Power Lines E-Newsletter
Issue #143, December 2016
Happy Holidays from Your PUD

The Columbia River PUD Board of Directors and staff would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  We hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Our office will be closed on December 26th and January 2nd to observe Christmas and New Year's. If your power goes out, please call our 24-hour outage & emergency line, (503) 397-1844.


Update on CRPUD Subdivision 1 Election & Board Seat

On November 8th, an election was held for the purpose of choosing the Director to represent CRPUD customers in Subdivision 1, in the Scappoose area, beginning in January of 2017. The candidates on the ballot were Debbie Reed and Nancy Ward. Ms. Ward won the election with 62 percent of the votes. 

Prior to the election, Columbia County issued a news release indicating Ms. Ward may not be eligible to be a Director even if she won the election. At the November 15, 2016, PUD Board meeting, General Counsel advised the Board that Ms. Ward is not legally qualified for the Subdivision 1 position under the laws that govern the PUD, and that she will not be able to lawfully be seated as a Director as a result of this election.

When there is a vacancy on the CRPUD Board, Oregon law directs the remaining Board members to appoint someone to fill the position. For updates on this process, visit www.crpud.net/boundary.

If you have questions about this issue, please contact Community & Public Relations Supervisor Libby Calnon at (503) 366-3264 or [email protected].  


Jake Carter, Rob Mathers Win Election

In the November 8 election,  current Board President Jake Carter was reelected as the representative for Subdivision 4 customers in the St. Helens area. Rob Mathers was elected to replace Richard Simpson as the representative for Subdivision 3 customers in West St. Helens, Yankton, and south Deer Island. Director-elect Mathers will take office in January.


Quilt Nets Nearly $1,000 for GLOW

Our GLOW Quilt Raffle raised $944 for the Give Light, Offer Warmth (GLOW) Program.

These funds will help provide emergency bill pay assistance to low-income PUD customers who are behind in their payments and in danger of having their power shut off.

Thank you to the Columbia River Piecemakers Quilt Guild for donating the quilt.

Repairing Overhead Service Damage

Delivering electricity to your home or business is a partnership between you and the PUD. 

We maintain and repair the service wires that connect your building to the electricity distribution system and the connectors that link our service wires to your service entrance cables.

You are responsible for maintaining the service entrance cables, the weather head, the service mast, the wires inside these devices, and the wires inside the building.

If you have questions about this, please contact our Engineering Department at (503) 397-0760 or [email protected].


Assistance Available for Veterans

A new program offers low-income veterans assistance with their utility bills. Planting Roots Housing Program launched in November to aid veterans in Columbia County.

 

The program is offered by Medicine Wheel Recovery Services in St. Helens. It is grant-funded. To learn more about the program, visit www.medicinewheelrecoveryservices.org or call Veterans Housing Specialists Eli or Terri at (503) 396-5322.

Photo of a bag of money
Loans Available for Efficiency Upgrades 

Looking for good gift ideas for the holidays? How about new appliances or an upgraded heating system?

 

Loans are available locally to upgrade your heating & cooling system, purchase energy-efficient appliances, or weatherize your house. Call our Energy Experts at (503) 366-5470 or visit www.crpud.net/loans to learn more.