LONGVIEW — Customers of the Cowlitz County Public Utility District can breathe easy: Rates are not going up.
The Cowlitz PUD Board of Commissioners recently OK’d a roughly $220 million budget and confirmed that it would not be asking for any tax changes in 2024. The last rate hike was approved in October 2017.
“Fiscal responsibility on our community’s behalf is of the highest priority to the Cowlitz PUD Board of Commissioners and all PUD employees,” Board of Commissioners Chair Dave Quinn said in a news release Tuesday. “Because of our emphasis on our commitment to making decisions with the best interest of our customers and community in mind, we are thankful to have the ability to maintain our rates for the sixth year in a row.”
Next year will likely bring an uptick of incoming revenue, according to meeting documents, but also rising costs. Still, the current projected budget expects to see $232 million in revenue versus $227 million in expenses for 2024.
Most expenses — $159 million — will come from net power costs, according to the budget presentation. These costs, along with nearly every other expense, will be higher than in 2023.
