PURMS originally formed the Self Insurance Fund in December 1976 under the name
of the Washington Public Utility District's Utilities System during a period of
rapidly increasing insurance premiums. They felt the group could self insure for
$500,000 more economically. This has proven to be true.
There were thirteen charter members of
the Fund. Since then nine new members have joined and two withdrew. This leaves
the current twenty members. They vary in size from Thurston County PUD to Grays
Harbor County PUD.
The PURMS offers a Self Insured liability
pool providing $1,000,000 coverage. Above this, the group has $35,000,000 excess
liability through Aegis Insurance services and $25,000,000 available through Energy
Insurance Mutual.
Starting on April 1, 1997 the Fund began
offering a property pool providing $250,000 coverage. On top of this, the group
has $100,000,000 excess property coverage through Hartford Steam Boiler.
On April 1 2000 the Fund began offering Health and Welfare
coverage. Currently eleven members partake in the Health and Welfare Program.