To the editor:

Consider the advantages of a public utility district, please!

As a property owner and resident of South Whidbey, I had questions about what a PUD is.

I want to be able to afford to turn on the heat and lights in my home when I am an old lady.

A PUD is not a new or radical idea, it is a reasonable and prudent step to ensure that we, the people of this community, can administer to our own power needs. Would you rather give control over our costs to foreign investors who want to profit from our usage? It is that simple.

There are over 30 PUDs in our state, many have been working quite satisfactorily in their communities for decades. Some have been able to actually lower rates for their residents and businesses! If we do not take control, will our rates ever go down? Not a chance.

A locally administered PUD has the same access to skilled, qualified workers and maintenance personnel, and mutual aid agreements in disasters as Puget Sound Energy does.

Many of my questions and concerns were very clearly addressed at the Freeland town meeting several weeks ago. There is a plan and it will work! Talented and experienced people are already stepping forward to offer help in bringing this plan to fruition, should we vote to move forward.

I urge anyone who has doubts about whether this is a good way to empower ourselves to attend one of the upcoming meetings in Oak Harbor or contact Whidbey PUD group. Please know what it is we are voting for before you say no to one very good idea.

With many larger national and international issues so out of control, this is one thing we can do, here and now, to protect our quality of life on Whidbey — now and in the years to come.

Louise Salmin

Langley