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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-02-01 Min - Board TDPUD STAFF REPORT March 16, 1996 TO: Board of Directors FROM: Peter L. Holzmelster, General Manager SUBJECT: Monthly staff report AGENDA G DA # 7 1. NCPA strategic Plan: NCPA is preparing a strategic plan to guide it into the deregulated environment. I have been attending meetings with the managers of the other NCPA members who serve as the strategic plan committee. The central idea of the committee is to make a recommendation to the NCPA Commission in August on how to best utilize the staff and assets of NCPA to help the members succeed in the new electric utility industry. 2. FERC intervention: I have been working with NCPA staff and Bob McDiarmid staff to present our interests in the SPPCo\WWP transmission case. Settlement meetings are being held and a discovery phase is under way leading up to the FERC hearing in June. 3. Truckee River Operating Agreement: I am working with local water purveyors and the Truckee River Basin Water Group to define well standards language. I will be attending meetings in Reno where the difficult negotiations occur with the State of Nevada parties. 4. Facilities Fees: I have spent considerable time research the facilities fee issues that will be coming before the Board during the next several workshop meetings. 5. IBEW: I have been working with the employee union on a list of issues of concern. This is a time consuming process but I think the improved understanding that emerges is valuable. 6. CMUA annual meeting: I attended the CMUA annual meeting in San Diego, along with Bob Jones, Ron Hemig and Scoff Terrell. The meeting session dealt with restructuring of the electric industry, what sort of legislation and regulations to expect from Washington and Sacramento, what customers will expect of us in the future, how to make use of new information technologies that are changing our world. It was a chance to hear about the problems that other water and electric utilities encounter so we can work together, or be on the alert. 7. Water rate newsletter: Our newsletter describing the recent water rate increase appears to have helped. We are receiving very few comments or questions about the rate increase. It was a very small increase, so that helps too. 8. COP refinancing: I am working with Virginia Horler to arrange for the refinancing of our 1991 water debt. The financial markets have been nervous during the past week, and we are watching to see if that changes our refinancing plan. PLH Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors Joseph R.Aguera J. Ronald Hemig "�• Business Office Planning Services Robert A.Jones (916)587-3896 (916)587-3944 FAX(916)587-5056 James A.Maass Patricia S.Sutton General Manager ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES: MARCH, 1996 STAFF REPORT Peter L.Holzmeister Submitted by Mary Chapman, March 15, 1996 CUSTOMER SERVICES: Things are relatively calm right now with the customer services staff workload. This calm period is allowing the staff to stay current on their work. They are also doing additional training relating to their new construction responsibilities which will be increasing shortly. They have received three applications for new service this week. To date, we have received almost no customer complaints regarding the water rate increase. We have received several comments on how helpful Peter's water letter has been in explaining why our water rates are as high as they are. The staff has also found the information in the letter to be very informative. Sign-ups for the electronic funds transfer have slowed down. We will be looking for additional opportunities to advertise the program. We have over 600 customers signed up on the program. This is the equivalent of one day's worth of payments that we don't have to open or process. Customers seem to like the program. I know I do. WORK ORDER ACCOUNTING: Sue has completed closing work orders for 1995. While Sue completed this task sooner than she did last year, we plan on keeping the process more current during 1996. There were a lot of changes made during 1995 that affected how much time she had available to work on managing the work order process. BILLING: The billing staff is current. Rosana and Brad have been researching stuffing equipment to replace our old equipment. They will also be implementing ACU-Mail software in the next week or two. This software works in conjunction with our billing software to update our customer zip codes and allow us to print zip codes in bar code format on the customer bills. As a result, we will qualify for additional postal discounts. /^ Rosana and Brad will also be assisting Jim Wilson and the meter reading staff at the end of the month to convert the Glenshire meters. They are currently working to update our meter file Post Office Box 309 11570 Donner Pass Road • Truckee, California 96160 electronically with the meter information on all the new meters that