Chelan PUD to take its fiber talk to communities

Staffers will produce alternatives for operating the network, which currently loses about $8 million per year.

Two consultants hired by the PUD have said that the network could cover costs if the PUD writes off expectations that the network pay back with interest $90 million of the PUD’s own funds that the utility has spent to built it.

PUD officials will make a fiber recommendation to commissioners April 9. Commissioners are expected to vote an a plan for fiber’s future April 16.

Local companies use the PUD fiber network to sell Internet, telephone and cable TV services to county residents. State law prohibits the utility from selling these services directly to the public.