Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
August 9, 2022
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at Clark Public Utilities, 1200 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.
Present: President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke, Secretary Jim Malinowski Commissioners, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, General Counsel John Eldridge, Community Engagement Specialist Morgan Van Fleet, Engineering Manager – Water Russ Knutson and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff present via digital conference (phone or video): Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti
Others present via digital conference (phone or video) or in person: Don Steinke, Alona Steinke Cathryn Chudy, Rick Marshall, Tom/Dianna Gordon and Peter Harrison.
Press representatives: None
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business and noted a quorum was present and Director of Engineering Cal Morris was at the table while CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler was excused, the agenda was approved as presented (Materials A).
Public Comment
The following represents a brief summary of comments made by members of the public in attendance:
Cathryn Chudy thank Clark Public Utilities for the transparent and interactive online process with the Integrated Resource Plan and provided her thoughts on the City of Vancouver Climate Action Plan and the identification by the City that Clark Public Utilities is an important community partner in the plan.
Peter Harrison shared his support of nuclear power and specifically small modular reactors. He discussed the use of protons in nuclear power and medicine.
If members of the public have provided 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 July 19, 2022
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 August 9, 2022 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $24,980,474.32
Water Revenue Fund – $583,007.86
Generating System Fund – $579,164.25
For a total of $26,142,646.43
Clark County Right of Way Acquisition at Ludlum Reservoir Site
Director of Water Doug Quinn reviewed the memo dated July 26, 2022 outlining the proposed right-of-acquisition at Ludlum Reservoir Site (Materials D). Clark County is requesting to purchase a five-foot strip of property at our Ludlum Reservoir site to construct a sidewalk and a retaining wall along NE 68th St. in Hazel Dell. Staff is recommending approval of the proposed sale.
Commissioner Malinowski moved to sell Clark County a five-foot strip along the NE 68th St. frontage of the Ludlum Reservoir site for $8,000, Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
City of Battle Ground Water Service Area Transfer
Director of Water Doug Quinn reviewed the memo dated July 26, 2022 outlining the City of Battle Ground’s request to transfer the Wapiti Hills subdivision that is within Clark Public Utilities water service area and inside the City of Battle Ground city limits to City of Battle Ground water service territory. Staff recommends approval of this transfer in accordance with the procedures in the Clark County Coordinated Water System Plan.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to grant CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler the authorization to sign the agreement to transfer the area as described in accordance with the procedures in the Clark County Coordinated Water System Plan. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
June Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials F). June weather was warmer and wetter than normal, which resulted in electric revenues coming in above budget and off system sales below budget. June residential sales were 104.2% of budget, commercial sales were 99.7% and industrial sales were 105.5% of budget. June ended with a net income of $1.4 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $2.4 million. Year-to-date net income is $21.6 million compared to a budgeted net income of $3.5 million.
Ms. Ankeny provided conservation program, electric system capital and generating system capital spending summaries through June. A mid-year update detailing our COVID accounts receivables was also provided.
The Water System ended June with 440 new customers year-to-date, which is a growth rate of 2.24%. June ended with a net income loss of $501,000 compared to a budgeted loss of $105,000. Year-to-date net income loss is $1.6 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $1.5 million.
June Wholesale Operations
Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury addressed the board (Materials G). Mr. Bedbury provided an update on power supply noting that Slice generation was 73 aMW above budget and loads in May were 13 aMW above budget. Increased air conditioning in recent years has shaped Utility loads into a dual peaking utility.
Other than testing on June 11, River Road Generating Plant was displaced for the month of June.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at an Energy Northwest Executive Board Workshop.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported and her attendance at The Energy Authority Partner meeting, Public Power Council meetings and the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee meeting.
Staff Reports
Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix provided the board with an update on additional Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding coming to the Utility.
Public Comment
There were no additional public comments.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:34 a.m.