Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
January 7, 2020
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 7, 2020.
Present: Vice President Jim Malinowski and Secretary Nancy Barnes Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Information Services Mike Harris, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Communications Erica Erland, General Counsel John Eldridge, Accounting Manager Bryan Johnson, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline, Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti, and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Press Representatives: None
Others Present: Dale McLain, Rick Marshall and Terry Oliver (Materials A)
At 9:00 a.m., Vice President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Malinowski noted a quorum was present and the agenda (Materials B) was approved as submitted. Commissioner Van Dyke was excused from the meeting.
Consideration of the Minutes of December 17, 2019
Commissioner Malinowski asked that the word quorum in the voting section of the community solar recap be changed to majority. Commissioner Barnes agreed, the change was made.
Public Comment – Non Agenda Items
There were no comments.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated January 7, 2020 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $32,196,971.66
Water Revenue Fund – $6,188,943.35
Generating System Fund – $23,624,334.80
For a total of $62,010,249.81
Consideration of Bid Award No. 587 – Line Clearance: Bundle #1 – 8 Substations
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated January 7, 2020, detailing the bid results (Materials D). Commissioner Barnes moved to recommend that Bid No. 587 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Kemp West, Inc., in the amount of $824,502.00, plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 588 – Line Clearance: Bundle #2 – 7 Substations
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated January 7, 2020 detailing the bid results (Materials E). Commissioner Barnes moved to recommend that Bid No. 588 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Kemp West, Inc., in the amount of $611,320.00, plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Resolution Appointing Additional Deputy Treasurer
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny reviewed with the board the need to appoint an additional Deputy Treasurer. Commissioner Barnes moved to approve Resolution No. 7585 (Materials F) appointing Bryan Johnson as an additional Deputy Treasurer for the Utility. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
November Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials G). November had temperatures near normal but drier weather resulted in electric revenues coming in above forecast. Ms. Ankeny reported that both system sales and off system sales were above budget for the month. November residential sales were 101.3% of budget, commercial sales were 104.6% and industrial sales were 93.2% of budget. November ended with a net income of $6.2 million compared to a budgeted net income of $2.5 million. Year-to-date net income is $35.0 million compared to a budgeted net income of $15.9 million.
The Water System ended November with 902 new customers year-to-date which is a growth rate of 2.67%. There was a net income of $70,000 for November, compared to a budgeted net income of $49,000. Year-to-date net income is $2.7 million compared to a budgeted net income of $2.1 million.
November Wholesale Operations
Manager of Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker addressed the board (Materials H). Mr. Haymaker updated the board on power supply noting that Slice performed below prompt month by 12 aMW but 10 aMW above budget forecasts. Clark’s monthly load was 5 aMW above budget and power and gas prices showed strength toward the end of November. The current runoff is averaging 98% of normal.
Mr. Haymaker reported that the estimated cost of replacing River Road Generating Plant power for 2020 would be $32.0 million dollars. As of January 1, 2020 Combine Hills production is coming to load and the transition has been relatively seamless.
An overview of the Integrated Resource Plan webpage was provided.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioners Malinowski and Barnes had a discussion surrounding resource adequacy and small modular nuclear reactors. Member of the public Terry Oliver suggested that the utility along with Energy Northwest create a roadmap for resource adequacy. Both Commissioners agreed that more research and discussion is necessary.
Staff Reports
There were no staff reports.
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 10:35 a.m.