Lewis County PUD Proposes Rate Increase (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

(CHEHALIS, WA) -- Lewis County PUD held the first of two public hearings on a proposed rate increase on Tuesday.  If the increase is approved, an average home using 1,400 kilowatt hours a month would see a monthly increase of about $8 beginning June 1.  PUD officials say a projected BPA increase in power and transmission rates effective October 1 and a projected reduction in surplus sales revenues due to declining wholesale power prices are contributing factors to the proposed rate increase.  Another public hearing on the proposed rate increase will be held next Tuesday at Lewis County PUD’s regular board meeting in Chehalis.