Meeting of Commissioners of
Public Utility District No. 1 of Clark County, Washington
September 20, 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, September 20, 2022.
Present: President Nancy Barnes, Vice President Jane Van Dyke, Secretary Jim Malinowski Commissioners, CEO/General Manager Lena Wittler, Director of Engineering Cal Morris, Director of Energy Resources Dan Bedbury, Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny, Director of Employee Resources Nichole Reitzenstein, Director of Customer Service Lisa Fix, General Counsel John Eldridge, Power Manager Steve Andersen, Energy Resources Project Manager Matt Babbitts, Business Applications Supervisor Michael Nino and Assistant to the CEO/General Manager Margaret Anderson.
Staff present via digital conference (phone or video): Energy Resource Manager Terry Toland and Manager of Energy Planning and Operations Tom Haymaker.
Others present via digital conference (phone or video) or in person: Christine Reynolds, Leslie Kryer, Debbi Haskins, Michael Langsdorf, Rick Marshall, Cathryn Chudy, Mike Burwanger, Michel Maupoux, Nancy Helget and Bryan Kast.
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 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 shared her concerns regarding the million-dollar investment to the River Road Generating Plant, adding this does nothing to eliminate the emissions at the plant. Ms. Chudy would like the plant shut down as soon as possible.
Nancy Helget shared her concerns about the River Road Generating Plant gas emissions and encourages the Utility to shut the plant down as soon as possible.
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 September 6, 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 September 22, 2022 from the District Auditor (Materials C):
Electric Revenue Fund – $20,454,222.10
Water Revenue Fund – $1,174,835.40
Generating System Fund – $364,576.46
For a total of $21,933,633.96
Consideration of Resolutions for Electric System and Generating System Bond Sale
Director of Finance Melissa Ankeny reviewed the presentation outlining the bond sale schedule (Materials D). Ms. Ankeny reported that our credit ratings had remained the same for all three agencies and the purpose of the bond sale for each system was reviewed.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to adopt Resolution No. 7730 providing for the sale, issuance and delivery of Clark Public Utilities Electric System Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2022, in the principal amount of not to exceed $90,000,000. The resolution delegates the authority to the CEO/General Manager or the Director of Finance to sign the bond purchase agreement. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Malinowski moved to adopt Resolution No. 7731 providing for the sale, issuance and delivery of Clark Public Utilities Generating System Revenue Bonds, Series 2022, in the principal amount of not to exceed $40,000,000. The resolution delegates the authority to the CEO/General Manager or the Director of Finance to sign the bond purchase agreement. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Consideration of Long Term Service Agreement for the River Road Generating Plant and Consideration of the Use of 2019 Surplus Resource Adequacy Funds for the Purchase of the Flex Product Included in the Long Term Service Agreement
Power Manager Steve Andersen reviewed the presentation summarizing the Long Term Service Agreement (LTSA) with GE, noting its expiration in May of 2023 (Materials E). In 2020 Power Systems Manufacturing (PSM) installed the Autotune software at the River Road Generating Plant (RRGP), during that time the Utility began to explore PSM’s flex product that would allow RRGP to turn down generation at the plant as needed.
Mr. Andersen reviewed the proposed LTSA with PSM, the RRGP flexibility product benefits, the installation timeline and its integration with the Clean Energy Implementation Act and Clark Public Utilities Integrated Resource Plan. Staff is recommending to move the LTSA to PSM starting in June 2023 and to purchase PSM’s hardware and software associated with their Flamesheet. In addition, staff is recommending the use of 2019 surplus resource adequacy funds for purchase and installation of the Flex Product.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved for approval for staff to contract with Power Systems Manufacturing, LLC for services and products enumerated in the Long Term Services Agreement, including the purchase and installation of the hardware and software associated with their Flamesheet at the River Road Generating Plant. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Commissioner Malinowski moved to apply $17,050,000 of the 2019 surplus resource adequacy funds for the Power System Manufacturing, LLC Flex Product included in the Long Term Service Agreement with Power Systems Manufacturing, LLC. Payments to be made in 2023-2025. Commissioner Van Dyke seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Commissioner Van Dyke moved to waive the competitive bidding requirements for the Long Term Service Agreement with Power Systems Manufacturing due to the uniqueness of the services being provided to the Utility at the River Road Generating Plant. Commissioner Malinowski seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Commissioner Reports and Comments
Commissioners Barnes, Van Dyke and Malinowski reported on their attendance at the Washington PUD Association Meetings.
Staff Reports
Energy Resources Project Manager Matt Babbitts provided the board with updates on the Climate Commitment Act, rulemaking timeline and the electric utility cost burden forecast.
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 11:00 a.m.