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Commission Recap: Commissioners approve of "home-grown" talent and local hiring

Grant PUD commissioners expressed satisfaction Tuesday in the efforts of Power Delivery departments to recruit locally to fill new positions and train new recruits and apprentices internally. A recent job posting for fiber network tech apprentice attracted approximately 90 applicants, most from Central Washington, Senior Manager of Power Delivery C...

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Commission Summary 5-24-2022: First-quarter forecast shows Grant PUD projected to achieve financial targets for liquidity and leverage by end of 2022

Grant PUD is forecasting that its net income will be approximately $10.9 million less than budgeted, according to a first-quarter financial report given to commissioners during their meeting on May 23. Even with the change in net income, Grant PUD is projecting that it will achieve its financial metrics for liquidity, days cash on hand, debt servic...

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Commission Summary 4-26-2022: Plan approved to relocate Grant PUD headquarters, service centers

Commissioners unanimously gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a plan to relocate over the next decade Grant PUD's Ephrata headquarters and its Ephrata and Moses Lake service centers at a total cost estimate of $266 million. All three buildings need costly repairs, energy efficiency upgrades and more room for current operations and future growth. T...

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Grant PUD reopens visitor centers

Haga clic para Español EPHRATA, Wash. – Grant PUD has reopened its Visitor Center at Wanapum Dam and the Wanapum Heritage Center near Priest Rapids Dam to the public. The centers had been closed since March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The locations, days and hours are as follows: Grant PUD Visitor Center at Wanapum Dam: 1...

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Commission Summary 4-12-2022: Recreation sites prepare for another big year

The Grant PUD is gearing up for what they expect to be another record-breaking season at Grant PUD camping and recreation areas. Manager of License Compliance and Lands Services Shannon Lowry told commissioners her team is bracing for a record 13 concerts at The Gorge Amphitheater over the summer, including six weekend-long festivals. The amphithea...

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Commission Summary 3-23-2022: Commissioners weigh options for new headquarters, service center buildings

Faced with aged, undersized and inadequate buildings to serve a growing county, Grant PUD commissioners are considering a Facilities Master Plan proposal to build a new headquarters building and two new service centers on land with room to expand at locations yet to be determined. The preliminary plan calls for the existing headquarters in Ephrata ...

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Commissioners invite the public to again attend meetings in person

Haga clic para Español EPHRATA, Wash. – Grant PUD commissioners are pleased to invite the public to resume in-person attendance during their regular board meetings, starting Tuesday, March 22. The commission had been conducting meetings virtually as a response to the COVID pandemic for the past two years. Now all board meetings will be he...

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Commission Summary 3-8-2022: Budgeted expenses, revenues up for overall gain in 2021

Budgeted expenses, revenues up for overall gain in 2021 Year-end financial results for 2021 show increases in both expenditures and revenues, while key financial indicators remain strong. Preliminary results show total expenditures of $417.2 million through December, up from the $380.6 million in the budget as originally approved. The total include...

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Commission Summary 2-22-2022: Land acquisitions needed for substation work

Commissioners heard about plans to acquire an additional 1.13 acres adjacent to the future home of the Red Rock Substation east of Royal City. The district had previously obtained 1.26 acres for the construction of the new substation but has since determined it will now need to acquire the additional land west of the existing property from the Port...

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Commission Summary 2-8-2022: Commissioners choose Rich Wallen to lead Grant PUD

An experienced manager, Wallen formerly headed the utility's operations divisions EPHRATA, Wash – Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday unanimously chose Rich Wallen as the utility's new general manager and chief executive officer. Wallen has served as interim general manager since Jan. 1, after former general manager Kevin Nordt stepped down to focus on...

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PUD commissioners to decide on General Manager/CEO position during Feb. 8 meeting

EPHRATA, Wash- Grant PUD commissioners will hold a vote during their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 8 on whether to install Rich Wallen as the utility's general manager and chief executive officer. Wallen has served as interim general manager since Jan. 1 after former general manager Kevin Nordt stepped down from the position to focus on his health. Prio...

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Grant PUD announces fiber build-out areas for 2022

Haga clic para Español ​EPHRATA-  Grant PUD Commissioners renewed their commitment to building out Grant PUD's fiber-optic network as they reviewed fiber system expansion plans for 2022 during the Jan. 25 commission meeting. Grant PUD strives to expand fiber and/or complete construction to the following areas by the end of the year: ...

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Commission Summary Summary 1-25-2022: Grant PUD customer service offices to reopen Feb. 1

Customer Service local offices will reopen to the public Feb. 1. The offices had been closed since March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The days and hours for the various offices are as follows: Moses Lake, 312 W. Third Ave. – Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ephrata, 30 C St. SW – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Quincy, 27 B S...

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Commission Meeting Summary 1-11-2022: Grant PUD commission districts shuffled to reflect population growth

Voters east and south of Moses Lake, in the McConihe Flats area, and in a small part of south Ephrata may have a different Grant PUD commissioner representing them after a redistricting proposal is approved in February. Randalynn Hovland, clerk of the Grant PUD Commission, explained in a presentation to commissioners during a public hearing on Tues...

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Commission Meeting Summary 12-14-2021: Wallen named interim general manager/CEO

Commissioners Tuesday unanimously endorsed Rich Wallen (photo) as interim general manager and CEO of Grant PUD, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Wallen is currently acting general manager and CEO, a post he accepted following Kevin Nordt's decision to step down from the post Dec. 6 to accept a less-demanding role as chief resource officer as he continues tr...

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General Manager Kevin Nordt to step down amid battle with prostate cancer

Haga clic para Español Nordt to take on new role to assure Grant PUD's long-term power supply Grant PUD General Manager and CEO Kevin Nordt will be stepping down at 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 to assume an important but less physically demanding role in helping assure a long-term power supply for Grant PUD customers. Grant PUD Chief Operations Offic...

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Commission Meeting Summary 11-23-2021: 2022 budget Approved with no rate increase

Grant PUD commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved a $285.3 million budget for 2022 that for the third consecutive year includes no electric-rate increase and preserves the utility's financial strength amid a continued high, 4% annual growth rate in the county's demand for electricity. The budget funds key projects providing upgrades to infrastru...

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Commission Summary 11-9-2021: Transmission rates and changes proposed

Staff presented commissioners with a slate of proposed changes to how Grant PUD bills for the power that travels over its transmission lines but doesn't originate from a Grant PUD-owned generation source, like one of its dams. The changes include a proposed Rate Schedule 34 for transmitting federally sourced power for the federal Bureau of Reclamat...

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Commission Meeting 10-26-2021: Wholesale fiber group works to overcome potential challenges securing materials

Wholesale fiber group works to overcome potential challenges securing materials As the expansion of Grant PUD's fiber-optic network continues, the Wholesale Fiber Group anticipates future challenges in the amount of lead-time needed to secure materials. Supply chains for fiber-optic cable and other fiber-related materials are expected to be tight t...

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Terry Pyle sworn in as Grant PUD commissioner for District No. 2

Haga clic para Español EPHRATA, Wash. – Terry Pyle, of Moses Lake, took office on Tuesday, Oct. 26 as the representative for District No. 2 Pyle, an economics instructor for Big Bend Community College, was selected unanimously on Oct. 12 by the four current members of the commission as the top pick to fill the open position. The District ...

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