Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
February 6, 2024
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
Present: President Jim Malinowski, Commissioner, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, General Counsel John Eldridge, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Community Engagement Specialist Morgan Van Fleet, Key Accounts Senior Manager Zeecha Van Hoose, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline, Energy Services Program Manager Matt Babbitts, Human Resources Generalist Abby Olbrich and Assistant to the CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Commissioners and staff via digital conference (phone or video): Vice President Nancy Barnes, Commissioner, Power Manager Steve Andersen, Energy Resource Manager Terry Toland, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix and PIO/Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Rick Marshall, Peter Harrison, James Oneil, Gordon Matthews, Mark Spalinger, Sherry Erickson, Milo Twiford, Tom Gordon and Shane (no last name provided).
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business, Commissioner Van Dyke was excused from the meeting and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Don Steinke provided comment on electric vehicle charging projects coming to Clark County and his thoughts on community solar at the Port of Vancouver and other available rooftops in the county.
Gordon Matthews provided comment on reactive power supply choices, market dependence and the need for a solar park on the east side of the Cascades.
Rick Marshall shared his concern about accurate information getting to members of the public regarding power supply and the reasons behind the upcoming rate increase.
Full written comments from Mr. Matthews are available upon request please email [email protected] for a copy.
Consideration of the Minutes of January 23, 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 February 6, 2023 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $29,653,489.35
Water Revenue Fund – $746,450.83
Generating System Fund – $306,311.57
For a total of $30,706,251.75
Consideration of Industrial Demand Response Pilot
Key Accounts Senior Manager Zeecha Van Hoose first reviewed two previous demand response pilot programs led by the Bonneville Power Administration, and the current demand response opportunities outlined in the Demand Response Potential Assessment (Materials D). Ms. Van Hoose noted that $250,000 has been allocated in the approved 2024 budget for an Industrial Demand Response Pilot Program.
Specific details surrounding customer requirements, event description, program timing and customer incentives were presented before staff asked for approval of the pilot program.
Commissioner Barnes moved to approve the Industrial Demand Response Pilot Program effective February 6, 2024. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
J.D. Power Presentation
Mark Spalinger, JD Power Director, Utilities Intelligence, addressed the board (Materials E). Mr. Spalinger gave an overview of the categories included in the 2023 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 ranked highest in customer satisfaction among mid-sized electric utilities in the West for the sixteenth year in a row, placing 1st in every category.
Mr. Spalinger noted increased customer satisfaction in the Communications, Corporate Citizenship and Price categories.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest Meetings held in Olympia.
Staff Reports
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler shared that there will be a report on the tenth annual Race for Warmth at the next Commission meeting, February 20.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:11 a.m.