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Rock Island modernization moves forward

Chelan County PUD
News Release
7/16/2007

Chelan County PUD commissioners Monday approved calling for bids to continue the multi-million dollar modernization of the oldest powerhouse on the Columbia River, at Rock Island Dam.

The proposed project would replace four of the original generators in the dam in the next two years. It is expected that work on the dam’s first generator would start in 2008.

Staff reported that the units’ turbines are in good shape, and should last another 20 years, but the older generators are showing their age and need replacement. They were installed in the 1930s.

Current work on Powerhouse 1 includes removing the dam’s tenth unit, or B10, and installing both a new turbine and generator. If the new unit works well, units 5 through 9 would also be upgraded.

B10 is one of the six units added in the 1950s to the original powerhouse at Rock Island Dam. And it is the first unit at Rock Island being replaced in the modernization program designed to keep the turbines spinning efficiently for another 50 years.

Click here for more information on Rock Island modernization.

In other business, PUD commissioners:

• Authorized an agreement with R.W. Beck, Seattle, to study improvements to McKenzie Switchyard, the PUD facility that routes power to Alcoa Wenatchee Works. Alcoa, who purchases about 15 percent of the PUD’s power output, will reimburse the PUD for the costs of the study.
• Heard from General Counsel Carol Wardell that a biological opinion from National Marine Fisheries Service on the pending new license for Rocky Reach Dam has been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This puts the PUD one step closer to a new long-term license to operate the dam. A biological opinion from U.S. Fish and Wildlife on bull trout and other native fish species is pending.
• Authorized repairing a cracked turbine runner at Stehekin so diesel generators would not have to be used as much. A replacement for the cracked runner is being manufactured, and it was thought that diesel power was the only alternative until the new runner arrives next spring. Now engineers say the old cracked runner can be repaired and put back into service until the new one arrives. The PUD will then have a spare.
• Heard from Chief Financial Officer Joe Jarvis with an update on PUD debt and investments. Jarvis reported that a 2004 choice to move to variable rate debt on some bonds has saved the PUD almost $1.4 million to date. He also reported that the PUD earned 5.21 percent on about $374 million in investments during the second quarter of 2007.
• Recessed and continued to 6 p.m. Monday at Leonardo’s, 1311 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, to meet with commissioners and managers from Grant and Douglas PUDs.
• Canceled the July 23 board meeting.

***

PUD commissioners canceled their July 23 meeting, so the next regular meeting of the Commission is at 1 p.m. on July 30, 2007, in the boardroom at PUD headquarters, 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.

Christy Shearer
Communications Audio-visual Specialist
Chelan County PUD
509.661.4258 office
509.421.4258 cell
509.661.8133 fax
christy.shearer@chelanpud.org