PUD commission hears reports on service, rates

At the PUD meeting on Tuesday morning, managers Jim Jespersen and Shane Pfenniger shared the status of their departments with the board.

Jespersen, water department supervisor, notified the board that more bypass meters had been installed on Puget Island.

“We’ve put in all but one of the bypass meters on Puget Island and we’ve reported some of the data so far," he said. "Using that tool we’ll know if there is a serious leak instead of just usage. Today we plan on installing the last one.”

Pfenniger, electrical department supervisor, reported that work on Second Street had been completed.

“That 900 feet down Second Street was a big deal for us," he said. "Excited to get that done.”

He also reported that they had finished some work along Elochoman Valley Road, replacing the last section of old wire. Their next project is to change the line at Nelson Creek. The poles are set and as soon as the truck is repaired they will continue work there.

“We can use that as a bypass meter,” said General Manager Dave Tramblie, “so we can isolate a section between Nelson Creek and Elochoman Valley Road. It’s a circuit that I kind have been hesitant to rebuild, but the guys have convinced me it’s valuable.”

An outage is scheduled for the Grays River substation for cleaning, maintenance on the switch, to collect samples and to get a look at the transformer.

The outage will begin at 12:01 a.m. on August 25. Outages are scheduled every five years for maintenance.

Tramblie reported on the inventory, which had less than 1 percent unaccounted for material in April. He has begun implementing changes to the system for better tracking and to prevent loss by rekeying and relocking the material yard. Employees will be required to turn in daily issue sheets and there will be another recount soon.

“Less than 1 percent is still not acceptable to me,” said Tramblie. “I need to make sure we get a hold of this.”

“It sounds like you’ve made a heck of an improvement,” said Commissioner Dennis Reid.

PUD Auditor Erin Wilson reported that she had taken a much harder look at the late notices.

“There are an average of 417 late notices each month,“ she said.

The board continued to discuss ways to cut down on the late notices and how to recoup the costs to notify residents who do not pay on time.

Commissioner Eugene Healy commented on the completed Wahkiakum substation project. “As a representative of our ratepayers, I would like to add my thanks to the Wahkiakum PUD team, your engineering firm Brown and Kysar, your main contractor JH Kelly and their subs for their great work on our behalf. Among other things these savings allowed us to refinance a $300,000 loan at the western Wahkiakum water system and make an early payment on our substation loan. For my part and the people I represent, I want to make sure that was acknowledged; that was a major project completed generally on time and well on your budget and should not go unnoticed in the annals of the PUD.” (editor's note: The print version of this story incorrectly state "refinance a $3,000 loan." The amount is corrected in the online version.)

During discussion of the proposed 9 percent rate increase by Bonneville Power Administration, Tramblie shared that there will be an 11 percent increase in transmission costs, on average.

Reid reported that he has been asked to be on the budget board for the Washington PUD Association.

Travel to Kittitas was approved for Tramblie to research their automated metering infrastructure. Wilson’s travel request for the Washington Financial Officers Association Annual Conference in Tulalip was approved as well.

The board of commissioners continued to debate the implementation of a cost of living allowance for the manager and auditor. Discussion also continued on the PUD strategic plan. It is available to view on the website, with an open invitation for public comment.