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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7 Monthly Report STAFF REPORT February 13, 1997 TO: Board of Directors FROM: Peter L. Holzmeister, General Manager SUBJECT: Monthly report AGENDA # 1. NCPA: 1 am continuing to work with the NCPA staff and member utilities to finalize plans with ENRON. We are also working with NCPA to put in place a wholesale power contract by July 1, 1997. Finally, I am working with NCPA to develop a group of policies that the Board will need to debate and act on implementing the provisions of AB 1890. l am now spending about three days per month at NCPA meetings. The commitment is time well spent because we are positioning the District to succeed in the new electric environment. 2. SPPCoIFERC: The District has filed its petition for clarification of FERC Order 888 relating to what portion of our load should be wheeled by SPPCo. Our petition is receiving considerable interest in the industry nationally. Attached is a newsletter article that recently appeared in the APPA Public Power Weekly. 3. Water Superintendent: A new Water Superintendent has been selected. His name is Raymond E. Taylor, although he uses his middle name, Ed. He is currently Public Works Manager for the Town of Los Altos Hills, California. Prior to Los Altos Hills he was Utilities Superintendent of the City of Redwood City. He starts on March 3, 1997. Ed appears to be particularly strong in the area of maintenance planning and setting up daily work programs. We think he will help us in significant ways. 4. Lawrence Baker suit: As you know the District prevailed in the lawsuit brought by Lawrence Baker in the Nevada County Superior Court. Mr. Baker challenged the validity of the District's electric rate structure. In ruling, Judge Francis wrote an opinion that favored the District very strongly. Mr Baker has now appealed that decision. 5. CMUA annual meeting: Several staff members and Directors attended the CMUA conference in Napa during the past month. The theme was preparing for deregulation and competition. I personally got much out of the conference that will help me organize my thinking as our District moves toward active participation in the new electric industry. PLH/smc Attachment Truckee-Donner asks FERC to resolve policy conflict Truckee-Donner Public Utility Dis- we haven't been able to actually buy is what's going to lead to a more com- etrict asked the Federal Energy Regu- any power from NCPA until recently, petitive electric industry, and lower latory Commission to make good on when Sierra Pacific,as part of a settle- rates for consumers," Holzmeister its stated goal of opening transmis- ment in another case,agreed to let us said, "then this is the test case. This is sion access so the public power utility purchase economy energy transao- what it's all about." i can be freed from its dependence on tions from NCPA" the Sierra Pacific Power Co. Now T—ickeehas the opportunity Appq urges FERC Truckee has requested a declara- to buy most of its power through f [-li tory order from FERC clarifying con- NCPA at annual savings of $2 mil- to revise merger policy flicting language in the commission's lion over the price it pays to Sierra Order 888 and its pro forma tariff. Pacific, Holzmeister said. "We have (con-tinued from page 1) The PUD hopes FERC will declare the everything lined up to finalize a sales TAPS said. order ekes precedence in determin- contract with NCPA, but we can't get "And the apparent concept that fin- ing limits on network se-zfce. that power to our system if Sierra tervenors will, in 60 days, provide the Truckee-Donner,which istransmis- Pacific won'tprovideustransmission commission a complete, and com- sion-dependent on Sierra Pacific,has access." pletely explained, alternative to the been trying to arrange network ser- Truckee acknowledges there is con- filing made by the applicants is rather vice to allow the PUD to obtain power flict between the FERC documents, like the idea of asking the critic who supply from other sources. Sierra noting that in its final rule, FERC might not like War and Peace, a book Pacific contends that under FERC's stated,"With respect to the allocation that had taken years to write, to pro- pro forma tariff, "a network of interface capacity under network vide a better alternative in 60 days." customer's use of the transmission service, we clarify that a customer is The two groups said the timing prob- provider's interface capacity cannot not limited to a load ratio percentage lem could be corrected by: exceed the customer's load ratio of available transmission capacity at 1 requiring—rather than just en- share," which is calculated to be every interface." However, the pro couraging—merger applicants to 1.47%. Thus, Sierra Pacific has said, forma tariff states, "A network serve potential intervenors with cop- it will make only five MW of capacity customer's use of the transmission ies of their filings by overnight deliv- available to Truckee-Donner for "in- provider's total interface capacitywith ery, including electron", versions; 1 tegrating its