Chelan County PUD approves $1.35M annual fee to county for rights of way

The briefing

Chelan County PUD commissioners voted to approve a 20-year franchise agreement requiring an annual minimum fee of $1.35 million, or 5.5% of a portion of retail electric revenue, for the use of county rights of way. The agreement consolidates various infrastructure rights of way previously covered by separate agreements, taking effect in January 2027. Commissioners expressed mixed feelings about the financial arrangement, with one commissioner casting a dissenting vote due to local governance concerns.