PUD looking for new commissioner

Wahkiakum Public Utility District Commissioners Dennis Reid and Bob Jungers voted Tuesday to broaden the search for a Position One commissioner to fill the position vacated by Larry Reese, who was not present at the meeting.

Commissioners accepted Reese’s resignation which is effective March 31. The district will enlarge ads and advertise in The Longview Daily News as well as The Wahkiakum Eagle and accept resumes through March 18 at 4 p.m.

“I want to do this thoroughly,” Jungers said. “It’s an important position.”

The commissioners will interview candidates at its regular public meeting on April 5. The appointment will last through December 31, 2012, when the new commissioner must run for election for the remaining two years of the term, Attorney Tim Hanigan advised.

The board has 90 days after a commissioner resigns, or until June 5, to fill a vacancy. If they do not make an appointment, the task falls to the Wahkiakum County Commissioners.

Commissioners are paid $1300 per month and receive health benefits with medical, dental, and vision coverage through a self-insurance pool for themselves and dependents. This year the PUD is paying $667.33 per month for an individual for the preferred provider plan.

The candidate must live and be a registered voter of East Puget Island, West Puget Island or South Cathlamet precincts. Applicants may call Dave Tramblie with questions at 360-795-3266.

In other business, the board voted to buy a new transformer for the planned Wahkiakum substation, consistent with recommendations in a previous study.

Manager Dave Tramblie reported that Bonneville Power Administration plans to have the design for the tap for new Wahkiakum substation ready on April 29. The PUD could go to bid two months after that. The cost of copper which may be rising, is only about 10 percent of the price of the transformer, Tramblie said, in answer to concerns voiced by Jungers about delaying.

Mark Ralston, the PUD’s BPA energy conservation representative, advised Auditor Erin Wilson that customers may be contacted by phone for a survey of their energy conservation habits. If BPA needs information about a customer’s bills, the PUD would get the customers’ consent to release information, Wilson said.

Commissioner Reid questioned whether customers could pay bills online.

At present, customers can make debit or credit card purchases online, Wilson said. She estimated that 5 percent of customers pay online. The PUD is in the process of installing new billing software which will allow customers to set up automatic bill paying from their bank accounts online, Wilson said.

Reid questioned direct payments to Rawhide Electric for BPA rebates for installation of ductless heat pumps. Wilson said the rebate can be paid directly to the contractor.

“If the contractor will wait for payment from the PUD, there is less out of pocket expense for the homeowner. That’s good,” Reid said.

Wilson said the PUD will likely exhaust available funds allocated from BPA for rebates. But the PUD could request more funds, and there may be up to $52,000 available on an annual basis. Tramblie said.

The board met in executive session to discuss a personnel matter, and no action resulted.