Grays Harbor PUD to soon discontinue electricity service to Harbor Paper's closed Hoquiam, Washington, paper mill; company has failed to make weekly payments toward past-due balance

Mathew Kearney

ABERDEEN, Washington , September 23, 2013 (The Daily World) – Grays Harbor PUD will soon discontinue electricity service for Harbor Paper, the Hoquiam paper mill that shut down operations early this year.

According to a press release from the PUD, the utility will discontinue service Monday after Harbor Paper failed to meet weekly payments toward their power bill. According to PUD records, Harbor Paper has been behind on power bills since January.

Records show that a large portion of the past-due balance was created in January and February when the mill was still operating at full-force and using about $250,000 of power each month. Now that the mill's not producing paper, bills are closer to $60,000 each month.

"The district regrets having to take this action," said PUD Manager Dave Ward. "Our main focus is to look out for the interest of our ratepayers."

Harbor Paper closed it's doors Feb. 25, citing a management restructure. Company officials have yet to say if or when the mill will resume operations.

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