Pend Oreille PUD history

In 1950, the Bureau of Indian Affairs combined the Kalispels and remaining Washington Pend Oreilles into a single tribe.

You can read the 1952 FPC order issuing the license by clicking here.

In 1953, the state Legislature also enacted a law allowing public utilities to form joint operating agencies.

Four years later, 17 public utility districts organized the Washington Public Power Supply System, which opened the Packwood Hydroelectric Project in Lewis County in 1964.

Pend Oreille County Fire District 2’s first organizational meeting was held in the P.U.D. office in Ione on August 30, 1967.

The 1980’s began with the signing of a Mutual Aid Agreement between DNR, District 2, Ione, Metaline, and Metaline Falls, and ended with an agreement to change to a paging system from an alarm system for 911 responses.

Now known as Energy Northwest, the agency also owns and operates the 1,150-megawatt Columbia Generating Station, the only commercial nuclear power plant in Washington, which began operation in 1984.

After two years of court proceedings, the PUD acquired the Clarkston General Water Supply Co. through condemnation and began operations in April 1987.

Until closure of the cement plant in 1990, Metaline Falls was a dusty but prosperous town.

Vaagen Brothers of Ione, the last major sawmill in the county, closed in 1995.

The PUD applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) for a new license in January 2000.

In early 2001, preparation and cronstruction plans began for a new fire station in Tiger, Fire Station 23 and the current headquarters, with cooperation with the Tiger Historical Museam for water usage.

On July 11, 2005, FERC issued a new 50-year license for the Project (the “2005 License”). You can read the 2005 FERC order issuing the new license by clicking here.

You can read the 2006 FERC order on rehearing by clicking here.

By 2008, both stations had been established.

You can read the 2009 Settlement Agreement by clicking here.

FERC approved the revised appendices by an order issued February 19, 2010.

The PUD and Tribe began meeting in early 2014 to consider options for a path forward to provide a better focus on conservation outcomes.

There has been an increased focus on training and cross-training of EMS and Fire personnel and the first female Chief was appointed in December 2017.

In 2020, this authority was expanded.