Legislators Get a Ground-Level Look at Utility Challenges
A PUD’s impact can extend well beyond county lines. As the youngest public utility in Washington, JPUD continues to grow and deliver value to customer-owners. Collaboration with state legislators helps the PUD share priorities, find funding, and bring positive change to Jefferson County—raising all boats with the tide.
The recently PUD hosted State Senator, Mike Chapman, and State Representative, Steve Tharinger to discuss utility topics impacting eastern Jefferson County including broadband service, electric operations, and water rights. The special meeting offered questions from PUD commissioners followed by a tour of the PUD’s 310 Four Corners Road headquarters and operations center.
Jefferson PUD’s broadband buildout was a leading topic for the meeting, and legislators were presented a behind-the-scenes look at the growing retail network. JPUD was the first public utility to pursue retail broadband in Washington State following the 2021 passage of legislation allowing utilities to serve non-wholesale customers.
“We’re providing this so people have these needed services,” said PUD Commissioner for District 1, Jeff Randall during the meeting. “Broadband is increasingly thought of as an infrastructure like water, sewer, and electricity and a necessary infrastructure that everybody should have.”
Randall noted the challenges customers face with connectivity, especially in rural areas where for-profit industry is unable or unwilling to extend service like fiber internet. Identifying funding for fiber-related projects and introducing legislative pathways while easing the cost of delivering service for utilities, primarily through tax reduction measures, greatly help utilities provide retail service over their network.
Jefferson PUD is a leader in utility-owned retail broadband service, and both Senator Chapman and Representative Tharinger provided insight into avenues the utility can work through with legislators in Olympia to help keep broadband utility costs lower which, in turn, would reduce the cost burden on customers.
Electric Infrastructure Funding
Infrastructure investment remains a top priority for Jefferson PUD, which recently approved its 2026 budget. During the recent tour, state legislators visited the PUD’s Irondale Substation to see firsthand the scale and age of the equipment that helps power more than 23,000 electric service connections across eastern Jefferson County.
Much of the infrastructure the PUD inherited dates back several decades. Key components—such as the regulators at the Irondale Substation—were installed in the mid-1960s and are now well beyond their expected service life.
Working closely with legislators to identify and secure state and federal funding is essential to replacing aging infrastructure and meeting the growing energy demands of the community.
Water and Wastewater take Centerstage
Aging infrastructure and Jefferson PUD’s role as a “purveyor of last resort” were key topics in recent water discussions with legislators. Jefferson PUD provides water service to more than 5,200 customers across nine Group A and four Group B systems countywide. As the designated purveyor of last resort, the PUD is responsible for stepping in when water or wastewater systems can no longer meet state or county standards.
Taking on a failing system and addressing water quality issues is a complex and costly process—one that often places the financial burden on existing customers through rate adjustments.
The visit gave PUD staff an opportunity to explain the challenges of serving as the purveyor of last resort. Staff highlighted the significant costs involved in taking over aging or failing systems, as well as the complexities of managing associated water rights.
By raising awareness of the PUD’s unique role, these discussions can help open doors to state-level funding opportunities that support system improvements, keep customer rates affordable, and ensure reliable water service for the community.
