The increase will become effective with all meter readings on and after May 1, 2001. The action followed a public meeting on rates prior to the regular meeting. The PUD has been studying rates for the past two months in response to anticipated impacts of the regional power crisis. The increase will be in the form of a 15 percent surcharge across all customer classes. The rate hike is one part of a five-step program by the PUD to deal with surging power costs.
More information is available here.