Transmission line between Okanogan and Ophir substations energized

OKANOGAN - The transmission line between Okanogan and Ophir substations has been energized, 19 months after it was destroyed in the Cold Springs Wildfire.

The board of Okanogan County PUD commissioners heard the announcement at their April 11 meeting.

About 40 percent of the line was destroyed when the wildfire came through in September 2020, but the PUD decided to proactively upgrade the entire transmission line. The wooden poles have been replaced with steel structures and equipment has been upgraded as needed to allow for greater capacity.

Crews will continue working on the Ophir-Brewster portion of the line, expecting completion early this summer. The total cost of the project has been estimated at $13 million. The PUD expects about $4.6 million in repayments from FEMA, but only about $200,000 of that has been paid so far.

In other business April 11, the board heard a financial report for 2021, showing a total of $62.5 million in revenue over the year, $45.1 million in expenses, $4.3 million in debt service, and $17.2 million in capital expenditures. The PUD ended the year within key performance indicators and anticipates official audited financial results by the end of May.