were purchased. If we are successful in doing this,we will be able to utilize this feature in the future. Until now,we have had to have one of our staff manually key in all of the meter information. The meter manufacturer has supplied all of the information on a CD. We are now working with Orcom to see if they can transfer the information to our meter files and thus save us a tremendous amount of time. ACCOUNTING: Payroll and accounts payable are current. We are working on the final entries for 1995 so that we can close out the year. This process cannot be complete until work orders are closed. Since we have not quite completed December entries,I don't want to issue January financial statements. We should be done with both December and January by the end of next week. The auditors will begin the audit on March 25th. COMPUTER OPERATIONS: This weekend Joan will be working with Orcom to upgrade our AS400 operating system. This process must be done when no one is on the system. We will be glad to have this project behind us. We have scheduled the upgrade of the work order software and the new fixed asset software to take place in June. MISC: As most of you probably know, I had back surgery last week. I really appreciate having a job that allows for paid sick leave and has a good medical plan. This week the doctor has allowed me to work up to four hours per day. Next week, I hope he will release me for full days. With the upcoming audit,the timing of my problem wasn't the best. I will,however,be here full time during the audit. TDPU,D, STAFF REPORT March 15, 1996 TO Board of Directors FROM: Kathy Neus,,Support Services Manager SUBJECT: February 1996 Staff Report AGENDA # 7 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 1. Tom has been busy again. There were 18 vehicles in for scheduled service inspections; a lot for such a short month. Fortunately there wasn't too much down time on any of the vehicles. 2. Specifications for the three new pick-ups were completed and the invitations to bid have been mailed out. METER READING 1. The Support Services Department was short handed for the month of February, half the staff was off. With the storms and a minimum crew, it was difficult to keep current with meter reading, however, the Meter Readers did a commendable job. i directed them to only read meters that were accessible,just 585 were estimated. No complete routes or books were estimated and the ones that were will be read in March. 2. There were 312 service reports and notices delivered and completed for the month of February. PURCHASING AND WAREHOUSING 1. Joe has been working on getting out the specifications and invitations to bid on the new pick-ups. He has also started compiling a wire and cable order. 2. Joe assisted the Meter Readers by doing service reports and delivering notices. BUILDING AND GROUNDS 1. Not too much is happening with the building and grounds other than keeping the parking areas and roofs clear of snow. 2. Overall, things have been very quiet. KN/smc TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT PLANNING DIRECTOR ACTIVITIES FEBRUARY, 1996 Note: Since most of these projects are ongoing, Staff continues to report the basic information and highlights the activity that has occurred during the reporting month. When a project or activity is completed it is reported, then deleted from this report. Strategic Planning/District $Savings Business Customer Communications- Staff is in the process of developing a Key Account Program proposal designed to foster a positive, open line of communication with our largest business customers. Staff attended a Key Accounts training seminar February 21-23. The proposal will include asking Key Account Customers questions about how they feel about TDPUD's service and how they see working with TDPUD in the future. Discussions with our twenty-five largest customers is planned for completion in Spring. Staff has received a $5,000 grant to hire a consultant to help Staff in this effort. Business Competition Assistance- TDPUD is co-sponsoring a seminar April 16 in the TDPUD Board Room titled Sharpening Your Competitive Edge. Nationally acclaimed economic development expert, Kent Burnes, will be giving the seminar. The seminar is designed to assist local businesses in becoming more competitive in the 90's and beyond. The meeting will be preceded by a morning breakfast for Key Decision- makers in Truckee. Kent Burnes will conduct business evaluation walk-throughs all day long for Truckee businesses. The seminar will take place from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. TDPUD Competition Plan- Staff is preparing a report about the different utility issues we are currently being challenged by. The report will include a discussion of the different approaches TDPUD can take to meet these challenges as well as an analysis and recommendations to respond to competition. This comprehensive report is being postponed until the evaluation results of the GSHP pilot, the large Business Customer meetings