Lewis County PUD; Expect a 2014 Rate Hike (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CHEHALIS) – After recent rate hikes, Lewis County PUD customers get a break.  No rate increases are planned for next year.  That, however, won’t likely be the case in 2014.  The BPA plans a nearly 10-percent rate hike.  The Lewis County PUD says there’s no way they could absorb such a hit.  Manager Bob Geddes says it doesn’t mean residential customers should expect to see the entire rate hike to be passed along, but at least some of it will be reflected later in local power bills.  Both the Lewis County PUD and Centralia Light get the majority of their power from the federal power broker.