Centralia City Light Repairs to Yelm Hydro Project Remain in Progress (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CENTRALIA) – Centralia City Light is forced into purchasing more expensive power for a little while longer than expected.  A sinkhole repair project that knocked the Yelm hydroelectric project offline now won’t be finished until the middle of next week.  Officials had hoped it would be finished by now.  The entire cost – including the additional BPA power – could cost City Light around $300,000. A reserve account is being used to cover the bills.  Whether that will need to be passed along to customers later down the road in the form of rate hike still has yet to be seen.  The diversion dam provides up to one-third of Centralia’s power.