network resources out- the other transmission systems may I allowing potential intervenors to side of Sierra's control area with its not exceed the network customer's file a notice of intent to file, so that network load. All other network re- load ratio share." they may receive merger applicants' sources must be inside Sierra's con- The PUD has asked FERC to "re- information in an expedited manner; trolarea." solve the apparent inconsistency be- I clarifying that the 60 days notice is In its filing, Truckee stated that tween the language of the final rule for screening purposes only,with fur- "Sierra's position...would result in and that of the pro forma tariff in ther development of the case if it is set Truckee having to obtain the vast bulk favor of the language of the final rule." for hearing; and of its power supply from Sierra as the The system contends that "the tariff 1 allowing intervenors additional only significant provider within language is clearly wrong" because it discovery equivalent to the Hart-Scott- Sierra's control area." Truckee has conflicts not only with the final rule Rodi no Antitrust Act process,and then i requested .:p to 'x0 MW of Sierra's but also with other portions of the 60 days to provide their market power total interface capacity, contending tariff and other FERC orders. Fur- screening analysis. that.under Order 888, "a customer thermore, Truckee stated, "Applied APPA and TAPS suggested that the may designate a single interface or literally,Section 30.8would hamstring substantive problems could be re- anyconiNnation of interface capacity nen, customers in a manner that solved by: to serve its entire road,provided that defeats comparability and unreason- I requiring that all data sets consid- the designation does not exceed its ably restricts the resources on which ered for use by merging companies be total load." network customers such as Truckee filed with FERC and intervenors, as "We've been virtually all-require- must rely to economically and reli- well as the data sets actually used; merits customers of Sierra Pacific, ably serve their loads." I finding away to obtain data equiva- buying all of our capacity and most of Truckee has requested expeditious lent to that required by the Hart-Scott- our energy from them,because we're action on its request, noting that it Rodino process; and located in their service territory," "must have some sort of arrangement I preparing to deal with changes *Truckee Manager Peter Holzmeister in place when its existing agreement that occur in the course of a proceed- explained. "Although we're members expires in June" of this year. ing in tight of Elie dynamic and chang- of Northern California PowerAgency, "If opening the transmission system ing industrial situation. I TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT PLANNING DIRECTOR ACTIVITIES JANUARY, 1997 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 or activity is completed it is reported, then deleted from this report. Strategic Planning/District $Savings Business Customer Key Accounts Program- This newly developed program is designed to foster a positive, open line of communication with our business customers and determine how they feel about TDPUD's service and how they see working with TDPUD in the future. This program will be tied into a marketing program for TDPUD. The goal of the program is customer satisfaction and retention. An analysis is currently being conducted on all TDPUD commercial accounts to determine TDPUD's business account's potential revenue loss if we lose a particular/set of account(s). There is still some question as to how much revenue is really at stake since TDPUD will still provide the distribution. TDPUD Competition Plan- Staff is planning to prepare 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. Energy/Water Showcase Program- HDR Engineering and the California Energy Commission have completed the energy-efficiency analysis of the TDPUD water system report. We may want to wait until we know what our "new" purchased power costs are before we make any decisions on which options may be worth implementing. HDR Engineering has almost completed the energy efficiency study of TTSA's sewage treatment facilities/activities. TDPUD GSHP Cost/Economic Study- A study to determine the cost-effectiveness of installing GSHPs into the TDPUD building for heating and cooling has been completed by the Davis Energy Group. The report indicates that TDPUD can benefit by using GSHP in the building and also act as a community GSHP demonstration project along with the pilot sites. DEG is now preparing a proposal to determine the costs for system design, installation and going out to bid. Conservation/DSM/Economic Development Ground Source Heat Pump Pilot Site Activity- Nine GSHP pilot site units are currently in is completed A tenth site is partially completed in Glenshire. This final pilot site will be completed in Spring as a result of some minimal damage to the heat exchangers. The tenth GSHP site will be completed through a GSHP contractor's workshop on GSHP heat exchanger leak detection, repair and the