Automatic meters aid PUD in identifying problems

The Wahkiakum County PUD Board of Commissioners listened to a report from General Manager Dave Tramblie and discussed several items on Tuesday.

The automatic meter reading meters are helping the PUD resolve issues more quickly, Tramblie says.

Concerned about high consumption on Puget Island last weekend, Tramblie decided to have all the meters read on Wednesday. Within two and a half hours, they had narrowed the problem down to two accounts. Tramblie contacted the customers and the issue was resolved.

“It’s a great tool that we have,” Tramblie said. “We’re saving water, and we’re saving our customers money.”

Tramblie reported that he had received 14 requests for connections to new homes last year, and two already this year.

“We’re seeing some growth,” Tramblie said.

Tramblie will be giving a presentation to the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Community Economic Revitalization Board on Thursday as part of an application for a $50,000 grant for a broadband feasibility study. He expects to know their decision that day.

A suggestion from Commissioner Dennis Reid led to a discussion about temporary succession if the general manager was unable to do his job for a period of time due to an illness or for some other reason. Nothing was determined, though a resolution from 2004 allows the auditor to act in his place.

“We’ll work on it,” Tramblie said.

Commissioner Bob Jungers reported that he had recently defended the general manager's use of a PUD truck, citing that it allowed Tramblie to respond rapidly, even from home, in emergency situations and that it was part of his compensation package.

Commissioners approved the purchase of a brush cutter and travel expense for Shane Pfenniger and Mark Elliott to attend two foreman leadership programs this year.