In a move discussed for over 10 years and actively planned for two, the Northern Wasco County PUD, starting this month, will switch out its 10,100 meters with “smart meters” that report usage digitally to the PUD.
The North Wasco County PUD is allocating $50,000 this year to help fund local development projects, and will be accepting applications for economic development grants until May 22 at 5 p.m.
The Northern Wasco County PUD has been spending the summer —and then some — getting ready for the winter. It is an ongoing effort that ranges from tree trimming to vehicle preparation.
The power went out eight times early Sunday evening for 2,500 PUD customers on the west end of The Dalles, owing to faulty programming in substation equipment on West 10th Street. The equipment operated as programmed, but it was learned that a setting characteristic was incorrectly set, said Paul Titus, assistant general manager and director of engineering for Northern Wasco County PUD.
Saying it has to catch up on years of necessary but uncompleted work, the PUD is proposing 5 percent rate hikes each of the next two years, each of which would add about $5 per month to the average residential bill.
It has been a rough transition year for the Northern Wasco County PUD, which got a new general manager, Roger Kline, in January after 22 years under previous manager Dwight Langer.
