What Pend Oreille PUD does

Pend Oreille Public Utility District (Pend Oreille PUD) is a government-owned municipal utility district, established in 1936 and headquartered in Newport, Washington, that provides electric, water, and fiber/wireless broadband services across Pend Oreille County. The utility serves 9,135 electric customers across 1,425 miles of rural distribution lines, over 600 water customers through nine community water systems (including Granite/Sacheen, Green Ridge, Metaline Falls, and Sandy Shores), and approximately 2,591 fiber plus 107 wireless broadband end-users through the Community Network Service (CNS), established in 2012. Power generation is sourced from the Box Canyon Dam and the Calispell Power House, supporting a portfolio of clean, hydroelectric energy aligned with the 2022-2025 Clean Energy Implementation Plan.

The technology stack is built around an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) using Aclara TWACS power-line carrier meters (replacing approximately 10,000 meters between 2024 and April 2025), which provides two-way communication, remote connect/disconnect, automated outage detection, and 15-minute interval data. Customer-facing operations are supported by the SmartHub web and mobile application (iOS, Android), which handles bill payment, usage analytics, outage reporting, and program enrollment. Operational technology includes a Fire-Safe Mode that de-energizes faulted lines without re-energization during wildfire-risk conditions, formalized through a Wildfire Mitigation Plan approved in October 2024.

The revenue model is rate-regulated and subscription-based across all three services. Electric pricing combines a $35.50/month service availability charge with a $0.0682/kWh consumption charge, with a 2.5% revenue adjustment effective April 1, 2026 to fund approximately $45 million in substation and infrastructure investment over the coming decade. Water is delivered through monthly community-system fees, while broadband is operated as a wholesale open-access model in which the PUD owns the fiber middle-mile and authorized Retail Service Providers sell to end users. Customer acquisition and service delivery are conducted directly through the Newport headquarters, the Box Canyon Visitors Center in Ione, phone service, the SmartHub self-serve channel, and field crews for line extensions and service connections, supplemented by channel partners for broadband and energy efficiency programs (Aclara for meters, 509Energy for the HOPE weatherization program, Energy Northwest for power resources, and Rural Resources for LIHEAP assistance).

Name

Pend Oreille PUD

Legal name

Pend Oreille Public Utility District

Website

https://popud.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pend Oreille PUD is a government-owned public utility district serving Pend Oreille County, Washington, with electric service to 9,135 customers, water service to 600+ customers across nine systems, and fiber broadband to roughly 2,700 end-users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric and Water Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Power Districts & State/Provincial Utilities (EUADABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Electric Utilities (Munis) (EUADABAB), Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB), Reservoir/Impoundment Hydroelectric Generation (EUACAEAB)

Keywords

• Electric utility services
• Water utility services
• Broadband internet services
• Hydroelectric power generation
• Rural public utility district

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electric Service Revenue: Monthly service availability charge ($35.50/month) plus consumption-based kWh charges ($0.0682/kWh). Revenue adjustment of 2.5% implemented April 2026 to cover rising operating costs and infrastructure investment.
2. Water Service Revenue: Monthly water service charges for nine community water systems serving over 600 customers.
3. Broadband/Fiber Service Revenue: Wholesale fiber infrastructure providing services through authorized Retail Service Providers. PUD maintains fiber network while RSPs serve end customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pend Oreille Public Utility District distributes electricity to 9,135 customers across 1,425 miles of rural lines in Pend Oreille County, Washington, generating power from its Box Canyon Dam and Calispell Power House hydroelectric facilities. The PUD also operates nine community water systems serving over 600 customers and provides wholesale fiber and wireless broadband infrastructure through its Community Network Service (CNS), reaching 2,591 fiber and 107 wireless end-users via authorized Retail Service Providers.

