $4.2 million in capital improvements, including the Cape Horn substation rebuild and Underwood transformer replacement.
• Carson Water: $6.5 million in grant-backed funding for the Carson Water Treatment Plant, with engineering completed by Stantec and Grayling Engineers.
• Underwood Water: $2.5 million in projects including a Pressure Zone 3 storage tank, new generators for backup power, and HVAC upgrades at reservoir sites.

Staff noted inflation in materials, increased BPA power costs, and state-mandated clean-energy compliance as key budget pressures heading into 2026.

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📅 October 7, 2025 – Regular Board Meeting

The board reconvened to approve the 2026 budget and begin setting next year’s rate structure.

Adopted:

• Resolution 2877 – 2026 Budget Approval for all three systems.
• Resolution 2876 – Cancellation of Outstanding Warrants over one year old.
• Voucher totals: $635,000 (Electric), $27,000 (Carson Water), and $17,000 (Underwood Water).

Discussion highlights:

• Approved a letter of support for Energy Northwest’s Wind River Valley Geothermal project, a proposed clean baseload resource in the Gorge.
• Continued coordination with Skamania County on a shared emergency radio system upgrade.
• Confirmed participation in the WPUDA Fall Conference and Energy Northwest partnership meetings.

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📅 October 15, 2025 - Special Meeting

This special session focused on compliance and transparency.
Representatives from the State Auditor’s Office briefed the board on the upcoming Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) compliance audit for 2022-2024. The audit will review energy portfolio documentation, rebate program records, and reporting accuracy.

Commissioners also discussed customer feedback on rate fairness and vegetation management, emphasizing better communication before system maintenance work.

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📅 October 21, 2025 - Rate Resolutions and Assistance Programs

The board concluded its October business by adopting a full set of 2026 rate resolutions and rebate updates.

Adopted Resolutions:

• Res. 2878 – Electric Rate Adjustment (3.75%)
  • Residential: $60 basic charge, $0.1045/kWh.
  • Small commercial: $91 base, $0.1105/kWh.
  • Added $25 remote reconnect & $15 AMI opt-out fees.
• Res. 2879 – Carson Water Rate Increase (8.75%)
  • Residential ¾” meter: $77.96/month.
• Res. 2880 – Underwood Water Rate Increase (8%)
  • Residential ¾” meter: $131.19/month, tiered usage rates.
• Res. 2881 – Low-Income Senior & Disabled Rebate Renewal
  • Annual credits of $200–$400 for qualifying customers (≤200% FPL).
• Res. 2882 – CETA Low-Income Assistance Expansion
  • $150 credit for households ≤80% AMI or ≤200% FPL.
• Res. 2883 – Fund Transfer for Carson Water Treatment Plant
  • $238,876 moved from construction to operations for engineering reimbursements.

Operational reports:

• 34 outages in September (mostly planned or vegetation-related).
• Bad debt write-offs: $1,638 for October; $40,002 YTD.
• Expenditures: $847,000 (Electric), $148,000 (Carson Water), $252,000 (Underwood Water).

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🔋 Looking Ahead

• Next meeting: November 5, 2025 - quarterly financials and clean-energy updates.
• Continued engineering on the Carson Water Treatment Plant and Underwood Pressure Zone 3 reservoir.
• Public encouraged to comment on low-income assistance programs and ongoing clean energy compliance planning.

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🏛 Skamania County Commissioners Recap - October 21, 2025

Commissioners met Tuesday to finalize fall payroll and vouchers, hear departmental reports, and review the long-delayed zoning process for unmapped lands in Underwood. The meeting also featured updates on public health, roadwork, and local business development headed into the 2026 budget cycle.

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🌲 Workshop: Unmapped Lands in Underwood

Community Development Director David Waymire and Planner Josh O. presented the Planning Commission’s recommendation to zone portions of the former Whistling Ridge / Broughton Lumber property as Rural Residential-10 (R-10) and Commercial Resource Lands-40 (CRL-40).

Commissioners discussed the public’s frustration after 13 years of litigation and delays from Friends of the Columbia Gorge and the defunct Whistling Ridge Energy Project, which froze the land’s zoning status until 2024. Commissioners emphasized that these parcels sit outside the National Scenic Area and will ultimately be governed by county zoning, not the Gorge Commission’s management plan.

Commissioner Robert Farris remarked that the goal now is “to make sure landowners finally get certainty after all this time.” Staff will draft a formal ordinance adopting the new zoning for board action in late October or early November.

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🧭 Department Head Reports

Community Health – Director Tamara Cissell reported on the county’s Chronic Disease Self-Management class with 14 active participants, WIC program stability through late November, and contingency plans with SWACH in case of a federal funding lapse. Her office is also coordinating with veterans on vaccine access and using the Veterans Fund to cover gaps if needed.

Public Works – Director David Waymire updated the board on Wind River slide stabilization, recent hazard tree removal, and cooperation with PUD on utility relocations. The department is also preparing facilities for winter and exploring the potential addition of a new tenant-built structure at the county’s Processing Center.

Administrative Services – The board reviewed an open seat on the Veterans Advisory Board, agreeing to re-advertise the at-large position with broader countywide outreach before making an appointment later this fall.

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💼 Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Regional Manager Ron Nielsen and Advisor Tessa Bowdish presented quarterly metrics showing steady growth in local entrepreneurship.
Highlights included:

• 13 active clients countywide and 3 new business starts in 2025
• 9 jobs supported and 136 hours of consulting provided
• Rising demand among service-based and home-operated businesses

They noted persistent challenges for hospitality and trucking sectors as inflation and lending restrictions tighten. Commissioners praised the program’s impact and encouraged stronger coordination with the Chamber and county media to reach more rural entrepreneurs.

What is the SBDC?

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves as a free, confidential resource for local entrepreneurs and small business owners in Skamania County. Advisors provide one-on-one help with business planning, financing, marketing, and startup guidance, from home-based crafts to trades and tourism. The regional office, based in Vancouver, visits Stevenson regularly and partners with the Chamber to support local growth.

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💬 Public Comment & Administrative Notes

Mary Repar of Stevenson spoke about carbon credits and forest revenue reform, urging the county to explore participation in carbon markets as a way to reduce dependence on timber harvest for school funding. Commissioners also acknowledged written comment from Mitch Patton.

Routine approvals included payroll ($712,320.90), vouchers ($124,690.78), and letters of support for PUD grant applications focused on energy and wildfire-fuel reduction projects.

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🗓 What’s Next

• Underwood zoning ordinance hearing – expected in early November
• Budget hearings and supplemental adjustments – ongoing through winter
• Next regular meeting: Tuesday, October 28, 9:30 AM
  📍 Courthouse Room 18 & Zoom

💻 Join online: us02web.zoom.us/j/88906321210
✉️ Submit comments: commiss@co.skamania.wa.us