The project has been in the works since the early 2000s. Pacific County PUD explained the work that has already been completed, which includes: the purchase of a power transformer in 2002, installed in 2004 ($386,355.20); an agreement with Bonneville in March 2002 for the tap of the 115 kV BPA Raymond to Willapa River transmission line ($114,469); the completion of 4.5 miles of 115 kV transmission line from the BPA tap through Baleville, along SR 105, by Moza Construction ($792,143.35); the purchase of 2 acres of land for the Tokeland substation just east of SR 105 and Tokeland Road in 2006 ($165,804.25). The PUD explained that the total funds invested in the project as of June 2013 totaled approximately $1.8 million.
The PUD estimates that the total cost for the project will be $16-$18 million and will be paid for in bonds.
Pacific County PUD General Manager Doug Miller explained that the bond payments have already been integrated into current rates: “We had a cost of service study by a consultant before we changed rates in 2001. So, in that cost of service study, there is a debt payment in existing rates on an annual basis to pay that off. . . That’s why rates won’t have to be changed.”
Miller explained that the PUD would upgrade and repair current infrastructure. “We have plans to replace all the overhead that’s in Tokeland down Toke Road, the side road, with underground. . . It’s scheduled for 2015.”
Some residents questioned the accuracy of the estimated cost, considering the PUD doesn’t know how much the cost of buying out Grays Harbor will be. Miller explained that he came up with the estimate “based on working with the industry for 35 years and just knowing how the facilities are down here and how old they are.”
One attendee protested the lack of knowledge on the price of buying out Grays Harbor: “If I was on the commission and I had this question about what it’s going to cost to buy this particular area, and I’d already increased my rates to pay the bonds so I’m already getting $1.5 million extra a year from my ratepayers, I think one of the first things I would do would be to get that appraiser hired, get a contract with Grays Harbor PUD.”
An older resident of the area questioned what he could do to stop the transfer: “If the majority of the commission decides that yes, they are going to provide power to Tokeland, North Cove, and Grayland, do the citizens of Tokeland, the ratepayers, the people that pay the damn bill, do we have any recourse other than turn off our electricity? Can we stop it? Is there any way, shape, or form, that any of you commissioners know a way that we can actually stop it if we choose to? I’m not even here with a premade plan. I’m here to actually be convinced by you gentlemen and ladies: that I’m going to get a whole hell of a lot better service in Tokeland; that these agricultural users are not going to get raped with new rates; and that the intent of you people is to actually help the public.”
Many people questioned if Grays Harbor could simply improve the current infrastructure. One gentleman asked: “If you don’t run the power from Pacific County, now does that mean that we’re going to get decent power from Grays Harbor because they’re going to have to spend some money to redo everything down in Tokeland? If you call them up and ask them why the power’s out: ‘oh, it was a squirrel chewing on the line, and the line’s broken, and a bird flew into it.’. . They say that the average power outage in Grays Harbor County was 60 minutes; they’re full of bulldung, because it’s usually three hours and that’s even from Grays Harbor, to get the guys down here in the trucks. Most of you guys, you don’t have a clue what goes on down in Tokeland. We’re out of power and if you don’t have a generator, then you’re screwed.”
The representative in the Cranberry Association explained why the infrastructure in the area is unreliable: “I’ve been meeting the Grays Harbor PUD since the mid-90s, and I’ve got to say that the commissioners there have been wonderful to work with and so has the staff. In the 90s, there were a number of problems that we’d identified on the list to be upgraded. . . But it was while they were in the process of [determining the upgrades for the area] that the discussion of Pacific County taking over came up and they decided that there was no point in investing what they’d budgeted for improving us if it wasn’t going to meet Pacific County’s needs. . . There was this just moving finish line and I’d go back to Grays Harbor and say, “Look, we’re having trouble with the lines down here, what’s going on?” and they’d say, “Well, we had this plan but we can’t really implement it until we know what Pacific County is doing.” So, part of the reliability issues that you’re seeing down in Tokeland are directly related with that, that this whole area has been kind of sitting in limbo while Grays Harbor and Pacific County PUDs try to figure out who owns us. So from that standpoint, I’m really looking forward to just getting any kind of resolution if someone will take ownership. Not that Grays Harbor hasn’t come in when we’ve had serious [issues]; they’ve done some upgrades, but they’ve been small, they’ve been band-aids. There are big issues that were identified 15 years ago that are just still sitting there unaddressed.”
One lady questioned, “Why do you think what you have is going to be better than what we have now?” Commissioner Diana Thompson answered, “You’re part of Pacific County. . . I do believe that Pacific County provides good service. And you folks are part of the same county that I live in.”
Several people in attendance commented that they were content with service from Grays Harbor PUD. “Grays Harbor PUD has done a good job for us. Are they perfect? No. But they’ve done a good job, they’re there when we need them. . . This area is being serviced and being serviced fairly well already, one man commented.
“My family is plenty happy with the service we have now. I’m not interested in your service, to be honest with you. The part that scares me the most is the fiscal irresponsibility of the decision you’re trying to make with all the ifs, ands, and buts and unanswered questions. . . You have so many questions, so many unanswered questions, it’s scary to think you’ve come this far in the process,” another individual from the area said.
One man said that he was for the transfer: “I live in Tokeland and I’m for electricity to Tokeland. We live in a nightmare. If you don’t have a generator, you don’t have power. We lose thousands of dollars in food for failed freezers and our computers and our brownouts, and contrary to what everybody says, we don’t get good service in Tokeland. So the sooner they can get here, the better.”
A resident questioned if sustainable energy sources have been considered in the proposal: “Has there been any discussion on, could that $18 million be used on some form of working with renewable energy, something that truly brings an ROI back to the people because it truly will reduce those energy costs? . . . You’re already charging people, according to the statements here, debt service for that money to cover that, that’s why our rates aren’t going up. So if you’re already charging and making $1.5 million off those [per year], could those dollars be used elsewhere to reduce overall cost to the end user? And to be quite honest with, preserving the beautiful nature we have here at Pacific County instead of running fiber cables.”
After discussion had ensued for some time, a gentleman proposed to give a show of hand of whom at the meeting was for or against the project. In response, an attendee said: “I’m not ready to say because I still don’t have enough information. There are too many unanswered questions. If Tokeland is as bad off as I hear they are, and then certainly head them up closer to the county line. I’ve never experienced the kind of stuff that you’re talking about, but maybe I get better service than you. I don’t understand enough yet to give a thumbs up or thumbs down in terms of how I feel.”
At the end of the meeting, a woman stood up to comment: “I’m a cranberry grower. I was at a meeting about two years ago and Miller came in and he said, and this is a quote, ‘You cranberry farmers have been getting a free ride too long.’ Do you remember saying that?” Miller responded that he did not. “Well you did. So when I hear you up there talking, right away I’m getting nervous.”
On Monday, September 9th, the PUD board will meet with residents again in Raymond for further discussion.
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