The Customer Service staff members at Klickitat PUD are the first people you see when you walk through the doors of the Goldendale and White Salmon offices. In White Salmon, Wanita Gordon staffs the office by herself, and in Goldendale, Lori Fakesch, Lori Kay Froehlich, and Chelsea White are ready to help either inside the office or at the drive-thru window.

Managed by Nadine Huxley, the customer service department obtains and records meter readings, issues and collects bills, changes accounts for customers moving in and out of existing locations, accepts payments and answers calls coming in through the switchboard for the office.

Customer service representatives also help customers make payment arrangements. A variety of payment options exist, and others are being added in the coming months. Currently, customers can make a payment with a credit card, a check or cash. Automatic monthly withdrawals can be set up using a checking account or credit card payment.

In Goldendale, customer service representatives are available from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. In White Salmon, the office is open from 8 am to 5 pm, and closed from 1-2 pm for lunch.

As the manager, Nadine does scheduling for the department, oversees the large accounts, handles difficult calls and people who need assistance with payment arrangements, compiles statistics and rate files, liaises with other agencies such as Washington Gorge Action Programs for programs like Operation Warm Heart, and makes proposals to the Board of Commissioners regarding payment options such as the senior discount program.

Lori, who started working for KPUD in 1996, does billing, collections, takes payments, balances cash, and works with customers at the front counter and the drive-up window. Working with the public is her favorite part of the job, and handling collections is her least enjoyable task. Lori Kay and Chelsea are both new employees. Lori Kay mails all of the bills, works with customers, and fills in both as a meter reader and as the White Salmon front office representative, when needed. She also backs up other departments throughout KPUD, and is currently learning the records retention system, part of the inventory system. Chelsea handles all of the Internet and wire payments, and walks customers through the on-line payment process. She also balances the cash, and records degree days, which are vital to many customers. Gordon, hired in May 2002, takes payments, explains bills to customers, and handles service orders.

The customer service department also includes two full-time, and one part-time, outside staff. These customer service field representatives, better known as meter readers, do more than just read meters. Bill Rogers and Dan Charters work in Goldendale and White Salmon, respectively, and Ken Hill is part-time in Goldendale. Field reps also connect and disconnect meters, and do collections work.

To reach the customer service staff, please call 773-5891 in Goldendale, or 493-9552 in White Salmon.