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Entiat project will involve customers in power line planning

Chelan County PUD
News Release
9/6/2005

PUD customers will be involved in developing the proposal for building a new transmission line, substation and switchyard to serve Entiat and the Entiat Valley.

Chad Rissman, Distribution senior engineer, said the new approach will take options developed by the PUD to a local steering committee. That committee will provide feedback and develop a final proposal for review by the community and eventual consideration by PUD commissioners. Members of the committee were suggested by the utility’s Entiat Customer Partnership group. US Forest Service, state Fish and Wildlife Department and state Department of Natural Resources representatives will also be invited.

The electric system, which serves about 1,000 PUD customers in Entiat and up the valley, is reaching capacity. Plans call for project design in 2006 and construction by 2008.

Randy Kono, Distribution engineer, said six options have been identified for the route of the new transmission line. Three would follow Entiat River Road and the others would run next to the BPA transmission line that heads into the hills at Earthquake Point north of Entiat.

The steering committee will start work soon. Plans are to present a recommended proposal to the community on Nov. 15 and to PUD commissioners on Nov. 28.

In other business, commissioners:

• Listened to a presentation by Randy Stedman, Human Resources director, on the budget impact of labor expenses and trends for 2006. Payroll and benefits are about 35 percent of the PUD’s annual operation and maintenance budget.
• Heard a briefing on proposed bylaw changes for NoaNet (Northwest Open Access Network) from Jack Winter, Distribution assistant general manager, and John Smith, Networks director. Chelan County PUD was a founding member of the group, which uses BPA fiber-optic lines to provide wholesale broadband access to rural areas. PUD commissioners will be asked to vote on the changes at the Sept. 12 meeting.
• Set a special meeting for 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 in the boardroom to discuss board member relationships. At this point most commissioners prefer not to use an outside facilitator. They asked Commissioner Norm Gutzwiler to consider conducting the meeting.

***

The next meeting of the PUD Board of Commissioners is at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 12, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.

Most 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