Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
February 1, 2022
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at Clark Public Utilities, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
Present: Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson
Present via digital conference (phone or video): President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke and Secretary Jim Malinowski Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Water Doug Quinn, General Counsel John Eldridge, Customer Service Experience Manager Cameron Daline, Energy Resources Project Manager Matt Babbitts and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Cathryn Chudy, Charlene Shaffer, Don Steinke, Alona Steinke, Heidi Cody, Janet Hedgepath, Kristin Edmark, Leona Wear, Marc Berg, Mark Spalinger, Monica Zazueta, Rick Marshall, Teresa Hardy, Diana Gordon and Den Mark Wichar.
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Barnes noted a quorum was present and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials A).
Public Comment
The following are comments made by members of the public in attendance:
Heidi Cody, Cathryn Chudy, Diana Gordon, Kristin Edmark, Monica Zazueta, Teresa Hardy, Den Mark Wichar all voiced the support of HB 1767, and encouraged Clark Public Utilities to support the bill.
Don Steinke shared his thoughts on increased use of electric vehicles, the need to install more charging infrastructure, commercial incentives for lighting controls and his support of HB 1767.
Rick Marshall shared his thoughts on the book The Grid by Gretchen Bakke and his support of HB 1767.
If members of the public have provided written comments, copies of these comments in their entirety may be obtained by contacting Margaret Anderson at [email protected] or 360-992-3378.
Consideration of the Minutes of January 18, 2021
There were no changes.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated February 1, 2022 from the District Auditor
(Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $26,959,784.80
Water Revenue Fund – $977,062.61
Generating System Fund – $752,456.47
For a total of $28,689,303.88
Consideration of Resolution of Intent to Establish LUD No. 1400
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District No. 1400.
Resolution No. 7711 – LUD No. 1400 – Skylee Court
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Barnes opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke seconded by Commissioner Malinowski, and unanimously carried that Resolution No. 7711 be adopted and a public hearing was set for March 8, 2022 (Materials C).
Consideration of Establishment of LUD No. 1433
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District No. 1433
Resolution No. 7712 – LUD No. 1433 – Lincoln Ridge
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Barnes opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Malinowski seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke, and unanimously carried that Resolution No. 7712 be adopted. (Materials D).
J.D. Power Presentation
Mark Spalinger, JD Power Director, Utilities Intelligence, addressed the board (Materials D). Mr. Spalinger gave an overview of the categories included in the 2021 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study and discussed where Clark Public Utilities ranked in each of those categories, both in the West and nationally. He congratulated the utility on being named highest in customer satisfaction among mid-sized utilities in the West for the fourteenth year in a row and for a 1st place tie for overall best in the nation.
Electronic communication surrounding outages, awareness of vegetation management and corporate citizenship are areas that Mr. Spalinger indicated customers are becoming more interested in and the utility could increase efforts.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest meetings.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her participation in the virtual Race for Warmth.
Commissioner Barnes shared that Clark Public Utilities website is a great resource for members of the public curious about rebates that are offered to all our customers, including lighting controls for our commercial customers.
Staff Reports
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler requested the meeting dates in March be moved to the 8th and 22nd, and the board agreed to the change.
Ms. Wittler then initiated a discussion of HB 1767 with the board and General Counsel John Eldridge, sharing various perspectives from other utility associations and Washington utilities: some who opposed the bill, and others who supported. General concerns by those opposed were related to constitutionality of the bill, and the RCW surrounding public utilities and the gift of public funds. Comments from those who supported it included being able to provide the same opportunity that is now available to customers who are served by investor owned utilities in the state, as long as a cost/benefit analysis was proven.
Since the bill is permissive, and constitutionality would likely be addressed if it passed, commissioners all agreed to have staff support the bill by signing in as “support” of the bill as currently written on February 1, 2022, if/when it has a hearing in the Senate.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:21 a.m.