Product overview

Pend Oreille Public Utility District is a rural public utility providing essential services across Pend Oreille County, Washington. The utility operates three core services: Electric Service (serving 9,135 customers across 1,425 miles of lines, with power generation from Box Canyon Dam and Calispell Power House), Fiber & Wireless Broadband Service (established 2012 with 2,591 fiber and 107 wireless end-users), and Water Service (serving over 600 customers through nine community water systems). The utility offers customer-facing technology platforms including SmartHub for account management and bill payment, and an Advanced Metering Infrastructure with Aclara TWACS technology for automated meter reading and outage detection. Energy efficiency programs include residential rebates for insulation, windows, heat pumps, and appliances, the income-qualified HOPE Program for weatherization assistance, and various payment assistance options including PrePay Billing, Budget Payment Plan, and Operation Round Up community giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartHub: Mobile and web application for account management, bill payment, and energy usage monitoring
• Community Network Service (CNS)
• Neighbors in Need (NIN) Program
• PrePay Billing
• HOPE Program (Helping Out Pend Oreille with Efficiency)

Products and services

• Electric Service Core electricity distribution service serving 9,135 electric customers across 1,425 miles of rural lines in Pend Oreille County, Washington. Includes power generation from Box Canyon Dam and Calispell Power House and serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers at differentiated rate classes.
• Fiber & Wireless Broadband Service High-speed internet connectivity service serving 2,591 fiber end-users and 107 wireless end-users. Pend Oreille PUD maintains the fiber infrastructure and partners with authorized Retail Service Providers that serve consumer end-customers.
• Water Service Drinking water utility service managed through nine community water systems (Granite/Sacheen, Green Ridge, Holiday Shores, Lazy Acres, Metaline Falls, Riverbend, Riverview Shores, Sandy Shores, and Sunvale Acres) serving over 600 customers in Pend Oreille County.
• SmartHub Customer Platform Mobile and web application that lets customers view account information, monitor and analyze electric usage, make payments, report outages, and access billing history in a secure environment. Available via iOS, Android, and web platforms.
• PrePay Billing Program Prepaid electricity payment option where customers add funds to their account before using electricity. Balance is updated daily based on usage with low-balance alerts. Eliminates monthly bills, late fees, and past-due notices.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) with Aclara TWACS Two-way communication metering system using Aclara TWACS technology over power-line carrier. Enables remote disconnect/reconnect, automated outage detection, 15-minute interval usage data, and integration with SmartHub for usage monitoring.
• Residential Energy Efficiency Rebates & Incentives Cash-back rebate program for energy-efficient home improvements including insulation ($0.30-$2.30/sq.ft.), windows/patio doors ($8/sq.ft.), exterior doors ($40 each), ductless heat pumps ($920), heat pumps ($600-$1,560), heat pump water heaters ($1,400-$2,200), Energy Star appliances ($20-$125), and smart thermostats ($140).
• HOPE Program (Helping Out Pend Oreille with Efficiency) Income-qualified weatherization initiative assisting eligible customers with free or subsidized energy efficiency improvements including insulation upgrades, heat pumps, ductless heat pumps, smart thermostats, duct sealing, and air sealing. Administered in partnership with 509Energy.
• Energy Assistance Programs Collection of payment assistance programs including Neighbors in Need (NIN) grants, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) referrals, Operation Round Up charitable donations, Budget Payment Plan averaging, Low Income Senior Discount ($10/month), and Low-Income Veteran Discount ($10/month).
• Fire-Safe Mode Operational protocol that changes electric system response during high fire-risk conditions. Automatically shuts off power if there is a fault without attempting to re-energize, reducing wildfire ignition risk. May result in more frequent but shorter outages during fire season.
• Electric Service Application & Line Extension Service request process for new residential, commercial, and industrial electric connections, including application forms, site drawings, line extension fees, and staking engineer consultations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average monthly electric bill impact of $3.25/month from 2.5% rate adjustment for residential customers using 1,500 kWh
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Retail Service Providers (CNS Fiber)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2012The PUD established its fiber infrastructure in 2012 and partners with authorized Retail Service Providers who serve end customers. The Washington State legislature facilitated PUD telecommunication infrastructure capacity sharing in a wholesale role, with RSPs as the link to consumers.
• National Metering and Technical ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContract crew used alongside in-house personnel to perform the meter replacement project, replacing approximately 10,000 meters in 2024-2025. All contractors carry PUD identification and have signage on vehicles.
• Energy NorthwestcoreOthersCurt Knapp serves as President of the Board of Directors for Energy Northwest. Energy Northwest is a public power agency that develops, owns, and operates clean energy projects for Northwest utilities.
• Rural ResourcescoreOthersCommunity action agency providing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants and other assistance programs to qualifying Pend Oreille PUD customers. Offices in Newport (509-447-9997) and Ione (509-442-3222).
• Comfort Ready HomecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor network for residential energy efficiency programs. PUD directs customers to Comfort Ready Home contractor search to find licensed contractors for insulation, heat pump, window/door, and other energy efficiency installations.
• 509EnergycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization administering the HOPE Program (Helping Out Pend Oreille with Efficiency), an income-qualified weatherization initiative. Connects qualifying customers with weatherization improvements.
• AclaracoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of advanced meters with TWACS (Two-Way Automatic Communication System) technology. The PUD replaced 10,000 meters with Aclara meters featuring power-line communication system.
• Public Utility Risk Management ServicesminorOthersRisk management services organization for public utilities. Curt Knapp serves as the District's current Board representative to this organization.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Aclara (Hubbell): Supplier of the TWACS AMI meters deployed in Pend Oreille's 2024-2025 meter replacement. Adjacent infrastructure vendor whose technology underpins the utility's modern metering platform and grid-edge capabilities.
• Energy Northwest: Public power joint action agency for Northwest utilities. Pend Oreille PUD's board president Curtis Knapp also serves as president of Energy Northwest's board, creating a direct governance linkage and shared clean energy/wholesale power relationship.

