Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
May 6, 2025
A meeting of the Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Present: President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke, Secretary Sherry Erickson Commissioners; CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, General Counsel John Eldridge, Strategic Communications Manager Morgan Van Fleet, Manager of Engineering and System Planning Ryan Kerr, GIS/Joint Use Manager Ben Jerrell, Clean Energy Program Manager Matt Babbitts, Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker, Manager of Energy Services Debbie DePetris, Engineering Manager – Water Tyler Clary, Water Operations Manager Andrew Holmes, Field Services Manager Dana Christensen, Energy Services Residential Programs Manager Trevor Frick, Program Coordinator – Energy Services Staci Henrichsen and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Jim Malinowski, Rick Marshall, Thomas Gordon, Don Steinke, Peter Harrison and Gordon Matthews.
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. The agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Don Steinke provided comment on the Washington State legislative session and an Electric Vehicle car show.
Consideration of the Minutes of April 15, 2025
The minutes were approved as submitted.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated May 6, 2025 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $26,340,191.99 Water Revenue Fund – $902,211.62 Generating System Fund – $865,797.41
For a total of $28,108,201.02
Employee Service Awards
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny recognized Field Services Manager Dana Christensen for 20 years of service.
Director of Engineering Cal Morris recognized GIS/Joint Use Manager Ben Jarrell for 25 years of service. (Materials D).
Consideration of Resolutions of Intent to Establish LUD Nos. 1491 and 1492
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District Nos. 1491 and 1492.
Resolution No. 7892 – LUD No. 1491 – NE 58th Ave
Resolution No. 7893 – LUD No. 1492 – Ramble Creek PUD PH 5
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Barnes opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Erickson, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7891 and 7892 be adopted and a public hearing was set for June 3, 2025 (Materials E).
Consideration of Bid Award No. 682 – Substation Power Transformers
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 6, 2025 detailing the bid results (Materials F). Commissioner Van Dyke moved to recommend that Bid No. 682 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Virginia Transformer Corporation, Inc., in the amount of $1,822,400.00 for the base bid amount, which includes the Substation Power
Transformer and Field Service Assembly, Testing and Commissioning plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 688 – Paradise Point Well House 1 Reconstruction
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 6, 2025 detailing the bid results (Materials G). Commissioner Van Dyke moved to recommend that Bid No. 688 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Jeffries Construction LLC., in the amount of $353,000.00 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 689 – Residential Water Meters
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 6, 2025 detailing the bid results (Materials H). Commissioner Van Dyke moved to recommend that Bid No. 689 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Mountain States Pipe and Supply Co., for the annual estimated contract amount of $134,005.50 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 691 – Distribution Wood Poles
Materials and Purchasing Manager Cathy Wannamaker reviewed the memo dated May 6, 2025 detailing the bid results (Materials I). Commissioner Erickson moved to recommend that Bid No. 691 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Stella-Jones Corporation, in the amount of $543,480.95 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Public Charging Infrastructure Pricing
Clean Energy Program Manager Matt Babbitts provided the board with an overview of the current utility-owned public electric vehicle chargers, the revenue and expense analysis for 2023 and 2024 and the current pricing structure (Materials J). Following additional research as requested, staff proposed new Time of Use pricing as follows:
• Level 2 EV Chargers: $0.25/kWh during seasonal peak demand times; $0.15/kWh during non-peak times
• DC Fast Chargers: $0.39/kWh during seasonal peak demand times; $0.15/kWh during non-peak times
• Summer Peak Time: Mon-Fri, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Winter Peak Time: Mon-Fri, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Staff also recommended creating a new EV charger revenue account and proposed any earned income from the public chargers be used to support limited income transportation electrification projects, to be determined and approved by the board.
Following discussion, Commissioner Van Dyke moved to approve the Time of Use pricing as presented, Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to create a new EV charger revenue account and use the earned income to support limited income transportation electrification projects to be approved by the board at a later date. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Interlocal Agreement with the City of Vancouver to Adjust or Confirm the Water Service Area Boundaries
Water Engineering Manager Tyler Clary reviewed the memo dated May 6, 2025 (Materials K). The purpose of this interlocal with the City of Vancouver is to formalize prior boundary change agreements through the official process. This agreement would have Clark Public Utilities officially taking over two areas and the City of Vancouver officially taking over two areas, similar in size and customer count. There will be no service changes to current customers within these boundaries.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to authorize the CEO/General Manager to sign the interlocal agreement with the City of Vancouver formalizing the updates to the water service boundaries as outlined. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Conservation 2025 Annual Report and 2024 Conservation Achievements
Manager of Energy Services Debbie DePetris presented the 2024 Conservation Achievement Report and the 2025 Biennial Targets (Materials L). The report, required by the Energy Independence Act, details the Utility’s conservation results compared to the biennial target adopted in December of 2023. The Utility’s 2024-2025 conservation target of 8.43 aMW was established using the Utility Analysis Option.
For the 2024-2025 biennium, Clark Public Utilities will report a total electricity savings of 6.67 aMW in addition to utility expenditures of $9,454,907.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to approve Resolution 7891 adopting the Utility’s conservation achievement annual report for compliance years 2024-2025 in accordance with the Energy Independence Act and instructed staff to submit the report to Commerce by the reporting deadline of June 1, 2025. Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of 2023 and 2025 Renewable Energy Target Compliance Reporting
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen reviewed the presentation outlining Clark Public Utilities’ 2023 revised compliance plan and the preliminary compliance plan for 2025. The annual reporting is required under Renewable Energy Target requirements of the Washington State Energy Independence Act (Materials M). Mr. Andersen reviewed the three compliance options; Clark Public Utilities will use the 15% of retail load option for compliance for 2024.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to approve the policies, data and methodology for reporting Clark Public Utilities’ compliance for 2024 and establishing the path to compliance in 2025 under Renewable Energy Target requirements of the Washington State Energy Independence Act, RCW 19.285, Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The revised compliance report for year 2024 renewable targets and the 2025 preliminary compliance report will be submitted to the Department of Commerce by June 1, 2025.
March Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials N). The weather was warmer and wetter than normal, which resulted in electric revenues and off system sales being below budget. March residential sales were 96.4% of budget, commercial sales were 102.1% and industrial sales were 91.5% of budget. March ended the month with a net income of $2.3 million compared to a budgeted net income of $1 million for a year-to-date net income of $14.8 million compared to a budgeted year-to-date net income of $10.1 million.
The Water System ended March with 204 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 1.96%. March ended with a net income loss of $449,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $641,000 for a year-to-date net income loss of $735,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $1.5 million.
March Wholesale Power Operations
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials O). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that March Slice generation was 22 aMW below budget and loads in March were 17 aMW below budget. March Slice production was 189 aMW, 12% less than the budget of 211 aMW and 6% greater than The Energy Authority forecast of 177 aMW.
Combine Hills I generation was 10.9 aMW, which was 28% less than the budgeted 15.1 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 20% of all hours. Combine Hills II generation was 25.31 aMW, 11% higher than the budgeted 22.84 aMW, and generation was 0 MW approximately 19% of all hours.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Erickson reported on her attendance at the Columbia River Economic Development Council board meetings.
Commissioners Barnes and Van Dyke reported on their attendance as the Washington PUD Association Annual Meeting.
Commissioner Barnes reported on Western Public Agencies Group meeting attendance.
Staff Reports
Energy Services Residential Programs Manager Trevor Frick and Program Coordinator – Energy Services Staci Henrichsen provided the board with an update on the closeout of the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Grant.
Final Board Comments
There being no further board comments, the meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.