and other competition related projects and issues are available. Truckee Telecommunications- Spectranet, a San Diego based telecommunications consultant, has offered to conduct a feasibility study at no charge on the possible development of a fiber-optic telecommunications system in Truckee. They will propose having investors pay for the capital development of such a system and TDPUD share in the revenue in the operation of the telecommunications system. Many Utility and Community benefits will be proposed. EnergyMater Showcase Program- HDR Engineering, Inc. is currently preparing a report that will identify energy and cost-saving energy-efficiency water system improvement options available to TDPUD. They have requested pump testing data from us to complete the report. TDPUD can then decide which options to implement based on their cost-effectiveness to the District. Conservation/DSM/Economic Development Ground Source Heat Pump Pilot Site Activity- Nine GSHP pilot site units are current- ly in operation. There are still two pilot sites in planning: a site in Glenshire and a second site in Tahoe Donner. Plans are to complete these activities by Summer 1996. GSHP Pilot Project Funding Assistance- The $181,000 Truckee Donner PUD/SMUD CEC GSHP pilot monitoring and evaluation project is near implementation. Four interested consulting energy engineering firms responded to the RFP deadline. participated in the pilot consultant evaluation meeting February 9. A consultant will be selected in March to begin administering SMUDs and TDPUD's pilots. CFIA Demonstration Project- I have recently been in contact with Professor Samuel Sami of Moneton University in Canada regarding his development of a Combined Cycle Fully Integrated Air/Air Heat Pump(CFIA). Experimental tests show it has comparable performance benefits of GSHPs without the cost of ground loop. We have received a $5,000 grant to begin a two unit demonstration project in Truckee. Staff is currently working with them on a confidentiality agreement GSHP/Water Heater Promotion- Staff is working toward getting the Truckee GSHP pilot monitoring program in place so that we will have data available to perform an analysis of the benefits and costs of using GSHPs in Truckee. The results of this data will be used to determine GSHP's role in TDPUD's Strategic Plan. Energy Surveys/High Bill Assistance- Staff completed 0 commercial and 1 residential energy survey(s) this month. Staff also responded on-site to 2 "high" bill complaints. Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership- The incorporation of energy and water efficiency measures are expected to be retrofitted into the Chamber building by Summer, 1995. Currently about 75% of these measures are installed. Staff has received grant funding for $5,000 to develop a low-water use demonstration garden and education program at the Chamber facility. Silvertip and Rare Earth Landscaping contractors have agreed to coordinate this project. Staff is currently working on a self-guided tour brochure of energy and water efficiency measures for the Chamber building. An Open House for the new Chamber facility and the Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership will be planned for after the completion of the energy and water efficiency retrofits as well as the water-efficient landscaping around the building. This Open House may be combined with a Chamber mixer and is expected to take place by Fall, 1996. Communications/Public Relations/Education Newsletter- The Spring Current Issues newsletter is currently being worked on. The focus of the newsletter will be electric utility industry competition. Articles will include: Public Power benefits, industry restructuring, fuel competition and electro- technologies, and others. Critical Issues Communication- Staff has requested the assistance of a communications consultant to assist TDPUD in identifying the critical issues TDPUD needs to communicate to it's customers. One issue of discussion is the possible development of a water information piece to educate TDPUD customers on the value of TDPUD water. TDPUD Display System- Staff with the assistance of Creative Concepts has selected and ordered a Display System. The Display system will be set up in the Lobby the majority of time. The system we selected is portable so that it can be used in the Truckee Home Show. We will be developing picture displays to be mounted on the system as well as brochures and other communications materials to go with it. Community/Statewide Involvement Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee- Working with other businesses in reviewing: the Downtown Specific Plan, an Incubator/Business Park Feasibility Study. Staff attended the February 6 EDC meeting. Tahoe-Forest Hospital Healthly City Committee- Working with other agencies and community groups in the development of a Healthly City Plan for Truckee. Staff was out of town and missed the February 23 meeting. A survey is being developed to determine what other area