PUD considers energy conservation

PUD Commissioners listened to a report from Lia Sealund, Customer Service Representative for the PUD, on energy conservation this week.

Sealund said that the PUD management had been exploring the best way to prioritize the PUD’s future conservation rate credits from Bonneville Power Administration.

She said the PUD had decided to look at the types of rate credits available to the PUD and how the money could be utilized, and also how to determine the most effective use of the credits.

Sealund told Commissioners that 50 percent to 70 percent of all residential customers electrical utility costs come from heating and cooling their homes. And that 46 percent of all that energy is lost through the home's floors, ceilings, walls and ducts.

Commissioners also learned that the PUD was recommending any investment of PUD’s energy conservation credits should first be directed at homes with leaky forced air ducts, and then homes with poor, or no insulation.

“As far as an initial investment is concerned our research shows that duct work should be the first priority,” said Sealund.

Sealund noted that when the PUD looks at the BPA’s allotment for energy conservation there is a flat amount Bonneville is willing to pay. Bonneville said their cost-per-home upgrade is variable and usually will run close to $500-$750 per home.

She said there is very little investment needed on the part of Wahkiakum’s PUD.

Wahkiakum PUD receives $20,000 from the BPA for energy conservation, and PUD Manager David Tramblie told commissioners, “Based on those numbers you are looking at 40-homes, or less.”

“It’s hard to make a big impact with those $20,000,” said Commissioner Larry Reese.

Sealund related that there would also be some specific certifications needed by any contractor bidding on the work and that there might be additional funding available for training local contractors through the BPA or other related agencies.

Eventually the PUD would build a list of contractors licensed in Wahkiakum County to insulate homes.

Commissioners expressed concern over who would inspect any work completed by a contractor assigned to a project. “We can develop our own methods for inspection,” said Sealund.

“This is an option we want to make sure you three are on board with, if you’re uncomfortable we can change direction. But given the information we have it seems the best use of our funds,” said Tramblie.

Commissioner Larry Reese suggested to the board that the PUD try and come up with a matching fund program where the home owner would pay half and the PUD would pay half. “That way we could get the number of homes insulated up to maybe 80,” he said.

“I think this is the consensus of the board that this is the direction we want to travel,” said Commissioner Robert Jungers.

In other business:

--The PUD received $27,700 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the snow damage to its electrical lines last winter.