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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-11-15 Agenda Packet - Board (13) I I G F DONNER Public Utility District Monthly Activity Report To: Board of Directors Frorrc Peter L. Holzrneister Date: November 9, 2000 The bulk of my time has been spent during the past month on three issues: budget preparation, Donner Lake water system, and the broadband business planning process. Budget preparation Mary Chapman, Steve Gross and I worked closely to complete that draft budget document. It will be the subject of a workshop at the November 15 Board meeting. Donner Lake Water System I have spent a great deal of time communicating with Donner Lake customers who have questions or comments regarding our possible takeover of the system. I have also worked with our consultants to move the study process along. I have worked with Keith Knibb on the CEQA issues. I am hearing a great deal of enthusiastic support for TDPUD to provide water service at Donner Lake. Broadband business planning Alan Harry and I have worked with Steve Gross, Bob Braitman, SR Jones and Scott Brown to prepare for the November 16 LAFCo workshop. We are also working to bring broadband issues to the Board of Directors so we may begin to make initial decisions, in case we are given authority and ultimately decide to enter the business. 0 Page 1 Public October Activity Report To: Board of Directors From: Ed Taylor,Water Superintendent pate: 11/09/00 WATER QUALITY We have monitored the Hirschdale Treatment Plant on a daily basis and the aesthetic qualify of the water has been excellent ali month. Performed preventative maintenance on equipment. Water samples were taken each week during the month. Routine daily rounds were made, taking chlorine residuals throughout the system. The monthly bacteriological report for October was sent to the Department of Health Services. The District has met the State's drinking water standards for the month. SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE: Ten leaks were repaired Six fire hydrants were repaired or replaced. USA marking for construction projects. New customer connections were installed. Started the fall commercial meter change-out program. Started the fall maintenance program on pumps and motors. Continued work on Master Plan for water. Attended meetings on Donner Lake Water System. Completed additional review of Donner Lake Water System. Worked with Nimbus Engineering on new we//locations. 0 Page 1 TRUCKEE DONNER DistrictPublic Utility Monthly Activity Report To: Board of Directors Fronx Stephen Hollabaugh—Assistant General Manager Date: November 9,2000 UAMPS Membership, Pooling Agreement and Resource 2000: The majority of my time has been investigating the opportunities that the District may receive by being a member of UAMPS and possibly becoming a participant in Resource 2000. 1 participated on the Bid Committee for Resource 2000 in Utah. I'll keep you informed of any progress concerning this Resource. I am scheduled to be at the UAMPS monthly meeting November 10 and 15"h but plan on being back in Truckee in time for the District's Board meeting. Power Supply Issues and "What could have been during Summer 2000"? Last month I gave the Board a monthly spreadsheet showing the difference between the price TDPUD paid Idaho and what the Market price was from May through September. Below is the same summary that also covers May through October. $3,221,165 May thru October TDPUD Price $9,004,304 May thru Oct Market Price $5,783,139 May thru Oct Difference Market-TDPUD As you recall, the Market Prices were close to the fixed prices for the month of Jan thru April. After April, the price spiked and has not come down. The District's entire year 2000 budget for Wholesale Power is only 4.0 million dollars not including transmission. The District will come in very close to its r supply costs due to the future contracts that have been n xecutedunt r Ill try to ke year eep you pdated o the future Wholesale Market prices. Truckee Donner Public Utility District has received an allocation of Power from Westem Area Power Administration 2004 Marketing Plan: These allocations start on January 1, 2005. 1 have forwarded the contract for this allocation and received an executed copy from WAPA. I will continue to work with WAPA to firm this power for the future. 0 Page 1 • GIS Strategic Plan Issue: (Graphical Information System): The GIS Arc Info software has been purchased along with Oracle database software. The land base data-model has been developed and completed by Ian. We will continue to capture facility data from the field throughout the winter. • Labor Management Steering Committee: I am meeting each month with the Labor Management Steering Committee. Peter Holzmeister, Mary Chapman, and I represent management. Mike Connell, Rosana Matlock, Patrick Waite and George Caballero. We have been discussing job descriptions, training and promotion procedures and future job trends at the District. • Northwest RTO (Regional Transmission Organization): Sierra Pacific has recently joined a group of northwest utilities to discuss and form a Northwest RTO. These utilities have to file their plans to FERC by Oct. 15, 2000. 1 have been following the progress of this organization along with the help of Margaret McGoldrick of Spiegel McDiarmid. •Page 2 dwrl-E TRUCKEE DONNER 4 Public Staff Report To: Board of Directors From: Scott Terrell Date: November 1, 2000 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- Staff will be in touch with KA customers this year regarding their wants and needs and feelings (opinions) about TDPUD. Staff is waiting to contact KA customers until the outcome of TDPUD's plans regarding telecommunications is known. Many Key Account Customers are currently being contacted regarding their interest in participating in a Truckee proposal for the State of California's summer peak load reduction grant program. TDPUD Building GSHP Proposal- Staff would like to re-visit this project idea with the Board in the near future. This project is on-hold pending the District's Strategic Planning process outcome. Deregulation Education- I am attending various courses, seminars, workshops and meetings to help me keep up with deregulation and "competition" activities. Conservation/DSNUEconomic Development/Public Benefits Public Benefits Program- TDPUD has received and processed about 125 Conservation Cash Rebate program applications. The:School District Staff is looking into various funding mechanisms to implement EMI's cost-effective lighting recommendations. EMI at School District's Staff request has converted two classrooms into lighting efficiency demonstrations. TTSA has reviewed EMI's recommendations and plans to discuss these options with their Board. The Hospital District has purchased the highest efficiency chiller commercially available for their facilities. The Truckee Fire Protection District has received approval from their Board for energy efficiency upgrades to their Fire Station facilities. TSD's energy analysis has been completed and is currently being reviewed by