Effective April 1, Snohomish County residents will experience a 4. 9% rise in power bills, equating to an approximate monthly increase of $6 for single-family homeowners and $4 for apartment residents. This adjustment is largely due to the PUD's implementation of a fixed base charge, initially introduced in 2022, which now contributes significantly to overall billing. The daily fixed charge for single-family homes will increase from 59 cents to 80 cents, while apartment residents will see an increase from 36 cents to 49 cents. These rate adjustments were approved during the PUD board's January 21 meeting, with the utility citing past weather events as a major factor for the need to raise rates.

The PUD incurred $16 million in restoration costs following a powerful windstorm last year, underscoring the financial strain on the utility. Furthermore, this increase aims to balance revenues as more customers adopt energy-efficient appliances, which reduce overall electricity usage. The PUD anticipates that these changes will generate around $32 million in additional revenue over the next year. Residents are encouraged to prepare for these changes to their monthly bills as the new rates take effect.