Puget Sound Energy representatives watched what used to be a formality postponed by the Board of Island County Commissioners Monday when the triumvirate opted to hold off on renewing the company’s franchise.
A South Whidbey group called “People for Yes on Whidbey PUD” that earlier submitted a resolution to the commissioners has been scrambling to gather enough petition signatures to put the formation of a public utility district to a vote in the November election.
David Metheny, the group’s campaign director, beseeched the commissioners to hold off on granting the PSE the franchise based on what he called “high rates” and “poor service.” The area covered by the franchise encompasses all Whidbey Island rights-of-way.
Steve Erickson, known for his involvement with the Whidbey Environmental Action Network but speaking as a citizen, said in the face of a 12 percent proposed rate hike and the possibility of the regulated monopoly selling to foreign investors, a franchise should be contingent on improved service.
“That’s leverage we have over the corporation,” he said of the board’s options. “It’s the only leverage we have to get better service.”
Other PUD advocates agreed that the energy company should demonstrate its improvement in service and quantify its progress in hanging tree wire and undergrounding lines.
Meeting attendees supporting a PUD recommended renewing the franchise for one year rather than 20, removing one possible barrier should the PUD plan come to fruition.
The commissioners maintained that a franchise of one year or 20 years would be a moot issue if the PUD movement was successful. Dom Amor, PSE local government and community relations manager, said long-term franchises are necessary to help build similarly long-term working relationships. A truncated franchise opens the company and county up to vagaries and cuts down on reaction time.
Addressing the implications that PSE has been non-responsive during power outages, Amor emphatically stated that the company stands by its performance and always welcomes public dialogue.
“Any time we had a problem, we addressed it,” he said.
Kit Maret, PSE consulting engineer and a 17-year Whidbey resident, said the “duration and frequency” of interruptions, which serve as benchmarks for the company, are available by county at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission’s Web site at wutc.wa.gov.
Commissioner John Dean asked Metheny how the group would acquire PSE’s equipment. The Clinton resident said it is a two-year process, during which time an engineer performs a study to value the assets. In the end it comes down to negotiations or condemnation, he said.
Dean said although he supports the PUD concept, he did not think it appropriate to support one or the other.
Metheny was confident the “strongly organized group” will gather the 2,392 signatures needed from registered voters by July 4 to get the issue on the ballot.
“The people deserve an opportunity to be heard,” he said.
Commissioner Phil Bakke said the board was advised by the county prosecutor that in order to apply or modify regulations of a franchise, it must address public safety.
Addressing the plausibility of undergrounding wires and transmission lines, the numbers he presented were cost prohibitive for the county in any quantity.
“There’s no free lunch,” he said. “Who pays for this?
“I worked the budget and there’s no way we can afford it,” McDowell said, adding that getting on the November ballot was “pretty ambitious.”
Dean wondered out loud if the county could hold off on renewing the franchise for a year to see how the PUD issue shakes out. Both McDowell and Bakke were loath to consider the option until the legalities were clearly spelled out.
The board ultimately voted to continue the issue until June 16 at 10:15 a.m. in the commissioners’ hearing room in Coupeville.
Written public comments will be accepted until June 12. Comments should be sent to the County Commissioners at P.O. Box 5000 Coupeville, WA 98239, by email at BICC@co.island.wa.us or to Public Works at billo@co.island.wa.us.