groups are working on related to "healthy city" issues. Town of Truckee Air Quality Management Plan Advisory Committee- Will be working �,,•• with other groups and agency representatives in reviewing a draft report on Truckee's AQMP prepared by the Northern-Sierra AQMD in conjunction with the Town of Truckee. Staff attended the first meeting of the Advisory Committee February 8. Staff missed the February 20th meeting to attend an out of town seminar. The end result of the Committee's efforts will be to recommend mitigation efforts to reduce PM 10(particulate matter <10 microns) in Truckee. The two main causes of PM 10 in Truckee are dust and burned particulate matter from wood burning. California Municipal Utilities Association Committee on Energy Efficiency- Working with other public utilities Statewide on a Model Energy Services/Competition Program Guidebook which will contain the various strategies utilities are using to respond to a changing, more competitive electric utility environment. Programs are designed to increase customer satisfaction and result in customer retention. The Guidebook is expected to be completed by June, 1996. Staff attended the CMUA Annual meeting February 28- March 1. CEC California Ground Source Heat Pump Collaborative- Staff participates in quarterly meetings of the California Energy Commission's GSHP Collaborative. The Collaborative was formed to oversee the development and promotion of the GSHP industry in California. The CEC is currently assisting PG&E, SCE, SMUD and TDPUD in getting the State's share of $100,000,000 earmarked for GSHPs through the National Earth Comfort Program. I attended a meeting on February 14 to discuss the development of a Statewide proposal to enhance GSHP activities in California. The next meeting of the Collaborative will take place March 8. The focus of the Statewide proposal will be to strengthen the infrastructure of the GSHP industry in California by developing GSHP training for WAC, plumbing, drilling, excavating and other contractors. Utility Energy Forum Planning Committee- Staff has assisted other electric utility representatives in the planning of the 15th annual Utility Energy Forum meeting scheduled for May 1-3 in Granlibakken, North Lake Tahoe. The theme of this year's conference is on Partnerships. The Conference speakers in the area include: Staff on the GSHP pilot project; Truckee Chamber Executive Director on the Business and Energy Efficiency Partnership and Truckee economic development; and a TRB Bank representative on working with the local utility(TDPUD) to provide low-interest loans for efficiency projects(i.e. GSHP pilot participants). Employee Safety/Training Safety Committee- The TDPUD Safety Committee's next meeting is March 15. Wellness Program/Healthy Meals- This continues to be a popular program with TDPUD employees. We had a "healthy" lunch on February 8. Wellness Program/Health Education- Staff has been working with Tahoe-Forest Hospital Staff to develop a fitness "course" in the TDPUD building using mostly existing facilities. Many exercises do not require special equipment- a chair, .-, wall, floor or step may suffice. Additional exercise equipment will be considered. A stair-stepper has been donated and signs have been made for each "station". Back/Abdominals Workshop- Nancy Swayzee, consultant for Tahoe-Forest Hospital, will be conducting a two-hour back and abdominals strengthening workshop at TDPUD March 19. The purpose of the workshop is to minimize or avoid employee back injuries. Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors Joseph R.Aguera J. Ronald Hemig ,�,/•�� Business Office Planning Services Robert A.Jones (916)587-3896 (916)587-3944 FAX(916)687-5056 James A.Maass Patricia S.Sutton General Manager Peter L. Holzmeister WATER DEPAR721"T ACTIVITIES REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 1996 March 14, 1996 WATER QUALITY: * See attached bacteriological report. * 1993 was the last year the District was required to do a complete groundwater analysis on all of our sources. Groundwater quality regulations have changed over the last three years primarily due to the Federal EPA as authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act. I have been working with Darel Noel of the State Dept. of Health Services to determine exactly what constituents we will need to test for and the frequency that the tests will have to be conducted. The Health Dept. has been very cooperative and provided us with an Excel spread sheet for most of the District rs sources. Based on our previous water quality data DHS has been able to grant the District extended waivers for Non-Volatile Synthetic Organic Chemicals and Unregulated Organic Chemicals. These are chemicals used in agriculture. I am soliciting quotes from three laboratories for testing of the 98 minerals and chemicals required from all 11 District sources. * We have received the annual District water quality mailer back from the printer. Staff has pasted labels and sorted for mailing nearly 