PUD’s Plain, Lake Wenatchee transmission project estimate rises to $100 million

PESHASTIN — The estimated cost of Chelan PUD’s project to rebuild a section of the Beverly-McKenzie transmission line serving the Upper Wenatchee Valley has increased from $60 million to $100 million after more detailed planning clarified construction challenges in remote terrain.

Ed McDaniel, the PUD’s director of project delivery, outlined the revised estimate during a Nov. 2 presentation on the utility’s preliminary 2027 budget. Staff plans to seek funding in stages, beginning with design and equipment procurement before returning for a larger construction commitment.

The project involves rebuilding approximately 15 miles of transmission line from Anderson Canyon in Peshastin to Coles Corner. Previously announced improvements include replacing aging wood poles with fire-resilient steel poles, installing higher-capacity conductor and making improvements at the Coles Corner substation.

The work is intended to reduce wildfire risk and improve reliability for communities served by the line, including Plain and Lake Wenatchee.

McDaniel said involving a contractor early allowed the project team to test its estimates and assumptions against the practical demands of construction. That review produced more detailed costs for access roads, helicopter use and foundations, including micropiles, in remote areas.

Planning also must account for restoring service following line outages during construction. McDaniel said necessary outages would affect reliability in the area and create operational challenges while work proceeds.

Staff anticipates bringing commissioners two guaranteed maximum price contracts totaling approximately $10 million to complete design and begin equipment procurement. A construction contract establishing the full cost is expected to come before the board in fall 2027, according to the budget materials.

The rebuild follows earlier vegetation management along the transmission corridor. In September 2025, the PUD announced crews were removing hazard trees along six miles between Sunitsch Canyon and Winton, widening the cleared corridor to its permitted 100-foot right of way.

At that time, the utility described the clearing as the first phase of a multiyear transmission rebuild and maintenance effort. The line supplies about 3,500 customers between Plain and Stevens Pass, according to the PUD’s project description.

The revised estimate was presented as part of a broader discussion of budgeting for major projects whose designs and construction costs are still developing. Staff said the preliminary budget funds near-term work, with larger requests returning to commissioners as project details become clearer.

“Yeah, and like Mark mentioned, kind of the philosophy for this year was to really just ask for the funding till the design has matured,” McDaniel said. “And then we have a better idea of the overall scope before asking for the complete budget for those particular projects.”

No budget action was taken Nov. 2. Commissioners are scheduled to hold a second hearing Nov. 16 and consider adopting the district’s 2027 budget Dec. 7. The transmission project’s larger construction commitment would return for separate consideration in 2027.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media