PUD discusses legislative issues

Dave Warren and George Caan of the Washington Public Utilities District Association spoke at the Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday. Diana Thompson, the president of the WPUDA and a member of the board of commissioners for the Pacific County PUD #2 was also on hand.

Warren, the Director of Energy Services at WPUDA, spoke to the commissioners by phone about the Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Incentive Payment Program, and Caan, the executive director of WPUDA, gave an update on what was happening in the legislature and how it might affect the PUD.

General Manager Dave Tramblie recommended that the commissioners award a bid from Altec for a bucket truck in the amount of $219,750 before tax. The commissioners approved the purchase. He gave an update on the reservoir project on the Westend and reported that he had a draft agreement with BPA to install a 115kb switch to Wahkiakum substation, a project that is scheduled to start on June 15.

“Once the switch is installed, we’ll have the ability to de-energize either substation and keep all of our customers on,” Tramblie said. “That is the intent of the switch. This will be at no cost to Wahkiakum.”

Tramblie will work on a policy to define eligibility and limits to participate in the Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Incentive Payment Program at the commissioner’s request.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 17 at 8:30 a.m. in the PUD Meeting Room.