Broad incumbents

• Seattle City Light: Investor-owned-equivalent municipal utility operating hydroelectric generation (including Boundary Project, where Pend Oreille board VP David Rick worked for 26 years). Larger-scale municipal electric utility with overlapping generation, distribution, and clean energy focus.

Direct peers

• Snohomish County PUD: Largest PUD in Washington, providing electric and water services to Snohomish County. Closest direct functional peer in terms of multi-utility PUD model, electric distribution, broadband (PUD-owned fiber), and water services under the same regulatory framework as Pend Oreille.
• Douglas County PUD: Washington PUD with hydroelectric generation (Wells Dam), electric distribution, and wholesale fiber services. Directly comparable to Pend Oreille in generating-owning PUD structure and fiber/wholesale broadband model.
• Grant County PUD: Washington PUD operating Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams with electric distribution and fiber services. Direct peer in PUD-governed electric utility with owned hydro generation and broadband operations in rural Eastern Washington.
• Clark Public Utilities (Clark PUD): Washington state public utility district explicitly named in Pend Oreille PUD's power transaction arrangement. Clark PUD operates electric, water, and broadband services to ~225,000 customers in Clark County, serving as a direct structural peer despite its much larger scale.
• Mason County PUD 3: Washington PUD providing electric, water, and fiber broadband services to rural and small-town customers. Closely mirrors Pend Oreille's rural multi-utility model and customer scale.
• Cowlitz County PUD: Washington PUD providing electric and water services with a fiber/wholesale broadband program. Comparable rural multi-utility PUD structure with similar customer mix and regulatory framework.
• Chelan County PUD: Washington PUD operating hydroelectric generation (Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams), electric distribution, and fiber broadband. Highly comparable to Pend Oreille given shared PUD governance, hydroelectric generation ownership, and rural multi-utility model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PendOreilleCo.PUD

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pend Oreille PUD