HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 Local-Clean-Resilient-Affordable PlanningAGENDA ITEM # 11
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MEETING DATE:February 16, 2022
TO:Board of Directors
FROM:Steven Poncelet
SUBJECT:Informational Update on the District’s electric resource
portfolio and opportunities to plan for and invest in local,
clean, resilient, and fiscally responsible projects and
programs.
APPROVED BY
Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive this informational report and provide input and direction.
DISCUSSION:
The District has, for decades, managed and invested in an electric resource portfolio and
electric distribution system to maximize the benefit to our customers and community. The
District has achieved over 60% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by investing in wind,
solar, landfill gas, small hydro, and other renewable generation resources while leveraging
resources and mitigating risk through the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems
(UAMPS). Locally, the District has supported the installation of over 1000 residential solar
systems and delivered impactful and cost-effective conservation programs.
At the same time, the District has invested in electric system reliability through modernizing
controls/communications, implementing new technologies, increasing vegetation
management, enhanced engineering and construction standards and focusing on
operational excellence. Overlying all of this work is the critical need to optimize the value
to the community of all District investments and ensuring that the District’s electric services
are affordable and equitable.
The District’s Strategic Plan 2021-2024 (Plan), developed with extensive community
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engagement and input, delivers a detailed roadmap and executable plan for the District to
continue to pursue our critical Mission. The Plan also identifies community needs and
priorities along with emerging issues impacting the District. Four Board strategic initiatives
were identified: Undergrounding of Overhead Electric Lines; Community Broadband; Local
Clean Generation; and 100% Renewable. Also identified were key drivers behind these
initiatives including climate change, wildfire mitigation, electrification, and electric grid
reliability.
Historically, the District has focused on rates, renewables, and reliability. The challenges
of balancing all of these components has expanded to include opportunities for local,
clean, resilient, and affordable electric resources and programs. This informational
workshop item is intended to:
Review where the District’s electric utility energy portfolio strategic efforts
are focused today;
Explore the regulatory and market forces driving the electric utility industry;
Consider evolving customer needs, and expectations;
Identify the most important issues the District would like to allocate
resources to;
Identify metrics for success; and
Explore current opportunities for projects, programs, and funding.
GOALS:
1. Manage for financial stability and resiliency;
2. Environmental Stewardship: Create sustainable resilient environment for all our
communities;
3. Engage with our customers and communities in a welcoming and transparent way to
identify opportunities; and
4. Take the best of private sector thinking to modernize the utility and add value to our
communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this informational item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.