Klickitat PUD will hold its 2021 budget and electric rate hearing on Tuesday online.  PUD Manager Jim Smith says presentations will be made on the proposed 2021 budget and an electric rate increase proposal of 1.5% for all rate components in all rate classes effective on April 1, followed by comment from the public.  Klickitat PUD only electric rate increase in the last four years was a 1.5% hike in 2019.  Smith indicated there are many cost divers involved in the rate increase, including wholesale power costs from the Bonneville Power Administration.  He adds the BPA has indicated it may increase the costs for transmission service, which is the cost of poles and wires, by as much as 17%  Smith says that represents about 10% of the bill they receive from BPA, and that the PUD staff is continuing to refine its rate proposal leading up to Tuesday’s hearing.  It will begin at 3 p.m., and log-in information is available at klickitatpud.com.