Special Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
May 30, 2017
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held in the Electric Center, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, the 30th day of May at the hour of 9:00 a.m.
Present: President Jane Van Dyke, Vice President Jim Malinowski, Secretary Nancy Barnes Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Wayne Nelson, Director of Communications Lena Wittler, Director of Water Doug Quinn, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Corporate Communications Manager Erica Erland, Manager of Energy Services Debbie DePetris, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, Energy Services Project Manager Matt Babbitts, Key Accounts Manager Bart Hansen and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Press Representatives: None
Others Present: Thane Miller, Kevin Farleigh, Kevlyn Baker, Eron Ramsey – Bonneville Power Administration, Steve Andersen – EES, Therese Hampton, Laura Trolese – Public Generating Pool (Materials A)
At 9:00 a.m., President Van Dyke called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business.
Consideration of the Meeting Agenda
There were no changes or corrections (Materials B).
Public Comment on Non Agenda Items
There were no comments.
Consideration of the Minutes of May 16, 2017
There were no changes or corrections.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated May 30, 2017, from the District Auditor:
Electric Revenue Fund – $6,496,796.37
Water Revenue Fund – $298,463.77
Generating System Fund – $586,127.83
For a total of $7,381,387.97
Bonneville Power Administration Ross Complex Solar Project Presentation
Bonneville Power Administration Project Manager Thane Miller provided an overview of the Ross Complex construction project (Materials C). Mr. Miller outlined the solar array that BPA is planning to install at the location and the expectation that it will be a net zero energy facility.
Mr. Miller asked for approval of a proposed change to the interconnection standards that would allow Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to participate in net metering in excess of the current 100kW.
Bonneville Power Administration Solar Billing Design
Energy Services Manager Matt Babbitts provided an overview of the BPA solar array project at the Ross Complex and its impacts to Clark Public Utilities (Materials D). During the presentation, Mr. Babbitts outlined the proposed billing design for the project along with how staff would prepare for the project to come online.
Consideration of Resolution Amending the Net Metering Interconnection Standards
Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury reviewed the proposed changes to the Net Metering Interconnection Standards that would address the 100kW limit now in place (Materials E). Mr. Bedbury also outlined the updates made to the standards to cover the kW production in excess of 100 kW.
Commissioner Barnes moved to approve the updated Net Metering Interconnection Standards as presented. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Power Supply Workshop
Clark Public Utilities Net Metering Cap Update
Energy Services Project Manager Matt Babbitts and Key Accounts Manager Bart Hansen reviewed the presentation (Materials F). The presentation outlined the current Distributed Generation and Net Metering polices. Mr. Babbitts and Mr. Hansen provided multiple options for the board to consider as the utility approaches its cap. Staff will come before the board in a future meeting to ask for approval of one of the presented options.
The board thanked Mr. Babbitts and Mr. Hansen for the presentation, asking them for more information regarding some technical aspects of the connection process, financial aspects of potentially separating commercial/industrial and residential, the cost impacts to rate payers, and finally the projected growth of solar in our service area.
Market Update
Public Generating Pool Executive Director Therese Hampton and Public Generating Pool Senior Policy Analyst Laura Trolese provided a review of the Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC) markets (Materials I). Ms. Hampton and Ms. Trolese reported Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) are adding energy resources without energy need. Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) and tax credits have created negative pricing in the market and centralized markets are suffering due to lower prices and the inability to maintain existing resources.
I-937 Compliance Update
EES Consulting Manager of Project Evaluations Steve Andersen provided the board with an update on the utility’s renewable energy compliance (Materials G). During review, Mr. Andersen outlined REC cost assumptions, projected REC retirements at the 4% cost cap, projected compliance costs at the 4% cost cap and the difference of the two under the RPS targets.
Bonneville Power Administration 2018 Rate Case Update
EES Consulting Manager of Project Evaluations Steve Andersen provided the board with an overview of the current BPA rate case (Materials J). This review covered the initial proposal, BPA’s integrated program review from April 2017, initial and current reserve policies and the impacts of the proposed spill surcharges. Mr. Andersen concluded his presentation with a summary of rate increases based on the current proposal.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
There were no commissioner reports or comments.
Staff Reports
The Combine Hills Disposition presentation was moved to the June 6, 2017 meeting.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was recessed at 12:40 p.m. to executive session to discuss personnel matters, with no formal action taken. At 2:02 p.m., Commissioner Van Dyke reconvened the public meeting and there being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:02 p.m.