installation of the field to unit tie-in. Truckee Community GSHP Pilot Project Monitoring- Preliminary data is now available on the monitored pilot sites. The data thus far is showing excellent results for the application of the GSHP technology in Truckee. GSHP Bulk Purchase & Installation Program- The last introductory GSHP meeting is being held February 11. GSHP Core Planning Group meetings were held January 7 and 21. The next Core Group Planning and All Potential Participant meeting is scheduled for February 25. The goal is to have interested BP & I Participants commit by May and begin installations in June, 1997. Sierra-Pacific is assisting TDPUD with this project in exchange for allowing a few Sierra-Pacific customers to participate. January 21 GSHP Contractor's Meeting- The meeting was fairly successful with about 15 contractors in attendance in spite of the bad weather. Thirty contractors were signed up for the meeting. February 18-19 GSHP Contractor's Certification Training- This two day meeting co- sponsored by TDPUD, Sierra-Pacific, Geothermal Resources Association and Econar GSH Manufacturing will provide heating contractors with the necessary training and • certification to install GSHP systems anywhere in the United States. February 22 Truckee GSHP Field Trip- Truckee Donner PUD customers are invited to participate in a tour of 5-6 GSHP sites in Truckee. The tour will begin at 9 a.m. and interested persons need to meet in the PUD parking lot to arrange for car-pooling. March 3 GSHP Contractor's Marketing Class- The Geothermal Resources Association out of Davis, CA is holding a one-day class that will assist GSHP contractors in educating and marketing the GSHP product for their business. CFIA Demonstration Project- Staff has been in contact with Professor Samuel Sami of Moneton University in Canada regarding his testing of a Combined Cycle Fully Integrated Air/Air Heat Pump(CFIA). Tests so far have shown that it has comparable performance benefits of GSHPs without the cost of a ground loop. Staff has developed a CFIA mini-pilot draft proposal and a draft confidentiality agreement. This project is on the back burner to other higher priority projects. 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 study will be used to determine GSHP's role in TDPUD's Strategic Plan. A draft proposal has been developed to promote the benefits of high efficiency electric water heating to TDPUD customers. Energy Surveys/High Bill Assistance- Staff completed 0 commercial and 3 residential energy survey(s) this month. Staff also responded on-site to 3 "high" bill complaints. Communications/Public Relations/Education Newsletter- The Winter Current Issues newsletter is currently being discussed. The focus of this newsletter is planned to be deregulation. The newsletter is planned for distribution in March. Bill Stuffier- A water rate bill stuffier has been developed and is planned for distribution in February. The stuffer identifies the amount of the residential water rate increase( $.75/ month) as well as describes the reason for the increase. Public Information Plan- Staff with the assistance of A.D. Marketing and Creative Concepts is currently implementing a Public Information Program for 1997. A media plan is currently being developed. The plan will describe what will be communicated and through what media. Business & Energy Efficiency Partnership- The incorporation of energy and water efficiency measures are expected to be retrofitted into the Chamber building by early 1997. Currently about 90% of these measures are installed. As soon as all the • proposed measures are installed, Staff will finalize and print the Chamber building energy and water efficiency measures self-guided tour brochure. The finished brochure may be disseminated to all customers as a bill stuffer. The Partnership is designed to foster economic development in Truckee by promoting local businesses products and services as well as give customers information on lowering their energy bills. The Chamber Partnership project is also designed to encourage local groups, clubs and individuals to tour the facility. TDPUD Staff is available for guided tours. CA GEO-Heat Pump Show- TDPUD, Sierra Pacific and the Geothermal Resources Association out of Davis, CA has planned to include a GSHP section into the Truckee Home, Building and Energy Show scheduled for May 24-25, 1997. Community/Statewide Involvement Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee- Working with other businesses in reviewing: the Downtown Specific Plan, Business Questionnaire, Doing Business in Truckee Guide, etc. I attended the January 7 meeting. Tahoe-Forest Hospital Healthy City Committee- Working with other agencies and community groups in the development of a Healthy City Plan for Truckee. Current plans include developing a presentation to the community on areas of need within the community as derived from surveying local groups and organizations responding to a . survey. This Committee currently has no T-F Hospital coordinator and is on hold. Town of Truckee Air Quality Management Plan Advisory Committee- The Committee is