Your PUD News Release
PUD nears completion on transmission line repairs
Chelan County PUD
News Release
7/28/2008
Chelan PUD commissioners ratified a declaration of emergency made to facilitate speedy repairs to a transmission line damaged in the Badger Mountain fire on July 8. The declaration of emergency made by General Manager Rich Riazzi earlier this month allowed the utility to negotiate quickly with qualified contractors and vendors on the project.
Kirk Hudson, director of Transmission and Distribution Line Operations, told commissions the last two pole structures would be repaired Monday and the line could be energized by Tuesday. The line, called Columbia 2, is a critical part of the Mid-Columbia transmission system carrying electricity from Rocky Reach Hydro Project to the regional system and to the Alcoa aluminum plant near Rock Island.
Hudson said 28 structures were damaged along a 4-mile stretch of the line. Repairs included replacing burned poles, attaching cross arms and equipment, and repairing and restringing wire.
In another action, commissioners approved adding the approximately $1.1 million project cost to the capital items list for Rocky Reach. The cost will be shared by major power purchasers. Chelan PUD will be responsible for a little more than 15 percent of the total.
Hydro projects proceeding well
Randy Lowe, Executive Manager of Energy Resources, told commissioners that major hydro improvement projects are going well. Included on the list are modernization work at Rock Island and Chelan hydro projects as well as work establishing salmon habitat at the mouth of the Chelan River.
Lowe also said that water flows in the Columbia are falling back to summer levels, and that power markets are settling down following typical spring volatility.
In other business, commissioners:
- Approved the addition of three parcels of property to the Monitor water system Local Utility District. The parcels will be subject to the same costs and assessments as property already in the LUD.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, 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 http://www.chelanpud.org.
Jeri Freimuth
Chelan County PUD
(509) 661-4504
(509) 668-0267 cell
Jeri.freimuth@chelanpud.org