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Dameon Pesanti, Media Specialist
360-992-3449, [email protected]
CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD REVIEWS PERFORMANCE AND ADJUSTS GENERAL MANAGER SALARY
VANCOUVER, WA – July 5, 2022 – Following review of her performance, the Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to increase CEO and General Manager Lena Wittler’s salary from $267,000 to $292,000, effective July 1, 2022. A car allowance of $400 per month and other benefits remain unchanged. She has served as CEO and General Manager since June 2019.
“In spite of unprecedented challenges, Ms. Wittler’s leadership has remained focused on our unwavering priorities of service reliability, fiscal discipline, customer service, and responsible and ambitious forward planning,” said President of the Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners, Nancy Barnes. “Our consistently high customer satisfaction and recognized best-in-class operations are results that speak for themselves.”
In 2021, the utility distributed nearly $5 million in utility bill assistance to families financially impacted by the pandemic, launched an electric vehicle incentive program as part of the utility’s first transportation electrification plan, maintained high service reliability and swift outage restoration during historic weather events and developed integrated plans to meet state emissions reductions standards ahead of schedule — all without raising rates for the 12th year in a row.
“Ms. Wittler’s recommendation to invest $30 million 2021 surplus dollars in beginning a transition to Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and her work with the utility staff on forecasting for future demand puts the utility on a path to achieve clean energy targets while meeting customer needs today and in the years to come,” said Clark Public Utilities Commission Vice President, Jane Van Dyke. “I am very proud of Clark and the impact we have in our community, region, and nation supporting public power.”
Clark Public Utilities has ranked highest in customer satisfaction among mid-size electric utilities in the west by J.D. Power for 14 consecutive years. The prestigious study evaluates all areas of the utility from system reliability to billing and from customer service to environmental stewardship. It is an indicator of the efficiency and effectiveness of the utility compared to similar-sized organizations.
“A public utility’s primary responsibility is to provide service as affordably and reliably as possible, while also ensuring the same for the future,” Commission Secretary Jim Malinowski said. “Ms. Wittler and her staff far have surpassed those expectations, and did so in the face of many difficulties brought about by the global pandemic. All should be proud of their achievements.”
About Clark Public Utilities
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned public utility that provides electric service to about 225,000 customers throughout Clark County. The utility also provides water service to more than 38,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas. More information at 360-992-3000 or www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
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