Creating a public utility district (PUD) is like creating a port district — once it is done it cannot be undone. Commissioners of both types of entities can do pretty much whatever they want without public input, oversight or control. An individual commissioner can be voted out of office or be recalled, but the quasi-governmental PUD goes on forever.

The fact that Puget Sound Energy may be owned by a foreign company is a cause for concern but that doesn’t mean that the company is free to raise rates at will. PSE will still be subject to the same controls that it is now: review/approval of proposed rate increase requests by the state Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Sometimes it is better to live with the devil you know than to exchange him for one you don’t know. We should reject the proposal for a Whidbey Island PUD on Nov. 4.

James K. Johnston, Ed.D.

Oak Harbor