Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
October 5, 2021
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, October 5, 2021.
Present: Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson
Present via digital conference (phone or video): President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes and Secretary Jane Van Dyke Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, General Counsel John Eldridge, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, Business Applications Manager Julie Landry, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline Customer Service Supervisor Leah Veitenheimer and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Alona Steinke, Cathryn Chudy, Kay Ellison, Mark Hughey, Heather Jolma, Ben Bierman, Elizabeth Harris, Kristin Edmark, Lori Benton, Chloe Marshall, Mike Ellison, Tom Gordon, Diana Gordon, Zach Young, Stephen Campana, Jean Avery, Nancy Helget and Rick Marshall.
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Malinowski noted a quorum was present and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials A).
Public Comment
Member of the public Don Steinke provided his thoughts on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s 2022 Power Plan and urged Clark Public Utilities to add solar to meet energy efficiency standards.
Member of the public Alona Steinke provided her thoughts on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s 2022 Power plan, Washington States Clean Fuels Program and increasing the purchase of solar in Clark County.
Member of the public Jean Avery was happy to see the launch of the Clean Energy Implementation Plan webpage and urged Clark Public Utilities to sponsor another Community Solar project.
Member of the public Nancy Helget shared her concerns about climate change and urged Clark Public Utilities to work towards shutting down the River Road Generating Plant.
Member of the public Cathryn Chudy said she was happy to see the Clean Energy Implementation Plan website was up and taking comments. Ms. Chudy shared her thoughts regarding climate change and in emailed comments shared reports and surveys in support of her comments.
Member of the public Chloe Marshall thanked the utility for the work on the Clean Energy Implementation Plan, shared her concerns regarding climate change and urged the utility to achieve 100% clean energy.
Member of the public Lori Benton provided written comments in support of mitigating climate change and increasing use of electric vehicles.
If members of the public have provided the utility with written comments, copies of these comments in their entirety may be obtained by contacting Margaret Anderson at [email protected] or 360-992-3378.
Consideration of the Minutes of September 21, 2021
There were no changes.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated October 5, 2021 from the District Auditor (Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $4,160,358.47
Water Revenue Fund – $654,546.36
Generating System Fund – $313,809.91
For a total of $5,128,714.74
Consideration of Resolutions of Intent to Establish LUD Nos. 1384, 1414 and 1429
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District Nos. 1384, 1414 and 1429.
Resolution No. 7688 – LUD No. 1384 – Heron Short Plat
Resolution No. 7689 – LUD No. 1414 – Robin’s Ridge Subdivision
Resolution No. 7690 – LUD No. 1429 – University Park at Salmon
Creek
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Malinowski opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Barnes, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7688 – 7690 be adopted and a public hearing was set for November 2, 2021 (Materials C).
Consideration of Resolutions of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1417 and 1420
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1417 and 1420.
Resolution No. 7691 – LUD No. 1417 – Anderson Subdivision North
Resolution No. 7692 – LUD No. 1420 – Austin Heritage PUD PH 3
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Malinowski opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Barnes and unanimously carried that Resolution No. 7691 and 7692 be adopted (Materials D).
Consideration of Interlocal Agreement with the City of Vancouver
Director of Engineering Cal Morris reviewed the memo dated October 5, 2021 outlining the agreement between Clark Public Utilities and the City of Vancouver for a overhead electric line relocation as part of the NW Lincoln Avenue Road Improvement Project (Materials E).
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to give the CEO/General Manager the authority to sign the Interlocal Agreement between Clark Public Utilities and the City of Vancouver for the NW Lincoln Avenue Road Improvement Project. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Bid Award No. 619 – Distribution Wood Pole Replacements
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated October 5, 2021 detailing the bid results (Materials F). Commissioner Van Dyke moved to recommend that Bid No. 619 be awarded to the low responsive and responsible bidder Magnum Power LLC, in the amount of $307,499.55 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of First Half of 2021 Uncollectable Debt
Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix presented an overview of uncollectable debt for the first half of 2021 (Materials G). Ms. Fix stated the percentage of net losses from closed accounts to revenue is .20% for the first half of 2021. Net losses to revenue are slightly lower from last year’s historic low. The utility continues to compare favorably across the industry in regard to account delinquency.
Following the presentation, Commissioner Barnes moved to transfer $545,468.00 to uncollectable debt for the first half of 2021. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
August 2021 COVID Account Receivables
Director of Finance reviewed the presentation (Materials H) outlining the accounts receivables through August 2021 detailing the past due totals since the start of the moratorium in March of 2020.
Consideration of a Resolution Establishing Clark Public Utilities COVID-19 Response Program
Business Applications Manager Julie Landry provided the board with a review of the current Utility assistance programs, the expansions made to the Utility’s assistance programs instituted at the beginning of the pandemic and the new federal programs offered in partnership with Clark County. Ms. Landry also reviewed Clark’s timeline for reinstatement of collection events before outlining the planned Pandemic Relief Program for the board (Materials I).
This program would utilize the $5.0 million that the board allocated from the 2020 budget surplus for pandemic relief. The program will be available December 1, 2021 thru March 15, 2022, qualifying customers may receive up to a $750 grant and payment matching up to $500 for past due residential balances.
Commissioner Barnes moved to approve the resolution establishing Clark Public Utilities COVID-19 Response Program as presented. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
August Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials J). August weather was warmer and drier than normal. This resulted in electric revenues and off system sales coming in above budget. August residential sales were 109.7% of budget, commercial sales were 102.3% and industrial sales were 104.8% of budget. August ended with a net income loss of $2.2 million compared to a budgeted net income of $1.5 million. Year-to-date net income is $22.8 million compared to a budgeted net income of $16.9 million.
Ms. Ankeny provided a year-to-date summary of conservation spending.
The Water System ended August with 724 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 2.8%. August ended with a net income of $1.2 million compared to a budgeted net income of $898,000. Year-to-date the net income is $4.0 million compared to a budgeted net income of $909,000.
August Wholesale Operations
Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker addressed the board (Materials K). Mr. Haymaker updated the board on power supply noting that Slice performed below prompt month by 14 aMW and above budget forecast by 8 aMW. Loads were 35 aMW above budget as temperatures continue to be well above average during the summer.
Mr. Haymaker updated the board on the non-binding forward showing phase of the West wide Resource Adequacy program through the Energy Authority and staff plans to provide more details at the upcoming Power Supply Workshop October 19 and 20.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Barnes reminded everyone about the virtual Hooked on Nature event benefiting Columbia Springs taking place Saturday, October 9.
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his participation in the Washington PUD Association Water Workshop and the Energy Northwest Resource Adequacy meeting.
Staff Reports
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler reminded everyone that this week is Public Power week.
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 11:04 a.m.