Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
May 7, 2024
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
Present: Vice President Nancy Barnes, Secretary Jane Van Dyke 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 Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Senior Communications Manager Heather Allmain, Energy Clean Energy Project Manager Matt Babbitts, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline, 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): President Jim Malinowski Commissioner.
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 and the agenda was approved as presented (Materials B).
Public Comment
Peter Harrison shared detailed output and return on investment information about his planned personal solar arrays and battery plans.
Full written comments if provided are available upon request – please email [email protected] for a copy.
Consideration of the Minutes of April 16, 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 May 7, 2024 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $14,426,181.47
Water Revenue Fund – $599,827.98
Generating System Fund – $591,098.63
For a total of $15,617,108.08
Employee Service Award Recognition
Director of Engineering Cal Morris recognized Joint Utilities Specialist Jason Nemjo for his 25 years of service (Materials D).
Consideration of Resolutions of Intent to Establish LUD Nos. 1470 and 1480
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District Nos. 1450, 1474 and 1481.
Resolution No. 7843 – LUD No. 1450 – M&H Subdivision
Resolution No. 7844 – LUD No. 1474 – Rachels Ranch PH 3
Resolution No. 7845 – 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 Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Barnes, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7843 – 7845 be adopted and a public hearing was set for June 4, 2024 (Materials E).
Consideration of Bid Award No. 673 – LED Acorn Post Top Luminares
Director of Operations/Interim Director of Water Gene Morris reviewed the memo dated May 7, 2024 detailing the bid results (Materials F). Commissioner Barnes moved to recommend that Bid No. 673 be awarded to the low evaluated bidder Irby Utility, in the estimated (2) year contract amount of $504,000 ($630/ea. x 800 units) plus applicable taxes. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Consideration of Industrial Rate Schedule 285 Adjustment
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen provided an overview of the retail rate setting and the considerations that were used in determining the rates for the March 1, 2024 increase (Materials G). In order to achieve a 14.5 percent increase for Rate Schedule 285 and Rate Schedule 234 staff recommended the energy rate for Rate Schedule 285 be reduced to 4.85 cents/kWh to be the same as Rate Schedule 234.
Commissioner Barnes moved to revise Schedule 285 Rates for industrial electric service as presented; Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion. Commissioner Malinowski opened the public hearing there being no comments the hearing was closed. The motion unanimously carried.
Electric Vehicle Managed Charging Pilot Program Update
Clean Energy Program Manager Matt Babbitts provided an update on the Utility’s electric vehicle managed charging pilot program (Materials H). Mr. Babbitts outlined the different types of demand response program designs, Clark Public Utilities Electric Vehicle Managed Charging Pilot Program, how the pilot is going so far and the plans for the future regarding demand response programs.
The pilot program started in response to the Clean Energy Transformation Act requirement for a demand response targets and programs to achieve those targets.
2023 Second Half Customer Research Update
Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline reviewed his presentation outlining customer research results (Materials I). Mr. Daline shared transactional and sentiment survey results for the second half of 2023. Key takeaways included the continuing impacts of COVID-19, improving employment but ongoing financial struggles in the community, 73% of customers believe electric service is the best value of utilities and almost all customers are familiar with the utility. Overall, customers are still overwhelmingly satisfied with the utility and the service they receive.
March Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials J). Weather was drier and warmer than normal, which resulted in electric revenues above budget and off system sales below budget. March residential sales were 103% of budget, commercial sales were 105.5% and industrial sales were 93.2% of budget. March ended the month with a net income of $1.3 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $1.2 million and a year-to-date net income of $5.6 million compared to a budgeted year-to-date net income of $5.2 million.
The Water System ended March with 176 new customers, which is a growth rate of 1.72% year-to-date. March ended with a net income of $21,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $455,000 for a year-to-date net income loss of $118,000 compared to a year-to-date budgeted net income loss of $991,000.
March Wholesale Operations
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials J). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that March Slice generation was 19 aMW below budget and loads in March were 10 aMW above budget. March Slice production was 165 aMW, 11% less than the budget of 184 aMW and 3% less than The Energy Authority forecast of 170 aMW. March is the sixth month of the water year and currently projected 80% of average runoff, 2023 finished the year at 75% of average.
Combine Hills I generation was of 7.3 aMW, which was 52% less than the budgeted 15.1 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 57% of all hours. Combine Hills II generation was 20.1 aMW, 12% less than the budgeted 22.8 aMW, and generation was 0 MW approximately 35% of all hours.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Barnes reported on her attendance at the Public Power Council and Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee meetings.
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her attendance at the Public Power Council meetings.
Commissioner Malinowski reported on the exit interview for the Clean Energy Transformation Act audit.
Staff Reports
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler reported on the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee load resource report and the recognition received from the Clark County Food Bank and Clark Public Utilities continued support.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.