On November 6th, the Grays Harbor PUD Board of Commissioners were briefed by utility staff on the proposed 2024 capital budget. The $12-million budget will increase by $500K from 2023 totals and will be allocated amongst five areas: $1.5-million for transmission projects, $2.37-million for substation projects, $5.8-million for distribution projects, $1.45-million for general plant projects, and $835-thousand for fleet projects. 65% of those projects will be for replacement (maintenance or improvement) to existing PUD infrastructure.
Some of the significant projects included in the 2024 budget are the transmission line rebuild from the Promised Land substation to Neilton, the relocation of transmission poles along the SR-105 Wetland Mitigation Project, continued work at the Central Park substation, the purchase of single and three-phase distribution transformers, continuing fiber and colocation facility upgrades and installation for PUD telecommunication services, the design work for the replacement of the Ocean Shores service building, new IT hardware, and the replacement of five utility vehicles/pieces of equipment.
The board is expected to vote on final passage of the budget during the November 20th meeting.