Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
November 5, 2019
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, November 5, 2019.
Present: President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke and Secretary Jim Malinowski Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Water Doug Quinn, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Operations Gene Morris, Director of Communications Erica Erland, Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker, Senior Legal Counsel John Eldridge, Senior Manager of Large Industrial/Conservation Planning Larry Blaufus, Manager of Energy Services Debbie DePetris, NERC Compliance Manager Jack Stamper, GIS/Joint Use Manager Ben Jarrell, Manager of Dispatch Services Randy King, Customer Experience Manager Cameron Daline and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Press Representatives: None
Others Present: Rick Marshall, Don Steinke, David Ronen and Meridee Pabst – Wireless Policy Group (Materials A)
At 9:00 a.m., President Barnes called the meeting to order for the transaction of formal business. Commissioner Barnes noted a quorum was present and the agenda (Materials B) was approved as submitted.
Consideration of the Minutes of October 15, 2019
There were no changes or corrections.
Public Comment – Non Agenda Items
Member of the public Don Steinke commented on his thoughts regarding fossil fuels and its effect on the environment. He asked that Clark Public Utilities develop a plan to get off fossil fuels and that the utility consider joining the NW Energy Coalition.
Consideration of Accounts Payable
The board, by a unanimous vote, approved the following payment amounts as listed on the Letter of Transmittal dated November 5, 2019 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $20,636,482.44
Water Revenue Fund – $2,391,659.97
Generating System Fund – $732,256.50
For a total of $23,760,398.91
Consideration of Resolutions of Intent to Establish LUD Nos. 1314 and 1378
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Intent to Establish Local Utility District Nos. 1314 and 1378.
Resolution No. 7572 – LUD No. 1314 – Harris Town Village
Resolution No. 7573 – LUD No. 1378 – Hazel Dell Landing
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Barnes opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Malinowski, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7572 and 7573 be adopted and a public hearing was set for December 3, 2019 (Materials D).
Consideration of Resolutions of Establishment of LUD Nos. 1373, and 1377
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board regarding the Establishment of Local Utility District Nos. 1373 and 1377.
Resolution No. 7574 – LUD No. 1373 – Pine Villas
Resolution No. 7575 – LUD No. 1377 – Rivendell PH 4-6
After the presentation by Mr. Morris, Commissioner Barnes opened for public comment. There being no comment, a motion was made by Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Malinowski, and unanimously carried that Resolution Nos. 7574 and 7575 be adopted (Materials E).
Consideration of Conservation Potential Assessment and I-937 Conservation 2020-2021 Biennial Targets
Senior Manager of Large Industrial Customers and Conservation Planning Larry Blaufus addressed the board (Materials F). After a review of the presentation, Mr. Blaufus recommended the approval of the 2019 Conservation Potential Assessment and the 2020-2021 I-937 conservation target of 9.87 aMW and the 2020-2029 ten-year potential of 41.83 aMW. These targets were established using the Utility Analysis Option 3 from the Conservation Potential Assessment.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved for the adoption of the Clark Public Utilities 2019 Conservation Potential Assessment and the 2020-2021 I-937 conservation target of 9.87 aMW and 2020-2029 ten–year potential of 41.83 aMW per Chapter 1494-37-070 WAC of 41.83 aMW as established using the Utility Analysis Option 3 (WAC 194-37-070-6). Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Introduction of Pole Attachment Rates
Director of Engineering Cal Morris addressed the board (Materials G) providing an introduction of the pole attachment rates that included a thorough review of the history behind current pole attachment rates and the methodology Clark used to develop the new proposed rates. The presentation provided the board with a visual perspective for the Wireline and Small Cell Antenna pole attachments.
Mr. Morris stated he would be back before the board on November 19, 2019 to proposed the final rates for Wireline and Small Cell Attachments and request that the board approve the rates.
Commissioners thank Mr. Morris and staff for work they have done on these rates. Member of the public Meridee Pabst with the Wireless Policy Group also thanked Mr. Morris and his team for the collaboration during this process.
ESource Small and Medium Business Survey Results
Manager of Energy Services Debbie DePetris presented results from the E-Source Small and Medium Business survey. Results were very positive with Clark Public Utilities ranking at the top. Ms. DePetris shared that they plan to continue to participate in this survey and that the Energy Services team will be further analyzing the results and comments provided to us by our customers.
September Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials I). September had normal temperatures and wetter weather resulting in electric revenues coming in above forecast. Ms. Ankeny reported that system sales were below budget and off system sales were above budget for the month. September residential sales were 100.2% of budget, commercial sales were 99.8% and industrial sales were 96.7% of budget. September ended with a net income of $294,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $353,000. Year-to-date net income is $24.6 million compared to a budgeted net income of $13.3 million.
The Water System ended September with 752 new customers year-to-date which is a growth rate of 2.74%. There was a net income of $903,000 for September, compared to a budgeted net income of $1.0 million. Year-to-date net income is $2.3 million compared to a budgeted net income loss of $1.4 million.
Ms. Ankeny provided the board with year-to-date summaries on conservation and capital spending.
Introduction of 2020 Budget
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided an overview of the proposed 2020 budgets for the Electric, Generating and Water Systems (Materials J). Ms. Ankeny will back before the board to ask for direction regarding the use of the low income tax credit and the approval of these budgets at the Commission meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.
September Wholesale Operations
Manager of Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker addressed the board (Materials K). Mr. Haymaker updated the board on power supply noting that Slice performed below prompt month by 20 aMW and 24 aMW below budget forecasts. Slice was 6 aMW below budget forecast for the water year, first time since Slice product started in 2012 that Clark fell below the water year forecast. Loads were slightly below budget for the month of September, power and gas prices showed consistency and the market heat rate remains very strong.
River Road Generating Plant (RRGP) was offline for a short time on September 21 in order to replace a data card. Mr. Haymaker provided the board with an overview of the updates made to the sale and scheduling regime for RRGP.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on her attendance at the American Public Power Association Legal and Regulatory Conference
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest meetings.
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 12:05 p.m.