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Staff Report
To: Board of Directors
From: Scott Terrell
Date: January 10, 2003
Note: Since most of these projects are ongoing, Staff continues to report the basic information and
highlights the activities that have occurred during the reporting month. When a project/activity
is completed it is reported, then deleted from this report.
Strategic Planning/District $Savings
Key Accounts Program- TDPUD has received a total of $120,000 in SB5X grant monies from
the California Energy Commission. This funding supports Truckee non-profits including Special
Districts energy-efficiency and load reduction projects. The expenditure of the $120,000 has
been extended from December 31, 2002 to May 31, 2003. TDPUD may be receiving
another $5,000 to help the Kidzone project with energy efficiency.
TDPUD Building High Efficiency Lighting proposal- Staff with Planergy’s assistance has
prepared a proposal to retrofit the PUD offices and warehouse areas with high efficiency lighting
using SB5X monies to help pay for the retrofit. Pencon was the low eligible bidder for the
TDPUD lighting project. They will begin work in mid-January.
Conservation/DSM/Economic Development/Public Benefits
Energy Smart Home Tour- Planning for next year’s tour will begin early next year.
Public Benefits Program- TDPUD has processed about 350 Conservation Cash Rebate program
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applications to date. The program was modified September 4 and all new applications are
being processed under the new program guidelines.
New Truckee Middle School- Plans are currently underway to build a new Middle School in
Truckee. The School District was awarded a $250,000 grant for the new middle school under
the California Energy Commission’s High Performance School’s program. The GSHP
installation will largely be responsible for the school meeting its energy efficiency requirements
for the grant money. They were the only project to receive this award. The loop work was
completed in time to avoid the digging restrictions and start preparing for the soccer field which
the loops were placed under.
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Schools Energy & Water Conservation Education Program- This program is designed to teach
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both energy and water conservation education to 7 grade children and includes energy and
water conservation measures the kids can install in their parent’s homes. So far the Living Wise
program has been well received. Sue Mock is responsible for running this program for the
School District. Staff will be giving a presentation to Mrs. Mock’s class January 7th.
Ground Source Heat Pump Program- Staff is currently looking into new ideas on how to educate
and promote this technology to our customers. Staff has been contacted by several developers,
architects and building engineers, etc. due to their interest in possibly pursuing GSHPs for
projects they will be building.
Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership- The Truckee Donner PUD/Sierra College
Partnership project is designed to encourage local groups, clubs and individuals to tour the
energy and water-efficient Sierra College facility. TDPUD uses the grounds as a demonstration
of low-water using plant types and water conserving irrigation systems. Sierra College will be
vacating this facility and moving to another location this Fall. I will be in touch with the owners of
this building to find out what their future plans for the building may be. TDPUD Staff is
available for guided tours.
Energy Surveys/High Bill Assistance- Staff completed 0 commercial and 2 residential
energy-use analyses and/or energy survey(s) this month. Staff also responded on-site to
2 residential "high" bill complaint(s). There are currently several customers Staff is
working with to help them understand and control their energy costs.
Communications/Public Relations/Education
Storm Power Outages/Boil Water Order- Staff participated in the Truckee Emergency Operations
Center(EOC) while it was activated. There was communication between the Town’s
Administration, Town’s Public Works Dept., Town’s Communications staff, Police
Department, Fire Protection District, Recreation & Park’s Department, TDPUD, TTSA and TSD
during the storm problems. There was a lot learned about each agency’s priorities during this
event. Staff also worked internally as a team to get information out to the public about the
status of the power outages as well as the boil water notice for Donner Lake.
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Newsletter- The current newsletter focused on TDPUD’s 75 Anniversary and was distributed in the
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August bills. This edition featured the May 9 Celebration and the upcoming September 15 Beach
Day. The next newsletter is planned for late Winter, 2003.
Community Event Marketing- Local organizations have been in contact with TDPUD staff regarding
helping them market their 2003 activities. Bill stuffers planned for 2003 so far include: High
School Tempo Band Fundraiser, Tahoe-Truckee Community Foundation.
Power Content Label- State law requires that all California public and private utilities supply their
customers with a Power Content Label quarterly. The next mailing of the PCL is planned for
Q1 2003.
Water Bottle- The new TDPUD water bottle is getting a lot of attention. There have been
requests for bottles to take to meetings and other events. TDPUD will have these water bottles
available at the Beach Day. If you have a meeting or event you would like to take water bottles
to give me a call.
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Kidzone Project- Staff has been working with a group of organizations in Truckee to develop the
Kidzone project. Kidzone participants have partnered with TDPUD due to TDPUD Board’s
approval to partially fund the ground source heat pump hydronic heating system installation. So
far the GSHP has performing well in the Kidzone. Staff attended a Kidzone meeting
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December 4.
Community/Statewide Involvement
Truckee River Watershed Council- Staff is currently serving on this committee to see how
TDPUD fits into their overall effort. There are opportunities to work cooperatively with this group
that may be beneficial to many organizations. Many Truckee area watershed remediation
projects are being considered by this group. Staff is planning to attend the January 10
meeting.
Sierra Green Building Association- Staff participates in the newly formed Sierra Green
Building Association in Truckee. The group would like to educate and assist building
professionals in their pursuit of building energy-efficient and human and
environmentally-sensitive buildings in the region. “Green” buildings have many benefits
to the building community and the building owners and their tenants including: Lower
operating and maintenance costs, higher lease rates due to tenant preference, higher
employee retention, lower employee absenteeism, higher employee performance, etc.
Many of the employee benefits are attributable to the building’s “human preference”
design and concern over health and safety issues(i.e. indoor environmental air quality).
Many local building professionals are actively pursuing green building design with
East/West Partners taking the lead. Staff has personally been contacted several times for
information and assistance. Staff attended a SiGBA steering committee meeting
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December 19. The next meeting is scheduled for January 9.
California Municipal Utilities Association Energy Services, Marketing and Legislative
Committees- The next ES&M Committee meeting is planned for April, 2003.
Public Renewable Partnership(PRP)- Western Area Power Administration Staff formed a group
now called the Public Renewable Partnership made up of about 15-20 publically-owned electric
utilities throughout the State. PRP applied and received $6,000,000 in grant funding from the
California Energy Commission. The grant money includes funding an assessment of whether a
biomass plant could be built in the Tahoe-Truckee area that could provide a reliable supply of
economical electric generation for any interested utility.
Association for Efficient Environmental Energy Systems- Staff participates in quarterly meetings
of the newly formed AEEES, formerly the Geothermal Energy Association. This California
Collaborative was formed to oversee the development and promotion of the GSHP industry in
California. AEEES is expanding to include training and education in the areas of energy
efficiency, renewable energy and distributed generation. Staff participates as a Board member
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and Membership Chair for AEEES. Staff participated in an AEEES meeting November 18 in
Davis. AEEES hired a new part-time Executive Director to work on improving the organization’s
financial picture for the future. Staff will be attending the January 17 AEEES Strategic
Planning Board meeting.
Utility Energy Forum Planning Committee- The next UEF Conference is scheduled for May, 2003 in
Granlibakken. The next meeting is scheduled for November 19th. Staff asked the UEF Group to find a new
Chairperson after serving the committee in that capacity for 5 years. Staff will maintain the position of President
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of the UEF. The next UEF Planning meeting is scheduled for January 23 in Sacramento
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