Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
November 17, 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, November 17, 2020.
Present: Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Present via digital conference (phone or video): President Jane Van Dyke, Vice President Jim Malinowski, Secretary Nancy Barnes Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Information Services Mike Harris, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, General Counsel John Eldridge, Business Applications Manager Julie Landry, Energy Services Manager Debbie DePetris, Information Services Manager Jeff Groff, Enterprise Architect James Ellis, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Steve Andersen – EES Consulting, Don Steinke, Cathryn Chudy, Jean Avery and Rick Marshall.
At 9:00 a.m., President Van Dyke called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Van Dyke noted a quorum was present and the agenda (Materials A) was approved.
Consideration of the Minutes of November 3, 2020
There were no changes.
Public Comment
Member of the public Jean Avery provided comment on the Clean Energy Transformation Act, these comments are the same that she submitted on our CETA webpage.
Member of the public Don Steinke provided comment on his desire for the utility to hold a public hearing on our legislative priorities, CETA rule making and fuel switching.
Member of the public Cathryn Chudy provided comment on recent voter demographics, clean energy transformation and fuel switching.
Copies of written public comments in their entirety may be obtained by contacting Margaret Anderson at [email protected] or 360-992-3378.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated November 17, 2020 from the District Auditor (Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $6,161,554.84
Water Revenue Fund – $244,088.95
Generating System Fund – $88,138.82
For a total of $6,493,782.61
Consideration of Resolutions of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1401 and 1402
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1401 and 1402.
Resolution No. 7633 – LUD No. 1401 – Hockinson Brook
Resolution No. 7634 – LUD No. 1402 – Orchards Hideaway
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Van Dyke opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Barnes seconded by Commissioner Malinowski, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7633 and 7634 be adopted. (Materials C).
Consideration of Energy Independence Act Strategy
EES Consulting Manager Steve Andersen presented the board with Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) purchase offers the utility is considering (Materials D). The offers being considered would help the utility stay compliant with the Energy Independence Act. Clark Public Utilities has been presented with three offers for purchases – two are solar projects and the third is wind. The purchases would not include any power, but a purchase of all three of them would reduce the projected REC deficit by 28% through 2039.
Following the presentation, Commissioner Barnes moved that after counterparty credit reviews have been conducted, the Internal Risk Oversight Committee is allowed to continue to pursue long-term REC purchase contracts in order to hedge the utility’s REC price exposure associated with the renewable energy procurement requirements included in the EIA and CETA. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Presentation and Public Hearing on the Proposed 2021 Electric, Generating and Water System Budgets
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided the board with an overview of the proposed 2021 budgets for the Electric, Generating and Water Systems (Materials E). Ms. Ankeny noted that a decision regarding the use of the low income tax credit will need to be made at the time of budget adoption.
Commissioner Van Dyke opened the public hearing for comment, there being no comment the hearing was closed. The Board thanked staff for all the work put into preparing the budget and the presentations.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Barnes reported on her attendance at the Columbia Springs Board of Directors meeting.
Commissioner Van Dyke reviewed the Washington PUD Association’s summary of legislative priorities for the upcoming session.
Staff Reports
Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline provided the board with an update regarding distribution of the CARES Act funding allocated to the utility by Clark County. To date, $1.5 million had been distributed to customers and on Monday afternoon the Clark County Council approved an additional $2 million to be made available for distribution to eligible customers.
Director of Information Services Mike Harris provided the board with an update regarding the status of the Broadband meetings and conversations he has been participating in related to local efforts to expand broadband access in the county.
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 11:20 a.m.