Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
June 4, 2024
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Present: President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, General Counsel John Eldridge, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Community Engagement Specialist Morgan Van Fleet, PIO/Media Specialist Dameon Pesanti, Joint Utilities Specialist Jason Nemjo and Assistant to the CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff via digital conference (phone or video): None
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Peter Harrison, James Oneil, Gordon Matthews, Sherry Erickson, Don Steinke and Tom Gordon.
At 9:00 a.m., President Malinowski called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business, Commissioner Van Dyke was excused from the meeting and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Don Steinke provided comment on the Washington State Department of Commerce grants that have been awarded and the impacts of the Climate Commitment Act on low and middle income rate payers.
Peter Harrison provided comment on Bonneville Power Administration being over budget, the need for backup resources and his personal planned solar array.
Gordon Matthews provided comment on the expected financial loss at Bonneville Power Administration and his recommendation to not be dependent on the market.
Full written comments if provided are available upon request – please email [email protected] for a copy.
Consideration of the Minutes of May 21, 2024
The minutes were approved as presented.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated June 4, 2024 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $8,661,743.31
Water Revenue Fund – $799,095.21
Generating System Fund – $2,404,821.06
For a total of $11,865,659.58
Employee Service Award Recognition
Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix recognized Senior Customer Service Representative Jason Hutcheson for his 25 years of service (Materials D).
Consideration of Resolutions of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1450, 1474 and 1481
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1450, 1474 and 1481.
Resolution No. 7847 – LUD No. 1450 – M&H Subdivision
Resolution No. 7848 – LUD No. 1474 – Rachels Ranch PH3
Resolution No. 7849 – LUD No. 1481 – Stones Throw PH 2
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Malinowski opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Barnes, seconded by Commissioner Malinowski, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7847 – 7849 be adopted (Materials E).
Water Use Efficiency Program Update
Water Quality Manager John Roth reviewed the memo date June 4, 2024 (Materials F). With the board’s approval of the Water System Plan last month, Clark Public Utilities is now updating the Water Use Efficiency Program. Mr. Roth noted that the goals are relatively unchanged from 2010 with only a few updates. Conversion of all water meters to AMR moves readings from bi-monthly to monthly, and the program indicates utility will actively pursue water theft from the system.
The updated Water Use Efficiency Program is posted on the Clark Public Utilities website and public comments will be received for the next two weeks. A Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 during the Commission Meeting; following the Public Hearing, staff will ask for approval of the Water Use Efficiency Program.
Bonneville Power Administration Product Choice Review
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials G) and began with a review of Clark Public Utilities’ resource portfolio over nearly 30 years of history. Mr. Andersen provided a summary of the opportunity Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is offering Slice/Block customers to change products to a load following option, and reviewed potential impacts to the Provider of Choice Contract.
Mr. Andersen reviewed the historic benefits and current challenges of the Slice/Block Product, shared future Northwest regional load forecasts, provided a history of capacity/call option purchases and load/resource balance opportunities, and offered a summary of load following product considerations and preliminary power cost projections. Mr. Andersen noted River Road Generating Plant risks regardless of which product is selected.
Staff will come to the June 18, 2024 Commission Meeting asking for a decision from the board regarding product choice.
April Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials H). Weather was drier and warmer than normal, which resulted in electric revenues above budget and off system sales below budget. April residential sales were 98.3% of budget, commercial sales were 100.8% and industrial sales were 92.3% of budget. April ended the month with a net income loss of $2.8 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $935,000 and a year-to-date net income of $2.8 million compared to a budgeted year-to-date net income of $4.3 million.
The Water System ended April with 239 new customers, which is a growth rate of 1.75% year-to-date. April ended with a net income loss of $147,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $321,000 for a year-to-date net income loss of $264,000 compared to a year-to-date budgeted net income loss of $1.3 million.
April Wholesale Operations
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials I). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that April Slice generation was 54 aMW below budget and loads in April were 11 aMW below budget. April Slice production was 137 aMW, 39% less than the budget of 190 aMW and 5% less than The Energy Authority forecast of 144 aMW. Projected annual Slice generation is near 159 aMW, slightly above last year’s 157 aMW and well below the budget of 175 aMW.
Combine Hills I generation was 11.5 aMW, which was 22% less than the budgeted 14.7 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 31% of all hours. Combine Hills II generation was 23.7 aMW, 23% more than the budgeted 22.3 aMW, and generation was 0 MW approximately 28% of all hours.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
There were no reports or comments.
Staff Reports
There were no staff reports.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:16 a.m.