| Revision as of 20:47, 9 January 2011 editDeor (talk | contribs)Administrators158,195 edits rm {{coord missing}}—not a geocodable location← Previous edit | Revision as of 12:33, 22 December 2012 edit undoPowerplay in olympia (talk | contribs)2 edits inserted "most" I am directly a PUD Commissioner which has a taxing assessment on property taxes. In the state of Washington currently only four PUD's have a property tax assessment in the following counties: Jefferson, Kitsap, Skamania and Thurston.Next edit → | ||
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| In the United States, a '''public utility district''' ('''PUD''') is a ] or other ]al ] that provides ] (such as ], ], ], ]/], ] ], ]) to the residents of that district. | In the United States, a '''public utility district''' ('''PUD''') is a ] or other ]al ] that provides ] (such as ], ], ], ]/], ] ], ]) to the residents of that district. | ||
| PUDs are created by a ] body, such as a ], ], or ] service area (two or more communities joining together for public utility purposes). Normally the districts are ]. | PUDs are created by a ] body, such as a ], ], or ] service area (two or more communities joining together for public utility purposes). Normally the districts are ]. | ||
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| PUDs are often governed by a ], which may be appointed or ]. | PUDs are often governed by a ], which may be appointed or ]. | ||
| ]s (]) are similar but have taxation authority while |
]s (]) are similar but have taxation authority whilePUD do not. | ||
| Historically, many of the electric PUDs in the Pacific Northwest were created with the express purpose of taking over the territory served by the investor-owned utility then serving customers within the proposed PUD's territory (and in some cases, the PUD's organizers were the only ones in favor of its creation - elections centering on the creation of a PUD often coming back with a decisive majority in favor of staying with the IOU). The creation of many of these PUDs was also possible due to favorable laws on the books at the time and with the direct assistance of individuals in various federal agencies that were strong proponents of public ownership of electric utilities (such as Dr. Paul J. Raver of Bonneville Power Administration). | Historically, many of the electric PUDs in the Pacific Northwest were created with the express purpose of taking over the territory served by the investor-owned utility then serving customers within the proposed PUD's territory (and in some cases, the PUD's organizers were the only ones in favor of its creation - elections centering on the creation of a PUD often coming back with a decisive majority in favor of staying with the IOU ). The creation of many of these PUDs was also possible due to favorable laws on the books at the time and with the direct assistance of individuals in various federal agencies that were strong proponents of public ownership of electric utilities (such as Dr. Paul J. Raver of Bonneville Power Administration). | ||
| [The last four years has seen 4 counties in Washington State attempt to become publicly-owned electric utilities (Island, Jefferson, Skagit (all in 2008) and the largest was Thurston (2012). Thurston's most recent effort was outspent $38,000 to $550,000 with countless violations of state campaign laws involving the illegal use of employees for campaigning, public relations expenditures for their multiple county service areas being spent mostly in Thurston County and even using their emergency call centers to push poll county residents from afar. Only Jefferson was successful and through negotiation with the IOU and paying the excessive asking price will it begin electrical service on 4/1/13 on time. Oregon has had failed attempts in: its largest city, Portland and in Multnomah (Portland's County), Yamhill and Clackamas Counties. Success came in Lane County (Emerald PUD), further expansion of Columbia PUD and a fairly recent municipalization in Hermiston a decade ago. | |||
| The last creation of a totally new PUD in Washington was in Asotin County (1982) which is principally a water and sewage treatment utility but does have a few electric customers. Gray's Harbor PUD took control over it's last remaining IOU service area (through condemnation) in the town of Oakville at that time. Nebraska is already 100% public power and several municipal efforts have been occurring in California recently as well. | |||
| Battles have been ongoing with the IOU for customers in Kittitas County with Kittitas PUD and potential for further expansion of PUD electrical service also exists in Asotin and Whatcom (Bellingham) Counties without the need for a direct vote. Whatcom PUD is a major industrial water provider and currently provides electrical service to one oil refinery. Some customers in Whatcom County were swiped up there from the IOU next to Blaine by it's Municipal Utility. This county has been getting a great deal of statewide attention recently due to a major proposal for a deep water coal rail terminal at Cherry Point which Whatcom PUD could become a major water provider to. The State's largest environmental organizations have been actively trying to prevent the permitting of this facility which has only some local support from the adjacent small towns. Once the residents of the rest of Whatcom County realize that their public utility is the water provider of this highly unpopular coal-port proposal there may soon be a strong county-wide effort to make the PUD focus in a different direction, even residential electrical service. Finally, in Yakima County which no longer has a PUD, the Yakama Nation (one of the State's largest sized Confederations of Indian Tribes) is attempting to create it's own tribal utility and get access to cheap federal BPA hydro-power while it is still available for them at Tier One rates.] | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Public Utility District}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Public Utility District}} | ||
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Revision as of 12:33, 22 December 2012
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In the United States, a public utility district (PUD) is a special-purpose district or other governmental jurisdiction that provides public utilities (such as electricity, natural gas, sewage treatment, waste collection/management, wholesale telecommunications, water) to the residents of that district.
