Grant PUD Approves Rate Increase; Core Customers Up 3.5%

Grant PUD commissioners unanimously approved new electric rates for all customer classes during their Jan. 27 business meeting, with the changes set to take effect April 1.

According to Grant PUD, the updated rates are designed to keep the utility financially stable amid continued inflation while shifting the cost of new power generation to customers with the largest electrical loads. The approach follows a two-year rate policy dialogue with customers and reflects an “unbundling” strategy directed by commissioners after extensive public input.

Core customers — including residential, commercial, and small commercial/general service — will see an average rate increase of 3.5% in 2026. Grant PUD officials said the adjustment is largely driven by sharp increases in the cost of power-grid materials such as poles, wire, transformers, and related equipment. Those material costs have roughly doubled over the past decade and are expected to continue rising.

Large power-using customers in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 categories will experience a higher average increase of 9.5% beginning April 1. In addition to inflationary pressures shared with core customers, these large-load customers will also pay an added charge tied to integrating new power generation resources, including solar, wind, and market purchases, to meet their energy demands.

Under commission policy adopted in December, core customers are shielded from the cost of those additional generating resources. They retain full access to Grant PUD’s lowest-cost power, which currently comes from hydroelectric generation at Wanapum Dam and Priest Rapids Dam.

Specific rate adjustments approved for 2026 include:

• Residential: 4%

• General Service: 5%

• Irrigation: 7%

• Agricultural Services (3b): 5%

• Street Lighting: 5%

• Large General Service: 7%

• Industrial: 5%

• Large Industrial: 1%

• Agricultural Food Processing: 2%

• Evolving Industry: 6%

• Fast EV Charging: 1%

• Agricultural Boiler: 5%

Even with the approved increases, Grant PUD officials emphasized that local power rates remain among the lowest in the region. Residential customers will continue to pay less than half of the Washington state average per kilowatt hour and roughly one-third of the national average.