COUNTY BRIEFS

PUD 3 rate increase coming

Mason PUD 3 is increasing rates starting March 1, 2024. Residential customers will see a 6% energy rate hike. This will mean about $14 more per month, using 2,000 kWh as the average, according to PUD.

Small commercial rates will go up 3%, large commercial 1.5%, industrial 3% and cannabis will see a 3% rise in demand rates. All customers will pay an additional 10 cents for daily system charges.

PUD said the increase was needed to replace aging infrastructure, and costs for all equipment “have dramatically increased,” according to a news release.

PUD 3’s 2024 budget anticipates about $3.1 million more in the cost of materials.

This was the first year the Low-Income Energy Assistance Surcharge appeared on customer bills, PUD said, and that charge is also expected to increase about 33 cents a month starting Jan. 1.

The money raised through the program have helped more than 3,000 families so far in 2023, according to PUD.