7,000 copies. MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS & NEW CONSTRUCTION: * Service connections continued in february with 1 new hook-up and 1 service up-grade. * Staff repaired 5 leaks one of which was in the sidewalk in front of the District Office. Two fire hydrants were repaired and 6 USA requests were received. As of February 14, there were 4 known leaks throughout the District service area, they will be repaired as scheduling permits. Post Office Box 309 • 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee,California 96160 * Snow removal activities was the main priority in february. * The Town of Truckee has initiated a monthly Utility Coordinating Meeting. Representatives from all local utilities including Southwest Gas have been attending. This will provide a good format for scheduling projects, discussion and working through pertinent issues. WATER PLANNING DEPARTMENT: * See attached report from Mike Connell, Water Dept. Planner. * Paul, Mike and myself have been working with Sauers Engineering to develop the improvement plans for the 1996 pipeline replacement project in Tahoe Donner and Edmunds Drive. PUMP OPERATIONS / PROJECTS: * See attached report from Pete Marcovich, Water Operations Specialist. * Sargent Irrigation is nearing completion of the Glenshire Drive Well . I have been working with Keith Sauers on design options for the well pump station. * Southside Well #2 rehab is still not complete. The pump was sent back to the manufacturer in Georgia for inspection and testing. It was returned installed and tested this week and it still does not meet the specifications. * Staff is making good progress cleaning, painting and repairing the pump stations. They will return to their regular assignments in April . * Water production is normal for this time of year. Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors Joseph R.Aguera J. Ronald Hemig Business Office Planning Services Robert A.Jones 'Al (916)587-3896 (916)587-3944 FAX(916)587-5056 James A.Maass Patricia S.Sutton General Manager Peter L.Holzmeister MEMORANDUM Date: March 5, 1996 To: Peter Holzmeister From: David Rully Subject : Monthly Bacteriological Report - February 1996 Attached is the "Summary of Bacteriological Water Quality" report for the month of February. The February portion of the report shows that all 38 distribution system samples were free of coliform bacteria. The report also shows that 28 source samples were free of coliform bacteria. The District has met the State ' s drinking water standards for the month of February. Post Office Box 309 • 11570 Donner Pass Road • Truckee, California 96160 SUMMARY OF BACTERlu OGICAL WATER QUALITY TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT System Source Samples Portions Percent Samples Portions Percent Yr. /Month Collected Positive Positive Collected Positive Positive 1996 January (Truckee) 32 0 0 25 1 04% (Prosser) 8 0 0 15 0 0 (Hirschdale) 1 0 .0 1 0 0 February (Truckee) 29 0 0 15 1 06% (Prosser) 8 0 0 12 0 0 (Hirschdale) 1 0 0 1 0 0 MEMORANDUM Date : March 12, 1996 From: Mike d��J To: Dave Subject : Activities for February 1996 The following listing provides a brief description of the various projects I was involved with during February. I have included a status report in the boxes following each project . These projects are in addition to routine work related to water system operations, maintenance and customer service Water System Construction Standards * Existing construction standards and technical specifications are in need of review/revision. It is my intention to proceed with this work on a section by section basis rather than as a complete revision project . Effort towards this work is made on a time permitting basis . Proposed revisions for two (2) construction details and ten (10) technical specifications have been submitted to staff for comments . 1996 District/IBEW Negotiations * I am participating in this process as a member of the union committee. Page 1 1996 Activities List Project List March 12, 1996 Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors Joseph R.Aguera J.Ronald Hemig Business Office Planning Services Robert A.Jones ji (916)587-3896 (916)587-3944 FAX(916)587-5056 James A. Maass Patricia S.Sutton General Manager Peter L. Holzmeister MEMORANDUM Date: March 12, 1996 To: Dave Rully From: Peter Marcovich Subject: Monthly Report for February 1996 P' STATION MAINTENANCE Plastic drain lines and copper drain lines were installed at Innsbruck Booster Station in an effort to keep water off the floor. New packing was installed in each of the four boosters. The interior of the booster room was painted and the piping manifold inside the station was painted. Snow was removed from all of our facilities this month by the water crew. The copper tubing and fittings were replaced on the control valves and sampling ports at Stockholm Booster Station. The sampling ports at Innsbruck Booster Station and Soma Sierra Booster Station were replaced. The packing was replaced in all