The question of whether the Skagit Public Utility District should attempt to take over Puget Sound Energy’s electric power system in Skagit County is a long way from settled. But there is no question that the PUD faces the bigger challenge in making its case.

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Don Johnson pointed out that there were two threads for this same topic. In my attempt to merge the thread, I accidently deleted both, along with all the responses. However, I was able to recreate and include them below. Sorry if this has caused any inconvenience.

Posted by Jo Roark:

I was surprised to hear all the negativity from SVH with regard to PUD taking over our electricity. they should take it over, its a whole lot better then purchasing electricity from a company that is owned by another country. I guess you call it loyalty, and if it costs more, so be it..

Posted by Don Johnson:

It’s okay, Jo. We’re just one big happy globalist family! Who ever heard of resources being owned by the people? Don’t you want private corporate interests telling you what you need, want, and should have?

Posted by walker

Thanks to the Herald for a thoughful editorial on a challenging issue.

The usual kneejerk reaction to a proposal like the PUD’s is to agree and ask questions later.  Trust us, the government folks say.  That’s the kind of thinking that PUDs in this state used to bring the ill-fated Washington Public Power Supply System debacle to fruition, leading to the largest public bond default in US history.  They said the power from all those nuclear plants would be “too cheap to meter.” Except they had no idea what they were doing.

Government takeover of Puget Sound Energy’s electrical distribution in Skagit County could end up being a financial nightmare.

Skagit PUD does not seem to me like the organization to put blind faith in, given that they’re having so much trouble doing what they are already supposed to do.

Posted by Jo Roark:

Why would anyone want our electrical company sold to a company in another country? Whats wrong with this picture? Nearly everything we own and everything we buy comes from other countries. More and more companies hire representatives from other countries, taking jobs from Americans. Where does it all end.
I commend the PUD commissioners for asking the public what they want and they listened. Finally, an organization that cares about the people of Skagit County. Lets keep our companies where they belong, in the good ole U.S. of A

Posted by Jo Roark:

If fluoride ends up in the water then I will have to make arrangements for another source of water, now what will I have to do put up a freakin’ windmill in my yard??

Posted by Lee_USA:

The Public Commons should...in fact MUST....be owned by the Public. Not by private, for profit entities. Private company’s shareholders only want to see increasing dividends pay-outs at the expense of consumers. A Publicly held utility has one goal....to ensure that power is reliable and secure while expenses are contained. Our Public water, roads, bridges, police, fire departments and POWER need to be run by PUBLIC entities.

Posted by Don Johnson:

Walker seems to be a little confused and appears to have an axe to grind. The direction of a Public Utility District is determined by the ratepayers, who just happen to be the government — as in “We the People.” The term “government takeover” in this case is then misleading at best.

As Jo points out, the PUD Commissioners are far more approachable and open about the way they conduct business than are county or city agencies. I suggest that if Walker has some advice for the PUD Commissioners, he or she attend one of their weekly meetings and provide them with enlightenment. The meetings take place on Tuesdays, beginning at 4:30 PM in the Aqua Room at the PUD Building at 1415 Freeway Drive in Mount Vernon.

Posted by Don Johnson:

Does anyone know why this editorial has two separate page locations and two distinct discussion forums? A “quest for power,” perhaps?

Happy Monday, Patrick!

The Public Commons should...in fact MUST....be owned by the Public. Not by private, for profit entities. Private company’s shareholders only want to see increasing dividends pay-outs at the expense of consumers. A Publicly held utility has one goal....to ensure that power is reliable and secure while expenses are contained. Our Public water, roads, bridges, police, fire departments and POWER need to be run by PUBLIC entities.

Have a great day, Patrick :coolsmile:

While I understand the “public commons” argument, the logical extension of that is that ALL services should be owned by the government.  As in socialism in every aspect of our lives.  Don’s logic is that all government is “we the people,” but in practice that is far from the case.  Are all our courts really reflective of “we the people?” Is state government?  Given the bitter debate over fluoridation, are the PUD and the county commissioners?

A PUD brings decision-making closer to the people, at least every four years during commissioner elections, but that did not stop elected commissioners from marching ahead with WPPSS which, by the way, I don’t see any of you pro-PUD-takeover folks defending.

The fact of the matter is, if Skagit PUD had been providing electrical service 50-70 years ago, the local control that folks are pining for would be a reality and could be a good thing.  But initiating that kind of effort today is a multi-million-dollar gamble that, given the fate of similar efforts, is very unlikely to succeed. 

On the other hand, in the unlikely event that it is successful, it would most certainly result in significant rate and tax increases in Skagit County. 

The current PUD administration is only too happy to take that gamble, since most of the money won’t be coming out of their pockets and this is a chance, they hope, to build their empire. 

But given the experience of other areas that have gone through this only to find out, after significant dollars have been spent, that it doesn’t pencil out and may never come to fruition, the citizens of Skagit County need to ask themselves, how much are they willing to see their PUD spend on a quest that may be nothing more than a dry hole?

Walker
Since courts are corporate they do not reflect “We the People” unless you are in an article 7 court or go to court Sui Juris
Unfortunately, there are people that would rather get their power from companies owned by other countries. Nearly everything we own is produced my other countries, from the clothes on our back to the cars that we drive, we are being sold out and no one seems to notice.
I think you underestimate the PUD commissioners, they are not people that jump willy nilly into anything, unlike the county commissioners with regard to fluoride. The PUD commissioners want to know what people think and encourage people to ask questions at the PUD meetings, have you ever been to one? The PUD is not an empire, it doesn’t belong to the commissioners it belongs to the rate payers, and the commissioners will be paying the same as everyone else. There is nothing wrong with keeping American companies in America.

Once again, Walker’s fingers at the keyboard are moving faster than his brain can process data. For your information, Walker, the other PUD’s from around the state that have taken on the task of supplying power have all provided lower rates for their customers.

Put your money where your mouth is and attend the

Public Power Meeting
Tuesday, July 15 • 7:00 p.m.
Burlington-Edison High School Cafeteria
(301 N Burlington Blvd • Burlington, WA)

There, you can have your say and find out how little you actually know. The fact that you suggest having the PUD supply power has anything at all to do with taxes shows that it can’t very much.

edit: fixed typo