The Northern Wasco County PUD Board of Directors has approved an operating budget for 2018 with no change in rates.  Board members made that decision despite an over six percent increase in wholesale power costs from the Bonneville Power Administration, which represents the PUD’s largest single expense.  The Board also approved a staff recommendation to keep discounted rates for disabled and low-income customers in place all year instead of seasonally as before.  And starting the first of the year residential customers will not be charged a processing fee for using a bank card for residential bill payment.  The PUD is encouraging customers to utilize electronic bill pay through nwascopud.org.