Scammers use PUD numbers to mask calls

Scammers are at it again making calls to Grays Harbor PUD customers, again using PUD numbers to make the calls appear legitimate.

In the last week, multiple PUD customers have reported that they had received a phone call from a number that looks to be from the PUD. Once on the line, the callers demand immediate payment on an account they claim to be overdue and threaten to shut off power unless a payment is made.

“This scam is very similar to ones attempted in the past, but given the current climate caused by the COVID-19 response, tensions are running higher than normal and scammers are pushing people to make a rash decision. Given that fact, it’s even more important that you do not volunteer your personal information,” says Communications Director Ian Cope. “If you get an email or phone call threatening to shut off your power or containing account information you think is suspicious, call the PUD Customer Service office to report the scams and to check on your account status.”

Recipients of such fraudulent phone calls should under no circumstances agree to send money or give bank account, credit card or other personal information. Rather, customers are advised to immediately contact PUD customer service at 360-532-4220 to verify the claim.

GHC looking to fill coaching positions

While the Grays Harbor College spring sports season has been canceled due to COVID-19, Athletic Director Will Ryder announced the search to fill head coaching positions in men’s wrestling, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

After five years coaching men’s wrestling, Philip Pine is retiring after his team’s best showing, finishing second in the NCWA National Championships.

Ryder commended, “Coach Pine’s contribution to the GHC wrestling program has been outstanding, starting with reviving the entire program to prominence almost immediately, not only in the region but also nationally. His experience and coaching savvy will be missed.”

In the meantime, head women’s wrestling coach Kevin Pine is assisting with recruiting student-athletes for both wrestling teams.

Also resigning after one season is head women’s basketball coach, Robert Burton.

The head coaching position for the women’s volleyball remains open and Ryder is hoping to find an outstanding coach for the fall season.

Ryder is coordinating the search to fill the head coaching positions. For more information about the openings, visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ghc or contact Ryder at william.ryder@ghc.edu.

PUD submits comments on Columbia River EIS

Citing its important role in irrigation, navigation, recreation and energy production, the Grays Harbor PUD has submitted its comments on the Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement to the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers and the Bonneville Power Administration. Authored by those three agencies at the end of February, the EIS supports the Lower Snake River dams and recommends additional water spill over the dams and increased mitigation efforts to assist salmon run recovery.

“This is an important moment in the history of the Columbia River, the energy industry and our state. It’s a privilege to be able to tell the story of how the intersection of those three areas impacts our customers, our county and our utility,” said General Manager Dave Ward.

In the comments submitted on Monday, the PUD states that “…the preferred alternative suggested in the draft EIS of increased spill and additional mitigation efforts designed to help (salmon) fry reach open waters is an acceptable method, but needs to be monitored closely to verify fry survival improvement and not create more harm.”

While the increase of spill over the dams may mean an increase in energy costs for the utility, the PUD points out that the increase is far less than the billions of dollars which would be needed to remove existing hydroelectric dams, specifically those on the Lower Snake River and replace them with more expensive and less reliable energy sources, which was an alternative considered but not supported in the EIS. In the PUD comments, the utility urges continued support for resources that generate clean, reliable and affordable energy: “In Grays Harbor, many PUD customers are already struggling to get by with existing costs from the current infrastructure. To increase the burden by asking them to help foot the bill for new technologies that lack the affordability and reliability that have made hydropower the dominant power resource in the region for nearly a century is an expense many, quite literally, cannot afford.”

The PUD comments also point out the irony in the fact that the elimination of hydropower facilities on the Lower Snake River would be in direct contrast to the Clean Energy Transformation Act passed in 2019 which supported the hydroelectric system.

The public comment period on the draft EIS closes tonight, at which point the three governing agencies will compile a final Environmental Impact Statement to be released later this year.