Kitsap Public Utility District
Kitsap Public Utility District is a not-for-profit municipal utility serving 46,000 customers in Kitsap County, Washington with drinking water, wastewater, and open-access fiber internet services delivered through owned infrastructure and governed by an elected Board of Commissioners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1941
- HeadquartersPoulsbo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Kitsap Public Utility District does
Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD) is a not-for-profit, community-owned municipal utility organized as a political subdivision of Washington State under Revised Code of Washington Chapter 54. Founded in 1941, KPUD serves approximately 46,000 customers across Kitsap County, Washington, providing three core services: retail drinking water through 51 owned groundwater-based water systems; wastewater/sewer services following the January 2026 transfer of Kitsap County Sewer District 7 operations; and open-access fiber-optic internet over 1,004 miles of owned fiber infrastructure that Internet Service Providers lease to serve end customers. The utility also operates ancillary services including free public Wi-Fi hotspots in underserved areas and a hydrological monitoring platform (KPUD Gage Map) providing real-time rainfall, streamflow, and well-level data.
The underlying technology is grounded in physical utility infrastructure — groundwater source wells, distribution mains, sewer collection systems, and a wholesale fiber network — supplemented by telemetered gaging stations for hydrological monitoring. Conservation-based tiered water pricing (ranging from $1.61 to $9.42 per 100 cubic feet across four tiers) is the core demand-management feature, and metering occurs on a bi-monthly billing cycle. Fiber is delivered through an "airport model" open-access architecture where ISPs act as airlines on KPUD's infrastructure.
KPUD's revenue model is built on recurring subscription-style charges across its three service lines (water, wastewater, fiber wholesale), supplemented by a county-wide property tax levy of $0.052708 per $1,000 of assessed value. Operations are governed by an elected three-member Board of Commissioners; the district is not investor-owned, has no parent company, and is funded in part by federal grants including EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and BEAD broadband awards. Customer segments are dominated by residential households, with secondary commercial/industrial and interlocal government customers, and distribution occurs directly through owned infrastructure within a single fixed geographic territory.
Kitsap Public Utility District firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kitsap Public Utility District
- Legal name
- Kitsap Public Utility District
- Website
- https://kpud.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1941
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kitsap Public Utility District is a not-for-profit municipal utility serving 46,000 customers in Kitsap County, Washington with drinking water, wastewater, and open-access fiber internet services delivered through owned infrastructure and governed by an elected Board of Commissioners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kitsap Public Utility District industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Utility Services (Water, Wastewater, and Broadband)
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Treated Water Storage & Pressure Management (Reservoirs, Tanks, Booster Stations) (EUANAAAD), Gravity Sewer Collection Networks (Sanitary Sewers) (EUANACAA), Municipal & Community Broadband ISPs (HDAIADAH)
Keywords
Where Kitsap Public Utility District is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Poulsbo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kitsap Public Utility District business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Water Service Charges: Bi-monthly billing for water service including basic service charge plus consumption-based tiered rates. Revenue must cover operations, maintenance, repairs, replacements, renewals, and bond/loan obligations per Washington State law RCW 54.24.080.
- Wastewater/Sewer Services: Sewer and wastewater services transitioned from Kitsap County Sewer District 7 effective January 1, 2026. Provided to Fort Ward area customers.
- Fiber Internet Services: Fast fiber internet infrastructure built and operated by KPUD; Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use the infrastructure to serve end customers. Revenue from wholesale/open access fiber network.
- Property Tax Revenue: Small county-wide property taxes (2022 rate was $0.052708 per $1,000 assessed value) dedicated to county-wide uses including water resources management, educational opportunities, and middle-mile broadband needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Bi-Monthly Service Charge (5/8 inch meter) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Tiered Water Consumption Rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Kitsap Public Utility District product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kitsap Public Utility District is a not-for-profit, community-owned public utility that delivers three core services: drinking water through 51 owned water systems, wastewater/sewer management (expanded in January 2026 with the KCSD7/Fort Ward transition), and wholesale open-access fiber-optic internet infrastructure across 1,004 miles serving 46,000 customers in Kitsap County, Washington. Services are funded through regulated service charges and a small property tax levy under Washington State law RCW 54.24.080.
Product overview
Kitsap Public Utility District operates as a not-for-profit, community-owned utility providing three core services: water utility services (serving 46,000 customers with 51 owned water systems), wastewater/sewer services (expanded in 2026 with the KCSD7/Fort Ward transition), and fiber internet services (with 1,004 miles of fiber infrastructure). The utility also provides supplementary services including free public Wi-Fi hotspots for underserved communities and hydrological data monitoring through the Gage Map platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water Utility Services Retail water service delivering safe and reliable drinking water to residential and commercial customers across Kitsap County, including water supply, distribution, quality testing, and infrastructure maintenance across 51 owned water systems.
- Wastewater/Sewer Services Sewer and wastewater collection and management services for the Fort Ward area on Bainbridge Island, assumed from Kitsap County Sewer District 7 effective January 1, 2026.
- KPUD Fiber Internet High-speed fiber-optic internet infrastructure providing symmetrical broadband connectivity across 1,004 miles of fiber, operated on an open-access wholesale basis where ISPs use the network to serve end residential and commercial customers throughout Kitsap County.
- Free Public Wi-Fi Complimentary public Wi-Fi hotspots deployed in Kitsap areas where students and residents have limited broadband access, supported by partnerships with school districts and community centers.
