Commissioner opposes Douglas PUD proposed rate increases

WENATCHEE – Douglas County Commissioner Kyle Steinburg issued an open letter earlier this month expressing his opposition to a proposed utility rate increases proposed by the Douglas County PUD for a subgroup of customers who use in excess of 50,000 kilowatt hours a month. That high-use group is typically the cryptocurrency miners, data centers, agriculture warehouses and large industrial clients.

“As a Douglas County Commissioner, I feel it is important that you understand that the data center make up 9 of the 10 largest contributors on a tax basis to Douglas County,” writes Steinburg. “I personally, as well as my fellow commissioners support suspending any action that lends itself to higher rates until a more accumulative and inclusive study and conversation can be performed.”

Steinburg questions the timing of public meetings related to the rate increases being held on Dec. 23, close to the Christmas holiday and “the lack of cooperation and inclusion of other agencies that will be drastically affected by a PUD rate increase.”

Steinburg adds that the commissioners have worked hard to create a “business friendly environment that is open and primed for new commercial, industrial and residential development.” 

Steinburg said he believes that such an increase would work against the commissioners’ pro-business efforts noting that “it would be extremely detrimental to the residents of Douglas County to have a rate or business plan from the PUD disenfranchise existing businesses and discourage new business.”

Steinburg listed the primary beneficiaries to taxes collected from data centers.

1.       2,569,044 general taxes collected

2.       1,008,859 Douglas County

3.       1,353,102 Douglas County road district

4.       1,131,434 Douglas County Fire District

5.       2,825,450 Eastmont School District