Douglas County Public Utility District - August 23 meeting

EAST WENATCHEE - Douglas County PUD Commissioners Aaron J. Viebrock, Molly Simpson and Ronald E. Skagen executed the following actions during the August 23, Commission meeting held at the District's Bridgeport office:
Heard the bid opening results for bid document 21-40-D, 230kV Switches for Urban Industrial Substation. All bids will be evaluated prior to a recommendation for contract award.
Approved acceptance of work and final payment to Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC for the second year under contract 19-04-D, provide Distribution tree trimming services. All work is complete and determined to meet bid specifications.
Authorized acceptance of work and final payment to MICA Steelworks Inc. under contract 20-17-D, supply and deliver tubular steel poles for the Rocky Reach to Chelan Falls 115kV Transmission Line. All work is complete and determined to meet bid specifications.
Approved acceptance of work and final payment to General Pacific, Inc. under contract 20-24-D, supply and deliver 144 count 600ft. span ADSS Fiber Optic cable. All work is complete and determined to meet bid specifications.
Authorized acceptance of work and final payment to General Pacific, Inc. under contract 20-25-D, supply and deliver 144 count squirrel and fire resistant ADSS Fiber Optic cable. All work is complete and determined to meet bid specifications.
Authorized a call for bids under bid document 21-36-D, install power conduits and vaults. Necessary along Urban Industrial Way to 10th Street NE as part of a data center project.
Approved amendment No. 1 to Professional Service Agreement 21-31-W, marking and tagging hatchery fish with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. This will decrease the contract $51,187 with the cost responsibility of marking and tagging Southern Resident Orca and Pacific Salmon Treaty program fish to WDFW.
Authorized execution of a mutual aid agreement with Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. This will coordinate response to restore service to customers as quickly and safely as possible after storms or other natural disasters.
Approved amendment No. 2 to professional service agreement with D. Rohr and Associates, Inc. Assistance with regional governmental, regulatory, power and natural resources issues will not-exceed $85,000 and will conclude December 31, 2022.
Awarded contract 21-40-D, 230kV switches for Urban Industrial Substation to Southern States LLC, the lowest responsive bidder.
Authorized a call for bids under bid document 21-45-W, spillway 7 concrete, embedded steel and gate repair at the Wells Hydroelectric Project. To ensure reliable operation the spillgate and some mechanical components need to be removed and replaced.
Heard that Moody's Investors Service upgraded the District's revenue bonds to Aa2 from Aa3 with a stable outlook. Full report can be found here.
Received the preliminary budgets for the Distribution System and Wells Hydroelectric Project for calendar year 2022.
The preliminary Distribution System budget includes a previously approved  3% increase in KWH charge for the highest two usage tiers of the General Service schedule (over 25,000 KWH).  Data Centers will see a 5% increase January 1 and July 1 and Cryptocurrency customers a 10% increase January 1 and July 1 for their rate schedules. The preliminary capital budget is $49.5 million, of which $32.8 million is for electrical facilities. The balance of capital spending is for the Hydrogen Project, improvements and new connections to the Douglas County Community Network and new equipment.
Wells Project Revenue Budget estimate is equal to the Operating Expense Budget at $53 million. The preliminary Capital Budget totals $36 million. Major items include generating unit refurbishment, 450T Gantry Crane replacement, Motor Control Center replacement, GUS Transformer replacement and Governor Controls upgrade.
Received the Environmental Reviews of the preliminary budgets.
A budget hearing will be opened on Monday, October 11, and held open until Monday, December 13, at 1:30 p.m. in the East Wenatchee office.
Heard a report on the Douglas County Community Network. The network currently has 6,723 end users.
The next regular meeting of the Commission is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. September 13, at the District's East Wenatchee Office.