(SHELTON, WA) – Mason County is growing, and with it electrical and broadband service needs to expand. To keep up with the demand and rising costs of power, construction, and supplies, PUD 3 has approved an increased budget and residential rates for 2025.
Major capital projects factor into the total budget of $112.7 million, including about $5.8 million to upgrade substations and other equipment, particularly in the Shelton and Belfair urban growth areas. The district has also received grants to help fund these projects and others, such as $3.2 million planned next year to expand broadband fiber to homes and businesses in multiple places around Mason County.
The cost of power purchased from Bonneville Power Administration will increase by 5.9%, the source of all of Mason PUD 3’s power.
The plan also proposes moving up to $4.2 million in reserves to support the budget and lessen the rate increase.
Starting March 1, PUD 3 plans to raise residential rates with a 3.3% increase on the energy rate (per kilowatt-hour) and a 15-cent increase in the daily system charge. The daily system charge helps cover the costs of maintaining power lines and equipment necessary to provide service, no matter how much power a customer uses. Sometimes it is referred to as a “readiness to serve” charge.
The low-income assistance surcharge will go from an average of about $4.33 up to $4.63 per household. This money helps fund programs that have assisted over 3,350 Mason County households.
The new rates also feature a new public electric vehicle charging rate, which provides support for both public charging stations and fleet chargers specifically for public or school transportation.
PUD 3 commissioners approved the 2025 budget on Dec. 3.