Oregon PUC approves sale of small, troubled Sun Country Water west of Bend to Avion Water Company

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Public Utility Commission says it recently facilitated and approved the $100,000 sale of Sun Country Water’s assets and transfer of its service territory to Avion Water Company to resolve growing maintenance issues and service disruptions for customers.

Sun Country Water, a public water utility with approximately 109 residential customers west of Bend, has, had a history of service issues. In 2022, the PUC asserted regulatory authority over Sun Country Water to investigate billing practices and reported service complaints.

Due to continued issues with service in 2023, including a broken fire hydrant, not billing customers, and consistent issues with water pressure, the PUC conducted a search for a regent to manage the struggling water utility, in place of the system’s owner.

Avion, a public water company in operation since 1968, provides water service to approximately 16,000 homes and businesses in Bend, La Pine, Redmond, Sisters, and Powell Butte. It stepped in to repair multiple leaks and address general maintenance issues with the Sun Country system.

Avion offered to purchase the ailing water company to resolve service disruptions and to ensure consistent service for customers moving forward, the PUC said.

You can view the PUC staff report below for details on the sale of Sun Country Water to Avion. At the public meeting on April 30, the Commission approved the recommendation in the PUC staff’s report; the recording of the meeting is available online for convenience.

Customers with questions about the sale of Sun Country Water can contact the PUC at 800-822-2404 (all relay calls accepted.) For customer questions about water service or billing, contact Avion at 541-382-5342.