Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
November 18, 2025
A meeting of the Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Present: President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke, Commissioners; CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, 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, Clean Energy Programs Manager Matt Babbitts, Energy Services Manager Debbie DePetris, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline, Corporate Communications Manager Dameon Pesanti and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff present via digital conference (phone or video): Commissioner – Secretary Sherry Erickson.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Cathryn Chudy, Peter Harrison, Rick Marshall, Tom/Diane Gordon, Patricia Gee, Monica Zazueta Tabor, Mark Leed, Kristine Jacobsen, David Lampe, Allison, Katherine Cory, Art Unger, Rebecca Small, Shannon Turk, Ted Light and Don/Alona Steinke.
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business, and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Monica Zazueta Tabor provided comments on her preference of solar power over nuclear power.
Don Steinke provided comments on plug in solar.
Cathryn Chudy provided comments on Clark Public Utilities Clean Energy Implementation Plan and would like the utility to focus on conservation and solar and not small modular reactors.
Mark Leed would like the utility to pursue more community solar projects.
Carol Matthews shared she is in support of Ms. Cudy’s comments and feels the public has been excluded from the small modular reactor process.
Peter Harrison provided comments on Mark Jacobsen’s studies on transitioning the world to 100% renewable energy based on wind, water, and sunlight.
Consideration of the Minutes of November 4, 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 November 18, 2025, from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $12,169,892.12
Water Revenue Fund – $434,852.18
Generating System Fund – $3,361,549.64
For a total of $15,966,293.94
Presentation and Public Hearing on the Proposed 2025 Electric, Generating and Water Systems Budget
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided the board with an overview of the proposed 2026 budgets for the Electric, Generating and Water Systems (Materials D). Ms. Ankeny noted that the budget principles continue to be customer service, reliability, and cost control while staff remains committed to balancing revenue requirements and bond covenants.
Ms. Ankeny reviewed with the board staff’s recommended use of the low-income tax credit and requested approval when approving the budget on December 2, 2025, and the use of Climate Commitment Act Auction proceeds of $1.25 million for the limited income assistance fund.
Commissioner Barnes opened the public hearing at 9:20 a.m. for public comment.
Don Steinke asked for clarification on Climate Commitment Act funds, Clean Fuel Act and Grid Modernization.
With no further comments, Commissioner Barnes closed the public hearing at 10:50 a.m.
Consideration of 2025 Conservation Potential Assessment and I-937 Conservation 2026-2027 Biennial Targets
Energy Services Manager Debbie DePetris and Ted Light with Lighthouse Energy NW addressed the board (Materials E). After a review of the presentation and supporting data, Ms. DePetris recommended the approval of the 2025 Conservation Potential Assessment and the 2026-2027 I-937 biennial conservation target of 9.37 aMW and the 2026-2036 ten-year potential of 45.60 aMW.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved for the adoption of the Clark Public Utilities 2025 Conservation Potential Assessment and the 2026-2027 I-937 biennial conservation target of 9.37 aMW and the 2026-2036 ten-year potential of 45.60 aMW (WAC 194-37-070-6). Commissioner Erickson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Manager of Clean Energy Programs and Mr. Light provided a review of the Utility’s 2025 Demand Response Potential Assessment outlining the details of the residential managed electric vehicle charging and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance end use load flex Following the review of the programs, Mr. Light provided the board with the results of the 2025 Demand Response Potential Assessment. (Materials F).
2026-2029 Clean Energy Implementation Plan Review and Adoption
Clean Energy Programs Manager Matt Babbits reviewed the public process, customer comments, the Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP) focus areas and the final CEIP (Materials G).
Mr. Babbitts outlined the survey results, defined the clean energy targets for the next four years and highlighted the CEIP equity focus requirements. Clark Public Utilities will, with board approval, deliver the final CEIP report to the Department of Commerce and the Department of Ecology.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to adopt the 2026-2029 Clean Energy Implementation Plan as presented, Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion, and it unanimously passed.
Mr. Babbitts thanked the board and said there is a requirement to provide an interim performance report by July 1,2026 and a Clean Energy Transformation Act Energy Assistance report is new next spring for years 2024 and 2025.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson relayed Commissioner Erickson request to discuss Columbia Springs funding at the next meeting.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her attendance at the Washington PUD Association Meetings.
Commissioner Barnes reported on her attendance at the Public Power Council, Pacific Northwest Utility Conference Committee and RiverPartners meetings.
Staff Reports
There were no staff reports.
Final Board Comments
There were no additional comments and the meeting was adjourned at 11:49 a.m.