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Council told electric rate analysis and substation options will be presented in September
Summary
Council member Whelan pressed staff on progress toward securing backup supply and substation funding; staff said a rate-review analysis due in September will include projections and discussion with regional partners.
Council member Whelan asked staff at the Aug. 11 study session whether there had been movement on support for the city's substation and on whether the city should pursue backup supply arrangements with Puget Sound Energy rather than Tacoma Energy. The council member framed the question as a concern about future customer rates.
Interim Director Robec told the council he preferred to defer that discussion until the electric utility rate review is completed. "I would like to hold off until we do the rate review for the electric utility, at which point we are having conversations with both PSC and TPU, and we're, Bonneville's facilitating some of those conversations," Robec said. He added that the rate analysis scheduled for presentation to the council in September will include 10-year projections and that those projections are not anticipated to be as steep as some surrounding communities.
Council members asked about potential cost impacts and funding for substation work; Robec said staff would provide additional detail in the September presentation. No formal direction or decision was made at the study session.
