In 1930, thanks to the efforts of the Washington State Grange, Initiative No. 1 passed with 54 percent of the vote to create public utilities. Before that, electricity was privately owned, and most of those companies didn’t consider serving rural areas to be a priority – there just wasn’t enough money in it.
Okanogan County business owners, farmers and grange members gathered together to begin the process to form their own PUD. In 1936, the county elected its first three PUD commissioners and legally formed its own PUD with 68 percent of the vote. Nine years later in May 1945, the battle with Washington Water Power was finally over, and the PUD took over operations.
In the 75 years since, Okanogan PUD has built hundreds of miles of transmission and distribution lines to serve thousands of new customers.
In 2000, Okanogan PUD started a new venture – broadband, which some consider “the electricity of the 21st century.” Just like we spread electricity to our territory in 1945, so we seek to do now with broadband.
Public power is more affordable, more reliable and cleaner than privately-owned power across the nation. Local control by an elected board of commissioners is an essential piece of the puzzle, along with open public meetings. Utility rates are based on the cost of the services provided to our customer-owners, not based on appeasing investors or stockholders. PUDs also serve their public, with efficiency incentives, assistance programs and paying taxes.
Only one in seven Americans are served by a public power utility. Continue to make your voice heard by participating in public power elections, open meetings and more – something only 14% of Americans can do.
