In November, I wrote to our PUD requesting that it not assess $2 from customers for charity purposes to benefit customers who do not budget for winter heating costs. Since PUD knows who most needy customers are each winter, they have a business obligation to require that those users make average monthly payments throughout the year. I also attended the PUD Nov. 10 public meeting and advised them that the monthly state average residential cost for 1,000 kWh was $88, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. This is significantly less than PUD’s proposed increase.

Over three years ago, our area voted in favor of having the PUD explore the purchase of Puget Sound Energy assets. Our PUD was not mandated to run a slush fund for the poor, but to run a business; hopefully well. If I wish to contribute to help others, I will direct money to charities where I can benefit from a tax write-off. Needy customers can also petition charities for assistance and hopefully get money management counseling as well.

When our PUD purchased this system at about double the estimated cost, we were told our rates would be at the PSE rate or lower, since our PUD was able to purchase energy at a lower cost than the for-profit PSE. PUD now proposes raising rates by over 7 percent after they publicly announced 5.7 percent. PUD also paid a consultant to give them peer information available online or by phone for a few hours of administrative time. Since the proposed new rates are higher than the PSE’s winter rate (and PSE offers a 5 percent senior discount), does this mean others are managing their utility better than our PUD? I challenge our PUD to improve management and not raise our rates above those of PSE.

JUDITH WALLS

Port Ludlow