Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
September 17, 2024
A meeting of Commissioners of Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County was held at 1200 Fort Vancouver Way on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Present: President Jim Malinowski, Vice President Nancy Barnes, Secretary Jane Van Dyke Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, General Counsel John Eldridge, Director of Information Services Jeff Groff, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, Customer Service Manager Robert Hill, Transmission and Distribution Manager Brian Roden, Engineering Manager – Water Tyler Clary and Assistant to CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Others present in person or via digital conference (phone or video): Peter Harrison, Gordon Matthews, Sherry Erickson, Rick Marshall, James O’Neil, 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 provided comments on politics and marketing.
Full written comments if provided are available upon request – please email [email protected] for a copy.
Consideration of the Minutes of September 3, 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 September 17, 2024 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $8,145,215.45
Water Revenue Fund – $371,306.97
Generating System Fund – $587,452.49
For a total of $9,103,974.91
Consideration of Uncollectable Debt First Half 2024
Customer Service Manager Robert Hill provided the board with an overview of the uncollectable accounts for the first half of 2024 (Materials D). Net losses to revenue remain low and recoveries are down significantly from previous years. Percentage of net losses to revenue for the previous five years averaged .28%. Mr. Hill predicted an increase in uncollectable account balances in 2025. Staff is requesting approval to charge $439,826 to uncollectable accounts for the first half of 2024.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved charge $439,826 to uncollectable accounts for the first half of 2024, Commissioner Barnes seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
July Financials
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny addressed the board (Materials E). Weather was warmer and drier than normal, which resulted in electric revenues and off system sales above budget. July residential sales were 124.2% of budget, commercial sales were 97.5% and industrial sales were 94.9% of budget. July ended the month with a net income loss of $2.7 million compared to a budgeted net income of $722,000 and a year-to-date net income loss of $716,000 compared to a budgeted year-to-date net income loss of $1.7 million.
The Water System ended July with 475 new customers, which is a growth rate of 1.98% year-to-date. July ended with a net income of $920,000 compared to a budgeted net income loss of $628,000 for a year-to-date net income of $1.1 million compared to a year-to-date budgeted net income loss of $876,000.
July Wholesale Operations
Director of Energy Resources Steve Andersen addressed the board (Materials F). Mr. Andersen provided an update on power supply noting that July Slice generation was 2 aMW below budget and loads in July were 53 aMW above budget. July Slice production was 182 aMW, .09% less than the budget of 184 aMW and 4% less than The Energy Authority forecast of 189 aMW. Projected annual Slice generation is near 157 aMW, which is the same as last year and well below the budget of 175 aMW.
Combine Hills I generation was 8.9 aMW, which was 23% less than the budgeted 11.6 aMW. Generation was 0 MW approximately 38% of all hours. Combine Hills II generation was 16.6 aMW, 5% less than the budgeted 17.5 aMW, and generation was 0 MW approximately 36% of all hours.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioner Van Dyke reported on Public Power Council and Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee meetings.
Commissioner Malinowski reported on his attendance at the Energy Northwest meetings.
Staff Reports
CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler shared the Smart Climate Award the utility received for the Community Solar East project and the new JD Power Award for most appealing brand.
Director of Communications and Corporate Citizenship Erica Erland updated the board on two Community Grant Projects that were recently approved; one for Second Step Housing and the other for a Community Roots project.
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny provided the board with an update on the recent bond sale.
Other Business before the Board
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:34 a.m.