Meaghan Vibbert
Public Information Officer
(509) 881-2221
News Release – August 18, 2026
Douglas County PUD Commissioners Molly Simpson, Aaron J. Viebrock and Ronald E. Skagen executed the following actions during the August 18, 2026 Commission meeting held at the District’s Bridgeport office:
Recognized Lolly Brown, Auditor, for 20 years of service to the District. Commissioner Simpson thanked Lolly on behalf of the citizens of Douglas County for her many years of service. Lolly thanked the Commission and said “Twenty years has given me the opportunity to witness a great deal of change, but also to recognize what matters enough to carry with you. I am grateful for the people, experiences and lessons that have been part of the journey and for the opportunity to serve the community. Through it all, I have tried to remain true to the values that have guided my work from the beginning, integrity, accuracy and accountability to our ratepayers.”
Approved renewal of Land Use Permit 722-03 for Elite Eight Estates HOA, authorizing continued use of Project lands for an existing community boat dock and pathway. (26-062)
Authorized a Professional Service Agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation’s History/Archaeology Program for archaeological monitoring of 25 sites at the Wells Hydroelectric Project, at a cost not to exceed $112,986. (26-063)
Authorized a $34,555,000 loan from the District’s Electric Distribution System Capital Project Revolving Loan Fund to the Wells Hydroelectric Project, to fund the September 1, 2026 call of the 2010A bonds. (26-064)
Approved revisions to Customer Service Policies for the Electric Distribution System and Withrow Water System, and established new Customer Service Policies for the Douglas County Community Network. (26-065)
Authorized an Amended Interconnection and Service Agreement with Salcido Enterprises, LLC, allowing the company to secure energy at through a third-party supplier. (26-066)
Authorized Change Order No. 4 to Contract 25-12-D-BID with Haskell Corporation, Hydrogen Fueling and Fuel Cell Generator with Storage Project. This change authorizes modification to existing storage, compression and filling equipment to accommodate the new electrolyzer equipment. The change order totals $110,389.99 bringing the contract’s not-to-exceed amount to $1,498,636.07. (26-067)
Received the preliminary budgets for the Distribution System, Hydrogen Production and Wells Hydroelectric Project for calendar year 2027.
The preliminary Distribution System budget includes a previously approved rate adjustment. The average residential customer would see an increase of around $3 per month, small commercial would increase an average of $6.40 per month. Working capital is expected to increase $128 million. The preliminary capital budget is $45.2 million, of which $34.9 million is for electrical facilities. The balance of capital spending is for the new connections to the Douglas County Community Network and new equipment.
The preliminary Hydrogen Production budget includes initial startup and operations projections with a capital budget of $10.5 million which includes a refueling, fuel cell generation and storage and waste water systems.
Wells Project Revenue Budget estimate is equal to the Operating Expense Budget at $81 million. The preliminary Capital Budget totals $56 million. Major items include generating unit refurbishment, Spillway Bulkhead maintenance, GUS Transformer replacement and crane bus replacement.
A budget hearing will be opened on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 and held open until Tuesday, December 1, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. in the East Wenatchee office.
The next regular meeting of the Commission is scheduled for September 1, 2026 at the District’s East Wenatchee Office.