TRUCKEE, Calif. — The Truckee Donner Public Utility District recently reached a settlement with NV Energy, a move officials say will save electric customers about $400,000 annually.

In 2013, the TDPUD filed two complaints with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission related to transmission rates filed by NV Energy, citing they were not fair, said Steven Poncelet, public information and conservation manager for the district.

“Truckee Donner PUD has had to fight for years to protect the interests of our customers and ensure that they are only paying for the services received.” Stephen Hollabaugh, TDPUD electric utility director, said in a statement. “This settlement agreement allows us to continue to procure low-cost, clean energy from the western United States and have it delivered to Truckee at fair market rates.”

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Instead of paying NV Energy $1.2 million annually for use of its transmission system to deliver electricity to Truckee, the TDPUD will now pay $800,000, according to the district.

If NV Energy’s filed rates had gone into effect, the charge to the TDPUD’s 13,283 electric customers would have increased, Poncelet said. According to the district, the current electric rates went in effect Jan. 1, 2009.

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“Stable and competitive electric rates are bricks and mortar for economic development in our community” Michael Holley, TDPUD general manager, said in a statement. “This settlement agreement ensures that we can continue to provide reliable, clean, and low-cost electric service to our customers.”

The settlement is retroactive, with rates going into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

The TDPUD spent approximately $50,000 on FERC attorneys and consultants, Poncelet said. The expense was funded by electric rates.

Visit tdpud.org to learn more.