Your PUD PUD News Line

2/3/2005

Monthly meter reading on the horizon

PUD commissioners were informed at Monday afternoon’s board meeting that staff plans to move to monthly meter reading to match last year’s change to monthly billing.

Customers have expressed frustration with the new system of reading customers’ meters every other month and estimating consumption in the off month. Many found the bills and the estimates confusing.

The PUD expects the new procedure will require a handful of new meter readers and could be in place by midyear.

Watch for more information in future issues of PUD News Line.

Click here to listen to the audio recording of the board meeting.

Finishing touches on computer contract

PUD commissioners have authorized the finishing touches to a contract with Maximus Inc., who helped with design, development and technical support on a new PeopleSoft computer system as the PUD switched business systems.

The change reflects a $173,368 decrease to the contract, for a revised price of $6.7 million. The amendment also includes a reduction in technical support for applications that won’t be used at this time.

In addition, Maximus will not charge the PUD for 240 future technical support hours as a settlement for liquidated damages.

Last week, several PUD employees provided documentation to commissioners and rebutted statements in recent newspaper articles concerning decisions made during the project and the impact of Oracle’s takeover of PeopleSoft. For details, click here.

Dryden canal work complete

Repair work to improve and protect the Dryden irrigation canal was completed recently.

In 2003, PUD employees noticed leaks and coordinated emergency repairs to line about 200 feet of the canal downstream from the intake structure. This year’s work, which included lining about 1,500 feet of the canal with a fabric membrane and 3 inches of concrete, was above and below the section lined last year.

The PUD has owned the first 2-mile stretch of the canal, which runs parallel to the Wenatchee River, since 1948 when the Dryden Dam was acquired. The rest of the canal is owned and maintained by the Wenatchee Reclamation District.

The $416,000 project was completed under budget and will protect the canal for downstream irrigators well into the future.

Click here for more information.

Commissioners on the air

Besides having an audio recording of the entire board meeting available on the PUD Web site (www.chelanpud.org), board members now have a new opportunity to discuss business meetings every two weeks on KPQ’s afternoon news show at 4 p.m. The next broadcast will be on Feb. 14.

Learn more about your Chelan County PUD at www.chelanpud.org

Residents of Chelan County can now
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