WENATCHEE, Wash., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) reported unaudited net revenues for the first three months of 1999 of $5.7 million. These results are up from $5.6 million reported for the same period in 1998. The District was able to maintain strong operating results due to increased retail sales and continued cost containment efforts. The above average runoff, which reduces power costs, also contributed to the strong results. Net power deliveries from the Hydros were 2.9 million MWH compared to 2.5 million MWH for the same period in 1998. Hydro power costs were $26.3 million, down 2% from the same period in 1998. The decrease was primarily due to reduced juvenile fish bypass R&D costs. The average cost of power delivered from the PUD's Hydro projects was 0.9 cents/kwh, down from 1.1 cents/kwh for the same period last year. Retail rates averaged 2.7 cents/kwh. Power deliveries in the first three months of 1999 were higher than historical averages due to favorable hydro conditions experienced in the Northwest. Power deliveries for 1998 were in line with average conditions Selected highlights (unaudited) Three months ended Distribution System Mar '99 Mar '98 Retail energy sales ($ millions) 11.9 11.2 Resale 9.9 12.6 21.8 23.8 Retail energy sales (000 mwh) 440 424 Resale 813 914 1,253 1,338 Average rates, cents/kwh Residential 2.8 2.7 Retail 2.7 2.6 Resale 1.2 1.4 Combined Hydros Total power cost ($ millions) 26.3 26.8 Net power deliveries, (000 mwh) 2,851 2,532 Cost of power in cents/kwh 0.9 1.1 Located in Mid-Washington State, Chelan County PUD owns and operates the nation's second largest non-federal, publicly-owned hydroelectric generating system. Two of the PUD's hydro projects, Rocky Reach and Rock Island, are part of an eleven-dam system on the Columbia River. The District's three power plants have a combined total generating capacity of more than two thousand megawatts of power. Collectively, they produced 9.1 million megawatt hours of energy in 1998. Approximately one-third of that generation is used to meet Chelan County energy needs. The rest is sold under long-term contracts to other utilities in the Pacific Northwest. Contact Chelan County PUD on its website at: http://www.chelanpud.org.  