Quantifiable outcome
- No PFAS detection in all 60 water sources tested for 28 owned Group A water systems
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kitsap Public Utility District
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kitsap Public Utility District technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Kitsap Public Utility District partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Kitsap County Regional LibraryminorInterlocal agreement for fiber optic service (2025).
- Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet)coreInterlocal agreement to provide professional services (2025) and First Restated Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (2026) for regional broadband network coordination.
- North Kitsap Fire and RescueminorJoint construction agreement (2025).
- Kitsap County Sewer District No. 7coreInterlocal agreement for management of sewer system, facilities, and equipment (2024). KCSD7 (Fort Ward Sewer) transferred sewer/wastewater operations to KTPUD effective January 1, 2026.
- City of Bainbridge Island & Recreation DistrictcoreInterlocal agreements for water system facilities easement (2021, 2023 amendment), fiber optic nodes on city property (2023), and interlocal agreement assignment with Kitsap Sewer District 7 (2026). Partnership for South Bainbridge Reservoirs project.
- Kitsap CountycoreMultiple agreements including Clean Water Kitsap (2024), reimbursable work/equipment rental (2023), telecommunication services (2022), and operation/maintenance of stream gaging stations (2011).
- Central Kitsap Fire DepartmentminorInterlocal agreement amendment for provision of information technology consulting services (2020).
- Mason County Public Utility District No. 3minorInterlocal agreement amendment for constructing, acquiring, operating, and maintaining wastewater treatment systems (2014), and fiber network intertie first amendment.
- Bainbridge Island Land TrustcorePartnership for South Bainbridge Reservoirs project located at Deerpath Lane. Collaboration to protect vital watershed while improving water service.
- Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation DistrictcorePartnership for South Bainbridge Reservoirs project including trail improvements, additional parking (up to 12 spaces), and fenced water infrastructure.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kitsap Public Utility District competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tacoma Public Utilities: WA municipal utility providing water, electric power, and rail services to Tacoma and surrounding areas; directly comparable multi-utility structure under public governance with similar scale and service portfolio.
- Tacoma Water: Tacoma's drinking water utility serving approximately 300,000 customers across Pierce County; comparable regulated WA water utility at slightly larger scale with similar source water and treatment profile.
- Seattle Public Utilities: WA municipal utility providing drinking water, drainage/wastewater, and solid waste services across Seattle; directly comparable regulated water/wastewater utility operating under similar public accountability framework.
- Cowlitz County PUD: WA PUD providing electric and wholesale fiber broadband services in Cowlitz County; comparable multi-utility PUD structure with similar public governance and fiber open-access infrastructure model.
- Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet): Existing interlocal partner; wholesale open-access fiber network serving WA public utility districts; directly comparable open-access fiber model and PUD-anchored broadband infrastructure approach.
- Mason County Public Utility District No. 3: Existing interlocal partner; WA PUD providing water, wastewater, and fiber services in Mason County with very similar operational model, including a fiber network intertie agreement with KPUD.
- Snohomish County Public Utility District: Washington State PUD providing electric, water, and fiber internet across Snohomish County; closest comparable as a multi-service WA PUD with similar governance, rate-regulated model, and fiber open-access operations.
Broad incumbents
- Lumen Technologies: National telecom and fiber infrastructure provider (formerly CenturyLink); competes in broadband and enterprise connectivity in KPUD's service area, particularly for wholesale and business-grade services.
- Comcast (Xfinity): National cable and broadband incumbent with significant market share in Kitsap County; competes head-to-head with KPUD Fiber for residential and commercial connectivity customers.
- Ziply Fiber: Regional fiber broadband provider serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana; directly competes in residential and commercial fiber connectivity across overlapping Kitsap County geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kitsap Public Utility District social profiles
Digital presenceKitsap Public Utility District financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kitsap Public Utility District leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kitsap Public Utility District funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kitsap Public Utility District M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kitsap Public Utility District
What does Kitsap Public Utility District do?
Kitsap Public Utility District is a not-for-profit, community-owned public utility that delivers three core services: drinking water through 51 owned water systems, wastewater/sewer management (expanded in January 2026 with the KCSD7/Fort Ward transition), and wholesale open-access fiber-optic internet infrastructure across 1,004 miles serving 46,000 customers in Kitsap County, Washington. Services are funded through regulated service charges and a small property tax levy under Washington State law RCW 54.24.080.
Is Kitsap Public Utility District a public or private company?
Kitsap Public Utility District is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Kitsap Public Utility District founded?
Kitsap Public Utility District was founded in 1941. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kitsap Public Utility District based?
Kitsap Public Utility District is headquartered in Poulsbo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kitsap Public Utility District make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Water Service Charges are the primary driver. The others are wastewater/Sewer Services, fiber Internet Services and property Tax Revenue.
Who are Kitsap Public Utility District's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tacoma Public Utilities, Tacoma Water, Seattle Public Utilities, Cowlitz County PUD, Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet), Mason County Public Utility District No. 3 and Snohomish County Public Utility District. Broad incumbents are Lumen Technologies, Comcast (Xfinity) and Ziply Fiber.
Does Kitsap Public Utility District have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kitsap Public Utility District.
What industry is Kitsap Public Utility District in?
Kitsap Public Utility District's product category is Public Utility Services (Water, Wastewater, and Broadband). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAAAB, Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations), with a secondary code of EUANAAAD, Treated Water Storage & Pressure Management (Reservoirs, Tanks, Booster Stations). Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.