East Jefferson voters to decide on electricity future: PSE or PUD
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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This will be the question placed before voters in PSE's service territory — East Jefferson County except Brinnon — on the same election day the nation decides the next president.
The Jefferson County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Monday setting the Nov. 4 election.
The measure will give voters a chance to decide if the PUD should have the authority to purchase infrastructure and provide electric service as PSE's franchise runs out.
The county commissioners handed the passed resolution to Deputy Civil Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez for legal ballot wording.
Alvarez has until Aug. 12 to return the ballot wording to Auditor Donna Eldridge to print on the ballots.
"It's time to respect the petitioners and put it on the ballot," said County Commissioner David Sullivan, who was PUD commissioner before he was elected to the county board four years ago.
Petition signatures
Steve Hamm, a chief supporter of PUD power authority and who along with members of the group Citizens for Local Power gathered the legal number of petition signatures to request the election, said the group will await the ballot wording before launching its campaign.
Hamm said the group was to meet with representatives of Puget Sound Energy and the elected PUD commissioners this week to learn more about power authority.
PSE officials have already said they will fight the PUD's takeover of their service and facilities, and Hamm said his group would meet in Port Townsend with PSE on Wednesday to learn about PSE's opposition.
"We're eager to find what they have for us," Hamm said.
Witnessing the county commissioners' action Monday, Terry Oxley, PSE director of community services, said the Bellevue-based utility company supports the process.
Certified signers
The county auditor's elections division certified that of 2,169 petition signatures presented by Citizens for Local Power in mid-June, 1,650 valid registered-voter signatures were certified.
PUD Commissioners Dana Roberts and Wayne King, who also attended Monday's county commissioners meeting, expressed support for taking the question to the voters.
"I'm looking forward to hearing from the public," King said.
Jefferson PUD now provides water and sewage service in East Jefferson County outside the city of Port Townsend.
If it gains power authority, it would provide electricity inside the city limit.
By signing with Bonneville Power Administration by December, the PUD would receive preferential power rates given to existing industrial customers, BPA officials said.
Puget Sound Energy representatives, who are expected to release study findings this week, have said they will legally challenge any attempt by PUD to take over power service in the county.
The company serves more than 17,400 electricity customers in East Jefferson County.
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 28. 2008 9:00PM