The Bend City Council has decided that they can mix water and electricity.  Wednesday night, the Council approved to incorporate a hydroelectric facility in the City's Surface Water Improvement Project. "We’ve hired a design-built contractor for the work. We’re almost a 60% design with the Surface Water Improvement Project. And we expect construction to start next year. Of course new pipes will go in along Skyliners Road and that road's being redone by the Forest Service and the county so we'll be partnering with them on that project and then we'll build a filtration plant at our outback facility along with the hydro plant." Justin Finestone with the City says they can save about a half million dollars by "bundling" the facility with the water improvement project, and then, when all is working, they can keep water rates down. Finestone says the construction should begin next year and be done by 2014.