Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
September 1, 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, September 1, 2020.
Present: President Jane Van Dyke, Secretary Nancy Barnes Commissioners and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Present via digital conference (phone or video): Vice President Jim Malinowski, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Information Services Mike Harris, 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, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, General Counsel John Eldridge, and Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti.
Press representatives: None
Others present via digital conference (phone or video): Don Steinke, Alona Steinke, Pat Freiberg, Cathryn Chudy 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 August 18, 2020
There were no changes.
Public Comment
Member of the public Don Steinke provided comment on The Dalles Dam removal, pump storage, and indoor/outdoor drying racks as a conservation measure Clark Public Utilities could support and offer our customers.
Member of the public Alona Steinke provided comment on the Northwest RiverPartners Op Ed and her support of green power as a replacement for hydropower when dams are removed.
Member of the public Cathryn Chudy thanked the utility for allowing the public to provide comment during the utility’s planning process with the Clean Energy Transformation Act and thinks Clark Public Utilities is on the right track with regard to increased conservation. Ms. Chudy shared her concern regarding the use of nuclear power as a clean renewable replacement for fossil fuel use, specifically the small modular nuclear reactors.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated September 1, 2020 from the District Auditor (Materials B):
Electric Revenue Fund – $18,405,332.62
Water Revenue Fund – $314,040.84
Generating System Fund – $369,805.66
For a total of $19,089,179.12
Consideration of Bid Award No. 602 – OH and UG Line Work: SE 1st St and 164th Ave
Director of Operations Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated September 1, 2020, detailing the bid results (Materials C). Commissioner Malinowski moved to recommend that Bid No. 602 be awarded to the low bidder Magnum Power, in the amount of $843,00.00 plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
July Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials D). July was warmer and drier than normal, which resulted in electric revenues above budget and off system sales below budget. July residential sales were 109.4% of budget, commercial sales were 88.3% and industrial sales were 90.9% of budget. July ended with net income of $2.6 million compared to a budgeted net income of $2.2 million. Year-to-date net income is $21.3 million compared to a budgeted net income of $15.3 million.
Ms. Ankeny provided a year-to-date update on the utility’s conservation spending.
The Water System ended June with 516 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 2.37%. There was a net income loss of $400,000 for July, compared to a budgeted net income of $596,000. Year-to-date net income loss is $221,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $374,000.
July Wholesale Operations
Manager of Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker addressed the board (Materials E). Mr. Haymaker updated the board on power supply noting that Slice performed below prompt month by 17 aMW and above budget forecasts by 41 aMW. The utility’s monthly load was 3 aMW below budget. Power and gas prices were low the first half of the month with some volatility at the end of the month.
Mr. Haymaker provided a summary of impact the forced outages at River Road Generating Plant had on power costs for the month.
Mr. Haymaker also provided detailed summaries regarding the California rolling power outages, system three alerts, MidC price excursions and the trading losses as report by Portland General Electric.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest Workshop.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her attendance at the Columbia River Economic Development Council Executive Meeting.
Commissioner Van Dyke brought up the Public Power Council Board nominations, Ms. Van Dyke would like Director of Energy Resources to continue as the Clark Public Utilities representative on the Board. Commissioners Barnes and Malinowski supported that nomination as well.
Staff Reports
There were no staff reports.
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 10:51 a.m.