Douglas PUD Rates Increasing

Douglas PUD customers will be paying more in 2017 and beyond. At Monday's meeting, the Commission approved a $3 increase in the monthly general service charge. Beginning January 1, 2017 the rate will go from $10 to $13 per month.

According to Public Information Officer Meaghan Vibbert, the increase was needed because a block of surplus power was no longer available for the PUD to sell. Also, there were some infrastructure issues that needed to be addressed. Both of those contributed to the need to increase the rates.

Another future increase was also approved at Monday's meeting. The general service charge will go up again the following year. Starting January 1, 2018 the rate will bump up to $15 per month. Vibbert says they have heard from customers that they would prefer a staggered increase over a larger one.