Although being organized in 1936, Douglas County Public Utility District did not begin operations until 1945, nearly 10 years later.

At that time, Douglas County PUD received electrical current from the Bonneville Power Administration.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Douglas County PUD began the necessary steps to build and license Wells Dam on the Columbia River.

At the time, Douglas County PUD did not put that electricity into its own grid due to the high cost, instead sold it to four other utilities who financed the project by purchasing the power.

The dam produces much more electricity than is used by consumers in Douglas County, which allows the PUD to sell excess power to other utility districts.