Timeline History
1938 - By a 299-vote margin, the citizens of Klickitat County create a
public utility district. While small power plants serve some communities, and
PP&L serves the cities, much of the county is without electricity.
1941 - The PUD’s first 60 miles of line is completed and the PUD
serves its first customer: Frank Ward of Glenwood. The new line piggy-backs on a
BPA line from Condit Dam at Northwestern Lake to Glenwood.
1941 - The PUD’s Trout Lake system is energized, giving the PUD 225
customers. Another 30 miles of line and 160 customers are added before World War
II interrupts construction.
1947 - The PUD buys PP&L’s facilities in the county, and overnight
has 240 miles of line and 2,800 customers.
1952 - The PUD is serving 4,200 customers on more than 1,000 miles of
line and every customer that requests electric service has access to it.
1998 - Sixty years after its creation, the PUD serves 9,800 customers
with 1,600 miles of line and facilities valued at $42 million.
1999 - KPUD installs a 10MW landfill gas to energy facility, giving it
the name "H.W. Hill Landfill Gas Project" in honor of over 25 years of service
by Commissioner Harold W. Hill.
2007 - The White Creek Wind I Project begins commercial operation
November 21st, a 205MW wind project producing enough clean renewable electricity
to meet the needs of 28,000 residences. KPUD's share of the project is 26%, or
18 average MW's.
2008 - 70 years after its creation, the PUD serves 11,911 customers
with over 1,600 miles of line and facilities valued at approximately
$233,895,941. KPUD sells half of its share of the White Creek Wind I Project
output.