S currently evaluating different options for mitigating the PM 2.5/10 problem in Truckee. GSHPs are one of the options being considered. The end result of the Committee's efforts will be to recommend mitigation efforts to reduce PM 2.5/10(particulate matter <2.5 and/or 10 microns) in Truckee. The two main causes of PM 2.5/10 in Truckee are road sand dust and burned particulate matter from wood burning. Train emissions from the railroad merger will be another problem source. The railroad is providing the Town of Truckee with $300,000 to help solve this problem. Duane Hall, Town Planner, is currently drafting a Truckee Air Quality Management Plan based on input from the Air Quality Management Plan Advisory Committee. Committee meetings are on hold until the plan is completed in draft form. Northern California Power Agency Member Services Task Force- An AB1890 Electric Utility Industry Restructuring Workshop is being held March 3,4 in Sacramento. California Municipal Utilities Association Energy Services and Marketing Committee- The next meeting is February 6,7 in Sacramento. The Committee is working on projects and programs to help CMUA member utilities prepare for the deregulation competition. GEC California Ground Source Heat Pump Collaborative- Staff participates in quarterly meetings of the California Energy Commission's GSHP Collaborative. The Collabora- tive was formed to oversee the development and promotion of the GSHP industry in California. The next meeting is scheduled for February 28 in Sacramento. Utility Energy Forum Planning Committee- The May 7-9, 1997 UEF meeting will be in Granlibakken. The focus of this year's UEF meeting is Customer Retention and Growth Strategies in a World of Customer Choices. Employee Safety/Training Safety Committee- The TDPUD Safety Committee met January 31. The Safety Committee has begun working on the 1996 Facility Safety Audit. A hantavirus safety procedure has been developed in draft form at the Water Department's request and is currently being reviewed by Staff. CPR Training- Employees attended a CPR renewal training course Friday, January 17. Wellness Program- NRECA approved TDPUD's request for a medical insurance discount of 6% for implementing an employee wellness program. Healthy Meals- This continues to be a popular program with TDPUD employees. We had a "healthy" lunch January 29. The menu included: Minestrone Soup, Garlic Bread and Chocolate Zucchini Cake(see attached recipes and nutritional analyses). Wellness Program/Health Education- T-F Staff provided a one hour seminar on Stress Management to TDPUD employees January 14. Truckeeli Utility tit scald Of DirecFa:e Joseph R.Agues J. Ronald Herng Business Office Planning services Robert a.,lanes (916) 587-3896 (916)587-3944 FAX(916) 587-5056 James A. Maass Patricia 8,Sutton Genera! Manager Peter J.Hoizrne,ster ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES: January - February,_1997 STAFF REPORT Submitted by Mary Chapman, February 10, 1997 � CUSTOMER SERVICE: Customer service activity has been relatively quiet. We have purchased and installed two cash receipts machines for the front counter. When a customer makes an over-the-counter payment, he/she will be given a machine receipt. BILLING: Billing is current. ACCOUNTING: Accounts payable and payroll are current. We are still very busy working on preparing work order billings and closing work orders for 1996. Sue Camara is also helping to close out development agreement work. Along with our daily work, we are also working to prepare for the annual audit. This work will continue until the audit is complete which should be April 4, 1997. OTHER: Last month, I discovered that the District should have had an arbitrage penalty rebate calculation prepared last May on the Reserve Fund for the 1991 Certificates of Participation. This was an oversight by the Rauscher Pierce Refsnes consultant who prepared the calculation on the Acquisition Fund at that same time. Because the situation was rectified within 180 days of discovery of the failure, there should not be any additional penalties above the calculated late charge of $333.14. Because it was their oversight, Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. waived their fee in the amount of$1,500 and paid the late fee of$333.14, The amount of the rebate penalty itself was $11,839.52. The reason we had to pay the rebate penalty was because the Reserve Fund earned more interest (for the period of original deposit in 1991 to May 13, 1996), than was charged on the certificates. On February 5, 1997 Bob Sinnett, the Community Outreach Coordinator from St. Mary's Hospital put on a drug testing training class for employees and supervisors. All Class A drivers attended as well as all department heads. 