PUD water crew updating water lines

Mark Reddemann, the CEO for Energy Northwest, along with Carla Martinez, the Public Affairs Supervisor and James Gaston, the General Manager for Energy Services attended the Wahkiakum PUD Board of Commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday to give a presentation on their work at Energy Northwest.

The mission of Energy Northwest is to provide their members “and regional ratepayers with safe, reliable, cost-effective, responsible power generation and energy solutions.”

After they left, General Manager Dave Tramblie gave an update on current projects at the PUD. He informed the commissioners that the water crew continues to update pipe on Puget Island and that they are preparing for two coming projects, Shannon Road and reservoir inspections this summer. He also said that BPA and Brown and Kysar were here this week to make improvements at the substation and he talked about a recent partnership with Port 2.

“We have been taking samples for the Vista Park water system,” Trambie said. “That seems to be working out for both entities. Port 2 also wants to add an additional 10 RV spots and we will be supplying power to them.”

After a question from Commissioner Dennis Reid, Tramblie reported that Gray and Osborne, with money that the PUD received from a grant, were putting together a survey to study the consolidation of water systems.

“I think the completion date for the survey is April 30 next year,” Tramblie said. “The state has asked that we submit quarterly reports.”

Tramblie presented an old, broken insulator to the commissioners.

“We have a number of these in our system,” he said. “This old insulator fell apart with just a little bit of shock load. We are going to be more aggressive about replacing them.”

Auditor Erin Wilson shared a little about what she had learned at a recent Washington Public Utility District Association Finance Officer Meeting, specifically from a presentation by Scott Wilson of the Bonneville Power Administration.

“He’s always interesting because he talks about their financing,” Wilson said. “They have nothing but good things to say about Energy Northwest and what a great partner they are and how refinancing has helped BPA a lot and will just help the region significantly with the capital costs that are coming up and will always be coming up.”

The commissioners approved travel for Wilson, who will attend a Washington Finance Officers Association training on internal controls provided by the State Auditor’s Office in Redmond next week.

The commissioners closed the meeting for an executive session to discuss possible litigation and complete a performance review for the general manager.