Your PUD
News Release
Commissioners to introduce general manager candidate
Chelan County PUD
News Release
4/17/2006
PUD commissioners Monday voted to introduce one general manager candidate to Chelan County customer-owners and PUD employees at upcoming public meetings. The time and location of the meetings will be announced next week.
Commissioners want to hear comments from customer-owners and employees before extending any potential offer of employment.
On Monday, commissioners discussed two candidates, calling them “Candidate A” and “Candidate B,” and noted their respective communication and management skills.
In a motion to introduce Candidate A to the public and employees, Commissioner Ann Congdon noted that no decision or offer has been made. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners noted Candidate A’s strong financial background, effective leadership skills and visionary qualities.
Commissioners are working to fill the vacancy created when former General Manager Charlie Hosken left the PUD in November.
In other business, commissioners:
- Heard the results of an interest-rate swap on PUD bonds. A swap allows the PUD to refinance or issue debt at a variable rate that is then swapped to fixed interest payments for the life of the debt, obtaining lower interest costs on the debt. Commissioners approved the refinancing of bonds not to exceed $140 million on April 3. Staff chose bonds totaling $137.5 million for swap transactions, with projected savings in today’s dollars of around $27.5 million.
- Received an update on the multimillion-dollar upgrades to the Lake Chelan powerhouse, dam and switchyard. Upgrades include replacing turbines, generators, governors, controls and other equipment at the 78-year-old powerhouse. The powerhouse modernization project will increase electrical generating efficiency and make the equipment reliable for another 40 years. These efficiencies are expected to pay for about 70 percent of the project costs.
- Discussed power transmission issues and ColumbiaGrid, a cooperative effort to improve transmission in the Pacific Northwest. Commissioners will be asked to become a member of the newly formed group next week. Click here to learn more.
- Reviewed the 2006 budget process.
- Set commission meeting times for April 24, May 1 and May 8, to start at 9:30 a.m., to discuss financial planning.
- Met in executive session to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment.
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PUD commissioners adjourned Monday’s meeting and continued it to 10:30 a.m. on April 18, for a public meeting with Puget Sound Energy staff at PSE’s Wenatchee office, 25 N. Mission, Suite 233.
Commissioners will hold their next regular business meeting at 9:30 a.m. on April 24, in the boardroom of the PUD Headquarters Building, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s Web site, www.chelanpud.org.
Christy Shearer
Communications Audio-visual Specialist
(509) 661-4258
(509) 421-4258 cell
christy.shearer@chelanpud.org