Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
April 2, 2024
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Present: President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes, Secretary Jane Van Dyke Commissioners, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, Technical Innovation Project Manager Julie Landry, Engineering Manager – Water Russ Knutson, Business Applications Manager Michael Nino, Community Engagement Specialist Morgan Van Fleet, and Assistant to the CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff via digital conference (phone or video): Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff and PIO/Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Rick Marshall, Peter Harrison, James Oneil, Gordon Matthews, Sherry Erickson and Tom Gordon.
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Don Steinke thanked staff for the presentation by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance at the last meeting and he looks forward to seeing how the utility will meet its Clean Energy Transformation Act requirements.
Peter Harrison shared detailed output and return on investment information about his personal solar arrays.
Full written comments if provided are available upon request – please email [email protected] for a copy.
Consideration of the Minutes of March 19, 2024
The minutes were approved as presented.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated April 2, 2024 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $11,008,255.32
Water Revenue Fund – $279,716.73
Generating System Fund – $483,049.82
For a total of $11,771,021.87
Consideration of Resolutions of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1470 and 1480
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1470 and 1480.
Resolution No. 7840 – LUD No. 1470 – 119th Wilgus Cottages
Resolution No. 7841 – LUD No. 1480 – Ramble Creek 4A & 4B
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Malinowski opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Barnes, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7840 and 7841 be adopted (Materials D).
Grid Modernization Project Update
Technical Innovations Project Manager Julie Landry updated the board on the Grid Modernization project (Materials E). The presentation included a review of the integration of three large infrastructure projects that will require updating, core utility systems, operation infrastructure and the introduction of next generation reliability enhancements. The project team and the project sponsors were introduced and both teams are expected to include additional participants as the project moves forward.
Ms. Landry reviewed the infrastructure investments the utility has made over the last 20 years, provided an overall grid modernization timeline and a more detailed timeline for implementation of Advanced Meter Infrastructure upgrades.
Water System Plan Update
Water Engineering Manager Russ Knutson provided the board with an overview of the Water System Plan Update (Materials F). The Washington State Department of Health requires all water systems to have a current plan approved and filed every ten years that addresses the utility’s ability to serve its current and future customers adequately and responsibly. Clark Public Utilities’ last plan was approved in 2011.
There are two major changes to the planning process, the first is the duration of plan approval changed from six years to ten, and the second now requires utilities to analyze each pressure zone individually rather than the system as a whole.
Clark Public Utilities’ Water System has good supply through 2059 using current population projections, has 58,687 Acre-Feet annual water rights and 69,098 gpm instantaneous water rights.
The full Water System Plan and summary will be posted on the utility website for public review and comment. The public hearing and board consideration will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Prior to final filing of the plan, approvals are required in order by the utility board, the Clark County Council and the Washington State Department of Health.
February Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials G). Weather was wetter and warmer than normal, which resulted in electric revenues and off system sales below budget. February residential sales were 98% of budget, commercial sales were 104.4% and industrial sales were 96.4% of budget. February ended the month with a net income loss of $3.4 million compared to a budgeted net income of $769,000 and a year-to-date net income of $4.3 million compared to a budgeted year-to-date net income of $6.5 million.
The Water System ended February with 31 new customers, which is a growth rate of .46% year-to-date. January ended with a net income loss of $193,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $288,000 for a year-to-date net income loss of $138,000 compared to a year-to-date budgeted net income loss of $536,000.
February Wholesale Operations
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials H). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that February Slice generation was 31 aMW below budget and loads in February were 5 aMW below budget. February Slice production was 154 aMW, 20% less than the budget of 185 aMW and 9% less than The Energy Authority forecast of 168 aMW.
Combine Hills I came on line on February 2, 2024 with generation of 9.3 aMW, which was 22% less than the budgeted 11.1 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 46% of all hours.
Combine Hills II generation was 16.5 aMW, 8% less than the budgeted 18.1 aMW, and generation was 0 MW approximately 45% of all hours.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Barnes reported on her attendance at the Legislative Breakfast and the Columbia River Economic Development Council meetings.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her attendance at the Community Solar East ribbon cutting event, she thanked staff for all the work on the project and the well organized and attended event last week.
Commissioner Malinowski also thanked staff for the work on the Community Solar East project and the ribbon cutting event.
Staff Reports
There were no staff reports.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:38 a.m.