The Clark Public Utilities district will see an increased budget in 2026 in the categories of the electric system’s operating revenue, the electric system’s operating and maintenance, and the water system's operating revenue.
The Clark Public Utilities (CPU) Board of Commissioners approved the 2026 annual budgets for the electric, generating and water systems during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The electric system’s 2026 operating revenue budget is $493.5 million, according to a press release by CPU. Of that total, $309 million is allocated to purchasing power, including hydropower, wind energy, and transmission services to meet forecasted load.
Last year’s electric operating revenue budget was $488 million, stated CPU in the release.
The CPU electric system’s operating and maintenance budget is $89.6 million, up from 2025’s total of $82.3 million, with the difference attributable to taxes, debt service, rate-funded capital, and funding for energy efficiency programs, the release stated.
The generating system operating revenue budget decreases to $96.8 million in 2026, down from $97.5 million in 2025.
“The decisions outlined in these budgets prudently balance our commitment to delivering at-
cost, reliable energy and water services today with long-term investments that ensure our
systems are prepared to support the future growth of our communities,” said Nancy Barnes,
president of the Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners, in the release.
The water system's operating revenue budget is $38.4 million, up from $23.3 million in 2025.
The increase is driven by a projected rise in water sales revenue and $9 million in grant funding, the release states.
In October, commissioners approved water rate increases that will take effect in 2026 and again in 2027 to make significant infrastructure improvements across the system. The water rate increases, the first since 2012, include the residential base rate increasing by $9.95 per month, after 2027.
CPU states that capital budgets for both electric and water prioritize service reliability and long-term system resilience through planned infrastructure maintenance and upgrades.
“One of the utility’s highest priorities in building the 2026 budget was maintaining predictable and stable rates for our customers,” CPU communications manager Dameon Pesanti stated in an email to The Reflector. “Although inflation and other forces continue to drive up the costs for the materials and services we need for daily operations, we worked hard to absorb those increases and avoid passing them onto our customers.”
The combined electric and generating systems capital budget is set at $100.7 million. Capital projects slated for 2026 include substation, transmission, and underground distribution line construction and upgrades, as well as generating system improvements, the release adds.
“The $36.5 million water system capital budget allocates funds for significant improvements in production, reservoir, and distribution capacity as part of a 20-year plan to enhance service in developing areas of unincorporated Clark County,” CPU stated. “Clark Public Utilities maintains the lowest per-customer operations and maintenance costs of any public utility district in Washington, according to the most recent data from the Washington Public Utility District Association. The utility also continues to operate one of the most reliable electric grids in the nation, with outage frequency and durations below both state and national averages, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.”
