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NEWPORT — Pend Oreille Public Utility District Commissioners went along with staff recommendations and approved $12,500 funding for the Neighbors in Need Program at the regular commission meeting Tuesday, April 1.
The requirement for a shut off notice to receive help was removed, so low-income electric customers with a household income at or below 80% of the area median income or 200% of the federal poverty level can get a $250 grant towards their electric bill once every two years. For a one-person household 80% of the area median income is $40,320, for two people $46,080 and $51,840 for three-person household.
Commissioners also raised the monthly senior discount to $10, up from $5 a month. That’s for people aged 65 and older.
Commissioners also established a veteran discount for honorably discharged veterans of $10 per month. There is no age or income requirement for the veteran’s discount, but people can’t use both the senior discount and the veteran’s discount. They must choose one or the other.
Commissioners also set a one-time fee of $100 to opt out of advanced metering and a $30 monthly fee to have the meter manually read four times a year — $360 a year plus the one-time $100.
In last week’s PUD story, The Miner incorrectly reported that the fee was recommended to be $30 per manual read, which would have been $120 a year. Electric usage will be estimated for the months the meter is not manually read for those who opt out of advanced metering.
Commissioners approved adjustments to electric system line extension fees. These fees, which are updated annually, apply only to new customer connections and are separate from existing customers’ electric usage rates.
The PUD Board also approved the installation of a fee for the PUD’s Metaline Falls electric vehicle charging station. The rate will include a $1 per session fee and a $0.47 per kilowatt-hour energy charge. The PUD currently operates two EV charging stations: one in Newport (sponsored by the Newport Chamber of Commerce) and one in Metaline Falls (currently unsponsored).
In other PUD business the Board accepted the high bid of $8,523.72 for the PUD’s surplus 2007 Ford F-150 Crew Cab truck.
