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Commission meeting 8-10-2021: A moment of silence to remember Commissioner Dale Walker

Commissioners remembered with kind words and a moment of silence, Commissioner Dale Walker, 75, who died Sunday from complications with lung cancer. He joined the commission in 2011. "We'd like to recognize Dale for his leadership," said Commission President Larry Schaapman. He was an advocate for low-cost public power. He had a tenacity for the ec...

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Grant PUD mourns loss of Commissioner Dale Walker

EPHRATA, Wash. – Grant PUD staff joins the family of Commissioner Dale Walker in mourning his death. Walker, 75, who was serving as a PUD Commissioner since 2011, died on Sunday, Aug. 8, from complications with lung cancer. "We are all very saddened to learn of Dale's passing," stated Grant PUD General Manager Kevin Nordt. "Our thoughts are with hi...

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Commission Meeting 7-27-2021: Fiber expansion and subscriber growth continue to progress

Fiber crews continue expanding Grant PUD's fiber-optic network to customers throughout the remainder of Grant County. Commissioners heard during Tuesday's report that construction efforts are on schedule to see four additional areas completed by the end of the year. Once complete, a total of 19 of the 40 pre-defined expansion areas will be finished...

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Commission Meeting 7-13-2021: Summertime activities and projects heat up around Grant PUD recreation areas

The summer months are always a busy time for the License Compliance and Lands Services Department. So far, this summer is following suit. Several capital projects, efforts to resolve shoreline management issues, permitting and GIS support across the utility along with the continued maintenance and operation of the recreation areas are keeping the g...

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Congressional Lawmakers Call for President Biden to Prioritize Columbia River Treaty Negotiations

Northwest Congressional Delegations identifies the Treaty as a critical economic and clean energy issue EPHRATA, Wash - Congressional leaders from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana are urging President Biden to enlist a "top-level White House led strategy" to ensure efforts to modernize the Columbia River Treaty between the United States and C...

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Commission recap 6-22-2021: Security upped as campsites filled to the brim

Grant PUD has increased its security patrols this season to keep visitors safe, as bookings for Grant PUD campsites have reached capacity or near capacity through October, Security Manager Fallon Long told commissioners. Campsites are already fully reserved through October on weekends, Long said, and are currently at about 85% reserved on weekdays....

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Commission recap 6-08-2021: Equipment Upgrades to Benefit Grant PUD’s Fish Counting Efforts

Seasonal field work is well underway for Grant PUD's Fish and Wildlife Department and with the help of the appropriate safety protocols, more project area work is taking place this year compared to last year due to the impacts of the pandemic. Fish and Wildlife Manger, Tom Dresser highlighted the department's efforts on a comprehensive review analy...

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Customer Question: Why are Grant PUD offices closed?

Haga clic para Español Maintaining our life-sustaining power and essential fiber services is a top priority that requires the health and safety of highly trained workers. We closely monitor the threat of COVID to these employees. One of the most effective precautions is closing our offices to public access and having employees in support ...

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Commission recap 5-25-2021: First-quarter financials hold relatively firm to forecast

Grant PUD's 2021 adjusted forecast for total expenditures and net operating income remain largely on track through March, commissioners learned Tuesday, amid projections for stronger-then-forecast revenues from wholesale power sales, but a decline in net income. Total expenditures this year are now forecast at $278.3 million, only slightly below th...

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Commission recap 5-11-2021: Commissioners want more detail about proposed facilities upgrades

Commissioners Tuesday asked staff for more information to substantiate $24.61 million needed to upgrade Grant PUD's aged service centers in Ephrata and Moses Lake. The investment is intended to make critical improvements to extend the buildings' useful lives for approximately 7 to 10 years. Grant PUD service centers contain shops, office space and ...

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Commission recap 4-27-2021: Wholesale fiber on track to meet 2021 priorities

Expanding and maintaining Grant PUD's fiber-optic network does not come without challenges along the way. However, despite the various hurdles Senior Manager of Wholesale Fiber, Russ Brethower told Commissioners that the fiber system is "looking good." Brethower updated the Commission regarding the group's 2021 priorities. Priorities include upgrad...

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Region honors Grant PUD employees with two prestigious awards

EPHRATA – A former Grant PUD executive and the Emergency Response Team at Wanapum Dam have been honored by the Northwest Public Power Association with prestigious awards. Kevin Marshall, former Chief Operations Officer at Grant PUD with more than 43 years of experience in civil, structural, and in-water engineering, received the 2021 Milt...

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Commission recap 4-13-2021: Busy year — and recreation season — ahead

Grant PUD's old Lands and Recreation Department inaugurated a new name just after the first of the year and is gearing up for a busy recreation season, department manager Shannon Lowry told commissioners. The "License Compliance & Lands Service Department" now has a name that better reflects its expanded duties related to federal license compli...

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Energy Northwest, Grant County PUD and X-energy announce TRi Energy Partnership

Desplácese hacia abajo para español RICHLAND, Wash. – Today, Energy Northwest, Grant County Public Utility District and X-energy, LLC signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a mutual partnership to support the development and commercial demonstration of the country's first advanced nuclear reactor. The partners will collaborate and share ...

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Commission recap 3-23-2021 (Tue): Grant PUD helps customers impacted by COVID-19

With the passing of the one-year mark since the start of the pandemic, Grant PUD is getting a clearer view of the impact COVID-19 has had on its customers' ability to stay current on their Grant PUD bill. Senior Manager of Customer Solutions, Terry McKenzie said that based on the past due amounts it appears, residential customers have felt the impa...

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Commission recap 3-23-2021: Grant PUD helps customers impacted by COVID-19

With the passing of the one-year mark since the start of the pandemic, Grant PUD is getting a clearer view of the impact COVID-19 has had on its customers' ability to stay current on their Grant PUD bill. Senior Manager of Customer Solutions, Terry McKenzie said that based on the past due amounts it appears, residential customers have felt the impa...

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Commission Meeting Recap 3-9-2021: Grant PUD's fish and wildlife prepare for a busy season

Grant PUD's Fish and Wildlife Department is beginning to ramp up for its core seasonal field work which will begin in the upcoming weeks. Fish and Wildlife Manager, Tom Dresser said although impacts of the pandemic led to delays in some of the department's planned capital projects last year, he is optimistic that 2021 will provide a better situatio...

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Commission Meeting Recap 2-23-2021: Changes coming for irrigation deposit procedures

Commissioners heard about an internal procedural change impacting irrigation customers. From year-to-year an irrigation customer may rotate fields or parcels of land they lease. As a result, before each growing season many irrigation customers need to request service from Grant PUD, for any new locations they will be operating during the upcoming y...

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Grant PUD Announces Fiber build-out areas for 2021

Desplácese hacia abajo para español EPHRATA – Grant PUD Commissioners renewed their commitment to the build-out of Grant PUD's fiber optic network during the Jan. 26 commission meeting. In 2021, Grant PUD strives to expand fiber and/or complete construction to the following areas: Cave B and Beverly Burke areas west of GeorgeSouthwest of Ephrata al...

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Commission recap 2-9-2021: Grant PUD projected to end 2020 below budget amid COVID impacts

— Grant PUD ended 2020 with capital and operations-and-maintenance combined spending $9.9 million below the 2020 budget of $267.7 million, as precautions required of the COVID-19 pandemic slowed expected capital and other work across the utility. Capital spending is projected to end the year at $98.1 million, below budget by $7.2 million. COVID pre...

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