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PUD commissioners support Monitor water project

Chelan County PUD
News Release
2/6/2006

Chelan County PUD commissioners Monday endorsed a $1.6 million federal grant application to extend PUD water service to the Monitor area, provided that the community supports the project once a financing package is assembled to pay for construction.   

This grant application is unique in that it involves a direct request to the state’s congressional delegation. The commissioners' vote is intended to send a clear signal to Washington, D.C., of their support for the application.

Dave Johnson, PUD Water/Wastewater director, recapped the most recent effort to extend water service to Monitor. Other proposals over the last 12 years have not moved forward. The cost of the new water system is estimated at $6 million.

The project has already received a $500,000 state grant, reflecting Monitor’s need for safe drinking water as the highest priority in the state. Several other grant applications are pending, said Jeff Smith, PUD community and intergovernmental relations director.

Chelan County Commissioner Keith Goehner thanked PUD commissioners for the District’s support. The county is leading the application for another $1 million grant.

Board hears update on legislative issues

Andrew Munro, governmental affairs director, continued discussions with the board on legislative issues, including revisions to the initiative that would require state utilities to use renewable energy to meet up to 15 percent of load by 2020.

Interim General Manager Wayne Wright said he could not support a measure that does not recognize hydro power as renewable. About 70 percent of Washington’s energy comes from hydro power.

In other business, commissioners:

• Heard an update on installation of equipment to read PUD water meters from a distance. John Stoll, Customer Service director, and Ron Slabaugh, water resource engineer, said benefits to customers will include more accurate meter reading and earlier detection of leaks. The equipment will transmit water meter readings to PUD staff walking or driving by, no matter the weather or location of meters. Requests for proposals to supply the equipment will go out this spring and the first installations are expected by mid-summer.
• Received a recommendation from Power Management staff to decline participation in the third phase of the Nine Canyon Wind Project operated by Energy Northwest. Chelan County PUD already owns a 12.5-percent share of the project, equal to about 8 megawatts of wind generation. Becky King, PUD power resource analyst said questions about transmission issues and uncertainty over cost for the third phase, led to the recommendation.
• Learned that three PUD line crews, flaggers and a supervisor, 19 employees total, went to Western Washington to help restore power following last weekend’s windstorm. Crews helped Snohomish County PUD restore power over the weekend. Two of the crews returned to Wenatchee Monday. The third went to the aid of Puget Sound Energy customers near Mount Vernon and is expected to return Tuesday, said Kirk Hudson, Distribution director. 

*** 

The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, in the boardroom, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.

PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.

Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
661-4320, direct line
679-6858, cell
kimc@chelanpud.org