TSD staff. A contractor has been selected to oversee the GSHP installation for the Kidzone project. EMI and TDPUD staff has recently performed energy surveys for the Town of Truckee, Nevada County Building, TDPUD, Glenshire Mutual Water Agency, Placer County Water Agency, Tahoe-Donner Association facilities. About 15 agencies including those mentioned may be included in the State's Peak Load Reduction program. Schools Energy & Water Conservation Education Program- This program is designed to teach both energy and water conservation education and includes actual energy and water conservation measures the children can install in their parent's homes. So far the Living Wise program has been received very well. Sue Mock, SMMS teacher, has asked TDPUD to provide them with 175 more kits for the 2000-2001 school year. School staff has received 50 kits for the first 3 months. Staff gave a presentation October 3 on power and water resources as well as energy and water efficiency to about 25 SMMS students. A similar presentation will be given to a Cub Scout Troop November 14. TDPUD Programs & Services- Staff is currently collecting information and ideas about some possible future programs and services for TDPUD customers. Staff is researching whole-house surge protection and "fiber-optic" building security systems for the benefit of our customers. Alan and Scott met with a representative from Energy Solutions Network to discuss a $5M grant to research some broadband/internet applications with substantial potential benefit to users. Ground Source Heat Pump Bulk Purchase & Installation Program- Staff is currently looking into new ideas on how to educate and promote this technology to our customers. Staff is currently planning to offer a few GSHP seminars to provide customers with information to help them begin planning their GSHP installations. 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. There are currently some residential projects being considered for GSHP as well as some already under construction. 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. TDPUD Staff is available for guided tours. The TTUSD School District is planning to use this facility in conjunction with the Living Wise kits. 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 no survey requests pending. Solar Home Tour- There were about 30 local persons who participated in the solar home tour visiting 8 homes which included such features as solar, geothermal heat pump, energy conservation and water-efficient landscaping on October 14. The event was a great success judged by very positive comments written on tour evaluations. Communications/Public Relations/Education_ Newsletter- The Winter 2000 newsletter is currently being worked on. This issue will include articles on TDPUD's fitness for deregulation, Broadband, Donner Lake, Billing Change, etc. Staff was on-hold publishing a newsletter due to delays in pursuing broadband and an overwhelming surge of requests from community organizations in using our bills to market community activities. A December/January newsletter release is being planned. Public Power Week- TDPUD celebrated National Public Power Week October 1-7. TDPUD staff placed display ads in various publications promoting this event. The Board "endorsed" a proclamation for TDPUD's recognition of Public Power Week. Staff handed out "public power" helium balloons October 2-6 in the entry area for our customers. Our customers were invited through the ads to drop by the PUD and pick up balloons. Marketing & Media- Our current marketing efforts focus on community conservation cash rebate programs, low electric rates & high power reliability and TDPUD's efforts in promoting environmental- clean air, high water quality and the local economy. Community Event Marketing- TDPUD has provided marketing support for the following activities this year: Small Business Development Center workshops, Town Census, Truckee Spring 2000 Home Show, Chamber of Commerce Windows on History event, Truckee-Donner Historical Society Social/Presentation, Sierra Nevada Children's Museum Circus benefit/fundraiser, Truckee-Tahoe Airport Air Affair, School District promotion of Student Excellence in Education, Nevada County Fair Truckee Donner Day, Kidzone project, Railroad Days and the Truckee Town Portrait. Power Content Label- State law requires that all California public and private utilities supply their customers with a Power Content Label quarterly. The next quarterly label will go out the first quarter of next year. 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. If you have a meeting or event you would like to take water bottles to give me•a,call. Kidzone Project- Staff has been working with a group of organizations in Town to develop the Kidzone project. This is a 3,500 square-foot facility planned to be used as a play and educational center for young children. It will also be the new home for the Sierra Nevada Children's Museum. This new facility is planned to be located next to the Recreation District's Activity Center. Kidzone participants are partnering with TDPUD due to TDPUD Board's approval to partially fund the ground source heat pump hydronic heating system installation. Staff recently met with Sierra Air to review their proposal and design for the Kidzone GSHP heating system. Community Garden Brochure- Staff has agreed to participate in the development of a brochure that describes Truckee's garden projects that-are available to the community. The brochure will include the garden at the SBDC building creafed.to'showcase low water using plants and water- efficient irrigation systems. Other gardens to be featured include: Sierra Herb garden, TTHS and Regional Park's native vegetation gardens, project Mana's food for the hungry garden and the proposed Historical Society victory garden. Community/Statewide Involvement Community Involvement- There are many community-related activities staff is involved with as described throughout this entire report. Staff- concentrated more on helping with and participating in activities than serving on committees. Committees are often time-consuming and involve members in many activities unrelated`#o their expertise and ability to contribute efficiently. Truckee River Watershed Coordinated Resource ,Management & Planning- 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 mutually beneficial to both organizations. Many Truckee area watershed remediation projects are being considered by this group. California Municipal Utilities Association Energy Services and Marketing Committee- The Committee is working on projects and programs to help CMUA member utilities prepare for deregulation. Staff has been participating in Legislative Committee conference call meetings. Association for Efficient Environmental Energy Systems- Staff participates in quarterly meetings of the California Utility & GEA GSHP Collaborative. The California Collaborative was formed to oversee the development and promotion of the GSHP industry in California. Utility Energy Forum Planning Committee- The next Conference is scheduled for May, 2001 in Granlibakken.