0197MOLY.RPT Post Office Box 309 11570 Donner Pass Road Truckee, California 96160 Truckee Donner Public Utility District Soar,,of Directors Joseph R.Aguera J. Ronald Hemig Business Office Planning Servites Robert A.Jones (916)587-3896 (916) 587-3944 FAX(916)587-5056 James A. Maass Patricia S.Sutton General Manager Peter L. Holzmeister JANUARY STAFF REPORT/SUPPORT SERVICES Kathy Neus BUILDING AND GROUNDS 1. The new year began with an ominous start. It started with a phone call around 11:30 am News Year Day, that the building was flooding. Phone calls to get staff moving were made and upon arrival there was at least eight inches of water up against the building and close to two inches in the office hallway and in the long hall out back. The water garage had at least six inches and the warehouse was taking water in from the back door. When all was said and done there was ten to twelve inches of water in the water garage and all of the back offices were flooded. Peter and Susan's old offices had one to two inches of water and the kitchen, mail room and the hallway were also flooded. The first shift worked on picking material up off the floor and laid one row of sandbags. Part of the group started working on clearing drains. At 7:00 pm all the water was out of the building, the floors were vacuumed and the water in the yards was also receding. Approximately 9:00 pm a second call was made to staff to come back and start again. Water was higher, the row of sand bags were now under water. Three members of the water crew and one of the office staff did sandbagging from midnight to 8:00 am. Besides the building requiring sand bags it was necessary to sand bag along Donner Pass Road to prevent further flooding. While all the sandbagging was going on, another water crew member worked throughout the night keeping the drains clear of debris. Thursday morning found all under control, staff was still cleaning up but the District was open for business. The building wouldn't have been ready for work Thursday if it hadn't been for all the help from the different departments and their willingness to get the job done quickly and efficiently. 2. Sam has been working on the floors to clean up the leftover silt wherever it flooded by either steam cleaning or mopping. 3. I have met with the claims adjuster from our insurance company to inspect what damage was visible (it had snowed prior to his arrival). I have also been meeting with contractors to obtain estimates for repairs throughout the affected areas in the building. i Post Office Box 309 11570 Danner Pass Road Truckee, California 96160 4. I also met briefly with the representatives ofFEMA and California OES. It was a short visit as it seemed the intent of their visit was to let people know they were here. They are due to be back at a later date to inspect the District thoroughly. PURCHASING AND WAREHOUSING 1. The winter has been busy in the buying department. Sue has been working on bid documents for meters, new vehicles, transformers, wire and cable. It seems that in the electric department there is no slow time as they have been going strong. 2. Sam Re has been working hard at getting the warehouse in shape for the upcoming construction season however the warehouse has also become a work area for many things, sorting meters, storing storm damage related materials, sandbag storage and parking of vehicles. He's had a tough time working around various objects that aren't normally in the warehouse. 3. The first cycle count for the year has been completed for the wire and cable. Sam is understanding the principles behind cycle counts now that he is directly involved, he seeing the ease and efficiency of cycle counts versus inventory in a day. METER READERS 1. The meter readers are maintaining a current status even with the weather conditions, helping with flood control and helping with the power outages. No routes have been estimated however there have been buried meters and meters in hazardous situations (roofs ready to shed their snow)that weren't read for the month. 2. During the month of January, 9832 meters were read, 216 service reports completed and 189 48 hour(1013 notices delivered. VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 1. This has been another busy and interesting month for the vehicle shop. Tom assisted with flood control, went out to help a customer at Donner Lake with her generator for her oxygen system during a power outage and at the same time when the crews are out in a storm damage situation, the shop is in a standby status so in case of breakdown to a vehicle, Tom can respond immediately. 0 2. Tom has spent time traveling to Sacramento and Reno to inspect used loaders. A decision rwas made to purchase a used Cat 928F wheeled loader. He has also spent time with the water department in developing specifications for the new pickups. 3. There were six BIT inspection, three service inspections, three brake jobs, fifteen miscellaneous repairs, three emergency call outs and taking the equipment slated for the surplus sale out of service. 4. Plumas Sierra recently installed the same Equipment Management system from Orcom that the District has in place. Since most of their vehicle repairs are contracted out there was a need to see how the system would help with scheduling maintenance. They were not sure what the system could do for them so I have spent time sending them samples of how the District uses this system which by the way is a system that works well for us.