Rate simplification and restructuring could be in the works, following Grant PUD's latest cost-of-service analysis (COSA) to best determine the cost of providing and delivering electricity to each customer group at the lowest rate possible, the Washington State PUD said.
Grant PUD Commissioners got their first look at draft results at their Aug. 18 workshop but want time to study the analysis and proposal before further discussion.
Some four months in the making, the COSA results call for simplifying the current rate structure by consolidating customer groups with similar demands for electricity, growth patterns and types of energy use.
Key recommendations include:
• Create a new Rate Schedule 20 for "high-density compute," which would combine data centers and cryptocurrency from their current rates 7, 14, 15, and 17 on April 1, 2027.
• The existing Rate 17 for Evolving Industry – unproven businesses with higher business or regulatory risk – would remain in effect, but all crypto would transfer to the new High Density Compute rate on April 1, 2027
• The preceding two changes would group all data-processing customers, which are expected to drive 75% of the forecasted growth in demand through at least 2034.
• Proposal to simplify general service and irrigation rate structures in 2027.
• Propose to simplify existing general service and industrial rates (Rates 2, 7, 14, 15, and 16) that have similar costs to serve, into a single rate.
• Consider a significant rate increase in 2027 to fixed charges for Tier 1 and Tier 2 industrials – Rates 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, and the new High Density Compute rates – whose rates aren't sufficiently covering their fixed costs. The change could increase rates between nearly 3% to just over 5% but could be phased in over time.
• Explore alternative rate structures for small business, commercial and larger commercial customers, based on energy use.
Specific rate amounts by customer class under the latest cost-of-service and rate proposal will likely be available this fall.
Further discussion about the cost-of-service analysis and rate proposal is planned for commission workshops in September, October, and November with a commission vote planned by year-end or January 2027.
Grant PUD said it will notify customers of the follow-up discussions as dates and times become available.
