“Strong relationships lead to good outcomes” – PUD General Manager Steve Wright

Information released by Chelan County PUD

WENATCHEE, WASH. – Chelan County PUD has earned extraordinarily high marks for working collaboratively, according to key organizations that work with the PUD (at 0:03 on the board meeting audio).

“What’s remarkable is how satisfied the stakeholders were,” said Joel Rasmussen of Bourke Business Intelligence, a Texas-based firm that conducted the survey. “We’ve been doing this for 30 years, and these are the highest scores we’ve seen for a public utility, and among the highest we’ve seen for any type of organization.”

Every two years since 2014, the PUD has asked its key partners about their top concerns, and how well the PUD works with them to address those issues. This year’s results were presented to PUD commissioners today.

“Strong relationships lead to good outcomes,” PUD General Manager Steve Wright said. “We started with good results in 2014, and we continue to make progress in terms of working with people to understand their concerns and find ways to have a mutually agreeable path forward.”

Bourke Business Intelligence interviewed people at nearly 60 organizations, including state, federal, city, county, and school officials.

The assessment showed that the PUD ranked highest for staff interaction, communications and public programs, such as fiber service, energy conservation and environmental stewardship. Overall, 96 percent of the partners said they were satisfied with the PUD, with 73 percent reporting that they were “extremely satisfied.”

“I want to appreciate the leadership of our staff at the PUD,” PUD Commissioner Steve McKenna said. “I see the efforts of our staff for continuous human performance improvement.”

In other business, the commission:

  • Received an update on projected electricity use by PUD customers, including information on housing developments, commercial building, substation construction plans and options for PUD recovery of the costs of meeting the growing needs in Chelan County.
  • Received updates on a potential battery system in Stehekin, interactions with the National Parks Service and upcoming community meetings to address growing power needs in the rural community.
  • Heard information about the PUD’s COVID-19 customer support plans, which ensure no late fees are assessed, disconnections are temporarily suspended and payment arrangement plans are available.
  • Was updated about community Wi-Fi hotspots. There are now 13 PUD-supported hotspots that provide free connections for customers without internet access.
  • Celebrated two recent PUD honors: the “100 Best Fleets” award for its vehicle fleet program (1:43) and a communications “Best of Show” award for the utility’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan.

Upcoming events:

  • July 13-July 16 – Repaving detours at Walla Walla Point Park
  • July 20 – Commission meeting, 10 a.m., boardroom
  • 3 – Commission meeting, 10 a.m., boardroom
  • 11 – Tri-Commission meeting, 1-3 p.m. (virtual meeting)

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The next regular PUD commission meeting is at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 20, in the boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave. The public is welcome to attend remotely in accordance with the latest guidance from the state Department of Health.

Chelan PUD records most commission meetings, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org. Find us at Facebook.com/ChelanPUD and follow us on Twitter @ChelanPUD.

 Here for you, providing the best for the most for the longest – chelanpud.org