Klickitat PUD held hearings this week in both White Salmon and Goldendale on a proposal to increase electric rates by three percent at the beginning of 2016 and another two to three percent in July.  PUD General Manager Jim Smith says a combination of Bonneville Power Administration cost increases and a drop in wholesale revenues is leading to the rate hike.  He expects the wholesale revenue situation will be a long-term concern.  Smith says the PUD is looking at options for replacing the wholesale revenue losses, with the potential to sell carbon credits off its existing generation if Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s carbon legislation initiatives come to fruition.  The PUD board will vote on the rate increases at a meeting in December, when they will also conduct a 2016 budget hearing.