four boosters at Donner Trails Booster Station. Booster #4 at Soma Sierra Booster Station has been taken off line and isolated. We will be excavating, locating and repairing a leak inside the building. Post Office Box 309 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, California 96160 Two bad connections on SCADA antennas were discovered and repaired. Faulty transducers were replaced at Innsbruck Tank and Ponderosa Palisades West Hydro Tank. WATER QUALITY Water samples were taken the four tuesdays of the month. Routine daily rounds were made, taking chlorine residuals throughout the system. OTHER BUSINESS Continued to communicate with Sandei-Avery Engineering regarding ongoing site problems and SCADA programming. Representatives from the California Energy Commission toured our facilities late last year. I have gathered all the data and sent the completed package. I am in contact with them each week, fielding questions on the phone. �^ WATER PRODUCTION SOURCE GALLONS Airport Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 208, 000 Northside Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 566, 000 Donner Creek Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 664, 000 Southside Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 "A" Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575, 300 "B" Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199, 000 Prosser Heights Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 792, 575 Sanders Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 905, 000 Prosser Anne X Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 328, 000 Hirschdale Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116, 400 TOTAL PRODUCTION FOR FEBRUARY 1996 . . . . . . . . . 69,354,275 STAFF REPORT March 13, 1996 To: Board of Directors From: Bob Quinn, Electric Superintendent Subject: February Report AGF_IVDA ITEM The majority of february was spent dealing with the elements Snow days were the noun during the past month and along with the snow came numerous outages from snow shedding from the lines resulting in the lines slapping together and blowing fuses Alb major damage to facilities occurred during the month however, we did again experience outages in the Prosser Lakeview area from trees falling through the lines Residents in this area have experienced more than their share of power outages this year but, as stated in last month's report, the only real cure to the tree problem would be the elimination of the trees or undergrounding of that system. With regard to the nuisance outages resulting from the snow shedding, we are looldng into installing line reclosers at critical locations that would not require re-fusing when it sensed wires were not actually down on the ground. Donner Lake and Tahoe Donner experienced a short outage when Sierra again lost their 60 Kv line supplying the two stations. Power was restored after patrolling and no problem with the line found. According to installed equipment, the apparent problem with the line occurred 5 miles from Sierra's Truckee station ,�-- and at that location the Town's snotslower had been working. It is believed snow from the blower was thrown into the transrdssion lines resulting in the outage. I have discussed this with the Town of Truckee's Public Works Director and he assured me he will meet with his crews on this matter. Crews from this department spent most of the month dealing with snow and snow removal however, other work was accomplished as we/% Oil samples were taken from transformers being retro-filled by ENSR Operations along with 53 distribution transformers currently in service. Of the 53 samples tested, all were < 1 ppm PCB. Modified an existing storage room adjacent to Jim Wflson's office into a meter test shop. Relocated the recharging facility for the warehouse forldift: Adjusted the Hershdale SCADA antennae. Installed hour meters at Donner View Hydro Repaired the Donner Creek MY heater. i"` Installed metering at the new Tahoe Donner maintenance facility Kbrked on the pump at Innsbruck Pump Station. Repaired the antennae for the master station of the water SCADA system „ ^ Repaired a water heater within the TDPUD building. Began verifying installed facilities to update maps for input into the CAD Patrolled the Tahoe Donner circuitry for any apparent problems and began perfoming routine maintenance on that system. Had a safety demonstration concerning the grounding of de-energized lines, specifically single point grounding versus other methods corrrnonly used. Jim Wilson attended a training seminar in Portland relating to the new AMR meters we will be installing in March. At the City of Rosevilles request, 1 sat on an oral board in their search for a new electrical superintendent. 1 attended a meeting of the Electrical Superintendent's Committee that dealt with the State's Title 8 Electrical Safety Orders. Installed 1 service pole, 11 new overhead services, 3 new underground services, and responded to 5 underground facility locates (USA's).