⚡️ Skamania PUD Meeting Recap – May 8, 2025
Big upgrades are coming to the Underwood water system, Cape Horn’s getting a new transformer, and your PUD is making moves to keep costs low and power reliable. Catch up on everything from wildfire prep to state tax changes in this month’s PUD meeting recap.
🏛 What’s the PUD?
Your Public Utility District manages electric power and water services in Skamania County. At their latest meeting, commissioners approved major upgrades, discussed state and federal policies, and kept a close eye on how it all affects local bills and services.
🚧 Infrastructure Projects in the Works
🔄 Cape Horn Substation Transformer Approved
A new transformer will be installed in Cape Horn to support system reliability and expansion.
- Cost: $1.2 million
- Vendor: Virginia Transformer (chosen for reliability and fast delivery)
- If that deal falls through, a more expensive backup vendor is approved.
💧 Underwood Water Upgrades
A new reservoir is on the way that will double storage and improve water pressure.
- Construction starts: Late summer
- Total cost: $2.8 million
- Grant funding secured: $1.3 million
- Additional FEMA grants are being pursued for backup generators.
🎨 Schoolhouse Reservoir
Paint and maintenance work is ready to go, with contractors set to begin this summer.
🧵 Source Improvements
Engineers are seeking funding to overhaul aging water sources and booster pumps.
🌲 Wildfire Readiness
- Crews are trimming trees and testing utility poles to reduce fire risk, especially in Underwood and the west end.
- Highway 14 fire strip sprayed in partnership with Washington State — all completed in one long workday.
💼 Operational Updates
👷♂️ New Hires & Promotions
- A new pre-apprentice lineman and tree crew foreman will start mid-May.
- Staff are now selected through interviews, not just seniority — a change the board supports.
📍 Surge in Utility Locates
- A fiber expansion project has created 20–30 locate requests per day.
- By law, PUD must respond within two days — at no added revenue.
🧾 Policy & Budget Actions
- Spending authority raised: Staff can now approve purchases up to $150,000 without board sign-off.
- Wire Purchase Approved: Enough underground wire for ~3 miles of linework was authorized.
- Commissioners praised material tracking and inventory reuse procedures.
🧭 2025 Strategic Planning
- Discussions continue around how to retain employees with competitive wages.
- Some commissioners argued local quality of life should count toward compensation; others emphasized staying in line with industry norms.
🏛 Legislative & Energy Headlines
- State passed several tax-related laws affecting public agencies.
- Commissioners voiced concern over property tax caps and potential rate increases.
⚡ Bonneville Power Updates
- Bonneville Power (BPA), which sells power to Skamania PUD, faced federal budget cuts.
- Despite staff losses, power reliability remained stable — for now.
🧪 Columbia Generating Station (Nuclear)
- A $700 million upgrade is underway to boost output by 162 megawatts.
- Expected to lower long-term power rates by increasing generation without hiring more staff.
🏅 Community Highlights
- Scholarship Winner: Samia Rudd, daughter of a PUD employee, received a statewide $1,500 WPUDA scholarship.
- EV Charging Station: Installed at the Stevenson Library — ribbon cutting coming soon.
Want to talk to the PUD or see what’s next?
Next board meeting is Tuesday, May 20
Zoom link and agenda will be posted on the PUD website.