Principles of the Washington Public Utility District Law (RCW 54)

• People in any Washington county have the right to form a public utility district by a majority vote, and to maintain local autonomy in district affairs.
• PUDs possess the right of eminent domain so that the will of the majority can be exercised.
• PUDs have authority to provide electricity, water, sewer and wholesale telecommunication services.
• A locally elected PUD commission forms and administers the public utility district, thus embodying the principle of home rule in utility service.
• PUD commissions must appoint and employ qualified utility management.
• PUDs have the right to finance utility development and operations with revenue bonds.
• PUDs are developed on a district-wide basis for the benefit of all rural and urban inhabitants.
• PUD commissions establish rates and services on a fair and nondiscriminatory basis.
• PUDs pay taxes to local and state governments to prevent loss of tax revenues after utility operations are converted from private to public ownership.
• PUDs may cooperate on utility operations by mutual agreement among districts, for the benefit of individual districts.
• Utility service is provided for the public good, not for profit.