Your PUD
News Release
Dock permitting to continue on PUD lands
Chelan County PUD
News Release
5/12/2008
After discussing the issue at numerous meetings since February, a majority of Chelan County PUD commissioners voted Monday to allow more permits for private docks over PUD-owned land on Lake Chelan and the Rocky Reach reservoir.
Commissioners Norm Gutzwiler and Werner Janssen voted against the proposal. Janssen stated that he did not feel the resolution was fair for the majority of customer-owners. He said, “Since we spend so much money mitigating fish problems, it just doesn’t make sense to allow more docks.”
Gutzwiler did not comment on his vote. Supporting the measure were Commissioners Ann Congdon, Randy Smith and Dennis Bolz.
The Water Street area in Chelan may be reconsidered later, as the city in the process of determining its interest in a possible “micro” park there.
The resolution contained the following conditions:
- Continue to issue permits for private docks on PUD-owned land above and below the water;
- Charge market rates for permits, with adjustments at least every five years -- and as often as annually if the market changes abruptly;
- Continue a 90-day cancellation provision, but add that it would be for District need.
Further efficiencies added to PUD tool box
To increase efficiency, commissioners approved delegating additional authority to the general manager in certain cases regarding contracts and purchasing.
As an example, the general manager can now approve contracts up to $3 million with no material exceptions.
Commissioners expect the changes will reduce the number of resolutions coming before them while increasing other opportunities for board review.
The changes will streamline the contract approval process for low-risk projects, while enhancing the board’s involvement. Staff believes that the contracting process can be shortened by up to two months.
Commissioner Randy Smith commented that the changes not only improve efficiency, but also transparency.
Late snow runoff reduces revenue
Chelan County PUD’s first quarter financial update revolved around late snow runoff.
A colder-than-normal January through March has resulted in the PUD’s wholesale power sales being almost $4 million less than the first quarter of last year. So while power prices are high on the open market, the PUD has not been able to capture revenue without water from snow to produce hydropower.
In addition, the PUD’s investments are earning less interest with rates going down.
Chief Financial Officer Joe Jarvis said of the financials, “We’re subject to both wholesale volatility and investment-rate risk.”
Jarvis also noted that the PUD still has to take steps to maintain future financial health.
PUD takes a look at power resources
Preliminary analysis shows that the PUD will be able to meet state requirements for renewable resources through 2018 without having to build new generation or buy potentially expensive Renewable Energy Credits.
The news on renewables came in a report on the Integrated Resource Plan, which also shows an ample supply of power to meet local needs through the next decade.
The PUD will meet the requirements of Initiative 937 thanks to its participation in Nine Canyon Wind Farm, operated by Energy Northwest near the Tri-Cities, and incremental hydropower from more efficient use of water at PUD dams. I-937, passed in 2006, requires Chelan PUD to serve at least 9 percent of its local load with eligible renewable energy by 2016, and 15 percent of load by 2020.
“It is not lost on me how significant it is that you are able to say ‘Based on our current interpretation we will meet the new renewables requirement through 2018 without any change in what our current plans are.’ That is significant,” said Commissioner Randy Smith.
Becky King, Power Resource analyst, said the IRP report should be complete by July 14 and must be submitted to the state by Sept. 1. The planning process is dynamic and will be ongoing, King said.
Commissioner Ann Congdon encouraged customer-owners to comment on the IRP. The next public report is tentatively scheduled for the June 9 board meeting.
Comments can also be submitted on the PUD Web site at http://www.chelanpud.org/IRP.html
In other business, PUD commissioners:
- Met Bill Larson, the PUD’s new deputy director of Security. Larson recently retired from the Washington State Patrol after a 28-year career.
- Approved a $150,000 increase to the budget for Resource$mart, an increasingly popular PUD program that helps industrial and commercial customers install energy-efficiency improvements to save money and electricity. The PUD pays for a portion of the up-front cost to replace, retrofit or install new equipment and can than sell energy not used locally on the wholesale market. The increase raises the 2008 budget for the program to $800,000.
- Authorized a 2-year, $1 million, contract with Accu-Read, Inc., of Spokane, for the services of a maximum of nine meter-readers. The PUD plans to install an automated meter system, and staff meter readers are taking different jobs. As the automated system is installed, the contract meter reader staff will be reduced.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 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