PORT TOWNSEND — A Puget Sound Energy-fueled political action group is opposing a measure that would allow the Jefferson County Public Utility District to provide electrical power to county customers.
Strategies 360, a Seattle political consulting firm, has formed Citizens Against Proposition 1.
Karen Waters, senior vice president of communications with Strategies 360, said that PSE, which now provides power service to most of East Jefferson County, is the sole contributor behind Citizens Against Proposition 1.
Proposition 1 will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
If passed, it will give Jefferson County PUD — which now provides water and sewer service in East Jefferson County — the authority to also provide electrical service.
State Public Disclosure Commission documents show that PSE has contributed $40,000 to Jefferson County Citizens Against Proposition 1
“I wanted to stress it’s not ratepayers money,” Waters said.
Waters said that Jefferson County Citizens Against Proposition 1 was created to show the cost of PUD power service.
“If you approve it, you are giving Jefferson PUD a lot of power,” she said.
It has the potential of putting county voters “in a heck of a lot of debt,” she added.