Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
January 5, 2021
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at the Electric Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
Present: Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Present via digital conference (phone or video): President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes, Secretary Jane Van Dyke Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, General Counsel John Eldridge, Business Applications Manager Julie Landry and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Alona Steinke, Cathryn Chudy, Jean Avery, Randal Freidman, Pat Freitag and Rick Marshall.
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Malinowski noted a quorum was present and the agenda (Materials A) was approved.
Public Comment
Member of the public Don Steinke provided comment on hiring staff to prepare for the future and to work on conservation, power supply, demand response and renewable energy. He would like us to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion.
Member of the public Alona Steinke provided comment on the Clean Energy Act and the Clean Fuel Standard.
Member of the public Cathryn Chudy provided comment on the path to a low carbon future and urged the utility to support Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings Bill and fuel switching.
Member of the public Randal Freidman provided comment on climate change, electric vehicle charging stations and his frustration with our Integrated Resource Planning.
Member of the public Pat Freiberg provided comment on climate change and urged the utility to work with the city on their clean energy plan and to close the River Road Generating Plant.
If members of the public have provided the utility with 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 December 15, 2020
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 January 5, 2021 from the District Auditor (Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $20,496,284.22
Water Revenue Fund – $323,985.22
Generating System Fund – $848,968.19
For a total of $21,699,237.63
Discussion of 2021 Committee Assignments
Commissioners reviewed current committee assignments (Materials C), following discussion Commissioner Barnes moved to have Commissioner Barnes assigned to Pacific Northwest Waterways and to leave remaining assignments as they were in 2020 including the Washington PUD Association committee assignments. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion, it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Resolution to Appoint a District Auditor
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler presented the board with a Resolution (Materials D) appointing Business Applications Manager Julie Landry as the new District Auditor with the retirement of the current Auditor Mike Harris. Commissioner Barnes moved to appoint Ms. Landry as the district auditor, Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion, it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Intent to Establish LUD Nos. 1398 and 1403
Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District Nos. 1398 and 1403.
Resolution No. 7642 – LUD No. 1398 – Plateau Manor
Resolution No. 7643 – LUD No. 1403 – Glenwood Hollow PH 3B
After the presentation by Ms. Anderson, 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. 7642 and 7643 be adopted and a public hearing was set for February 2, 2021 (Materials E).
November Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials F). November weather was close to normal, which resulted in electric revenues and off system sales above budget. November residential sales were 107% of budget, commercial sales were 95.5% and industrial sales were 92.8% of budget. November ended with a net income of $7.5 million compared to a budgeted net income of $3.4 million. Year-to-date net income is $32.7 million compared to a budgeted net income of $22.5 million.
The Water System ended November with 883 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 2.55%. November ended with a net income loss of $18,000, compared to a budgeted net income loss of $16,000. Year-to-date net income is $2.9 million compared to a budgeted net income of $1.9 million.
November Wholesale Operations
Manager of Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker addressed the board (Materials G). Mr. Haymaker updated the board on power supply noting that Slice performed below prompt month by 3 aMW and above budget forecast by 24 aMW. The monthly load was 10 aMW above the budgeted forecast. Power and gas prices remained mild during the month, the runoff is looking normal so far and Combine Hills had a record production year.
Mr. Haymaker summarized the filter issue at the River Road Generating Plant that took the plant offline at the end of the November.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Van Dyke encouraged everyone to participate in the virtual Race for Warmth benefitting Operation Warm Heart.
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest Board Meeting.
Staff Reports
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler shared staff perspective regarding the broadband discussion that has been circling around Clark County; she let the board know that the Mayor of Vancouver will be presenting at the next commission meeting and that staff is looking forward to the discussion.
Ms. Wittler congratulated Jeff Groff on being named the new Director of Information Services and looks forward to his leadership in that department.
Ms. Wittler shared that the Utility was recognized mid-December by JD Power as being the best in the West for mid-sized utilities for the 13th consecutive year. Clark Public Utilities placed third among all utilities regardless of size, behind two cooperatives for overall satisfaction.
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 10:34 a.m.