Your PUD PUD News Line

1/30/2007

Contingency planning continues

 

Commissioners and the public heard updates last week from General Manager Rich Riazzi and staff on issues affecting PUD revenue in 2007, including snowpack and volatile wholesale power prices.

The PUD hosted community meetings in Wenatchee, Chelan and Leavenworth to share information and discuss contingency planning for 2007.

Director of Power Management Randy Lowe told commissioners at the Jan. 22 meeting in Wenatchee, “We had a really good December and a good start in January,” but added the Northwest River Forecast Center believes that El Nino effects will pull down the snowpack forecast in February, March and April.

In December, commissioners gave staff the go-ahead to start planning for a possible electric rate surcharge. A formal public hearing will take place at 1 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the boardroom at Wenatchee Headquarters, with a final decision on a surcharge Feb. 20.

Photo caption: Left to right: Commissioners Randy Smith, Norm Gutzwiler, Ann Congdon, Dennis Bolz and Werner Janssen.

Wind storm recap

“It was nothing short of a heroic exercise,” General Manager Rich Riazzi said in thanking PUD employees, loaned crews, contract and tree-trimming crews for their work to restore power after the January wind storm that resulted in the loss of power for more than 20,000 customers. “I want to thank all of our customers for their patience and understanding as we went through what must be the most monumental restoration effort (here) that I know of.”

Electric system damage was most significant in central and south Wenatchee neighborhoods, in the Manson area, along the south shore of Lake Chelan and in the Entiat Valley. Overall damage to PUD electric, water and fiber systems is estimated around $2 million.
After repairing more than two miles of distribution lines and backbone fiber-optic cable, more repairs are needed:

  • Estimated 100 trees jeopardizing power lines in Chelan County that need to be cut and/or removed (still receiving new reports daily).
  • Two transmission line switches to replace
  • Estimated 30 leaning poles that need to be straightened
  • Estimated 12 poles to be replaced

Click here for maps of the outages.

Click here for a message from General Manager Rich Riazzi thanking the public for their patience as the PUD worked to restore power.

Up close and personal with Ciscoe

Ciscoe Morris and Meeghan Black, co-hosts of the popular “Gardening with Ciscoe” program on KING-5 TV, will return to the KPQ Home and Garden Show at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 11. Ciscoe will talk about gardening – including Xeriscape gardening – during a free program at the Performing Arts Center. KPQ Radio, Chelan County PUD and the East Wenatchee Water District are sponsoring their visit, which will include tips on the best way to use drought-tolerant landscaping here. Local gardeners have packed the auditorium the last three years to hear Ciscoe’s entertaining presentation and get autographs. Come early to grab a good seat. The home show runs March 9-11.

Click here for more on water conservation.

Click here to read our Water Ways newsletter, sent to PUD water/wastewater customers.

Photo caption: Ciscoe Morris, right, with co-host Meeghan Black at the 2006 KPQ Home and Garden Show.