PUDs are created by a local government body, such as a city, county, or metropolitan service area (two or more communities joining together for public utility purposes). Normally the districts are non-profit.
PUDs are often governed by a commission, which may be appointed or elected.
Municipal Utility Districts (MUD) are similar but have taxation authority whilePUD do not.
Historically, many of the electric PUDs in the Pacific Northwest were created with the express purpose of taking over the territory served by the investor-owned utility then serving customers within the proposed PUD's territory (and in some cases, the PUD's organizers were the only ones in favor of its creation - elections centering on the creation of a PUD often coming back with a decisive majority in favor of staying with the IOU ). The creation of many of these PUDs was also possible due to favorable laws on the books at the time and with the direct assistance of individuals in various federal agencies that were strong proponents of public ownership of electric utilities (such as Dr. Paul J. Raver of Bonneville Power Administration).
[The last four years has seen 4 counties in Washington State attempt to become publicly-owned electric utilities (Island, Jefferson, Skagit (all in 2008) and the largest was Thurston (2012). Thurston's most recent effort was outspent $38,000 to $550,000 with countless violations of state campaign laws involving the illegal use of employees for campaigning, public relations expenditures for their multiple county service areas being spent mostly in Thurston County and even using their emergency call centers to push poll county residents from afar. Only Jefferson was successful and through negotiation with the IOU and paying the excessive asking price will it begin electrical service on 4/1/13 on time. Oregon has had failed attempts in: its largest city, Portland and in Multnomah (Portland's County), Yamhill and Clackamas Counties. Success came in Lane County (Emerald PUD), further expansion of Columbia PUD and a fairly recent municipalization in Hermiston a decade ago. The last creation of a totally new PUD in Washington was in Asotin County (1982) which is principally a water and sewage treatment utility but does have a few electric customers. Gray's Harbor PUD took control over it's last remaining IOU service area (through condemnation) in the town of Oakville at that time. Nebraska is already 100% public power and several municipal efforts have been occurring in California recently as well. Battles have been ongoing with the IOU for customers in Kittitas County with Kittitas PUD and potential for further expansion of PUD electrical service also exists in Asotin and Whatcom (Bellingham) Counties without the need for a direct vote. Whatcom PUD is a major industrial water provider and currently provides electrical service to one oil refinery. Some customers in Whatcom County were swiped up there from the IOU next to Blaine by it's Municipal Utility. This county has been getting a great deal of statewide attention recently due to a major proposal for a deep water coal rail terminal at Cherry Point which Whatcom PUD could become a major water provider to. The State's largest environmental organizations have been actively trying to prevent the permitting of this facility which has only some local support from the adjacent small towns. Once the residents of the rest of Whatcom County realize that their public utility is the water provider of this highly unpopular coal-port proposal there may soon be a strong county-wide effort to make the PUD focus in a different direction, even residential electrical service. Finally, in Yakima County which no longer has a PUD, the Yakama Nation (one of the State's largest sized Confederations of Indian Tribes) is attempting to create it's own tribal utility and get access to cheap federal BPA hydro-power while it is still available for them at Tier One rates.]
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