Douglas County Public Utility District honors Jeff Odegard-Harris

EAST WENATCHEE - Douglas County PUD Commissioners Ronald E. Skagen, Molly Simpson and Aaron J. Viebrock executed the following actions during the Oct. 9, 2017 Commission meeting held at the District's East Wenatchee office:

• Opened bids under bid document 17-16-W, directional drilling of HDPE pipe through a railroad/roadway embankment at the Wells Hydroelectric Project. The bids will be evaluated prior to a recommendation for contract award.

• Awarded Technician II Jeff Odegard-Harris with his 25  year service award. Commissioner Skagen thanked Jeff on behalf of the citizens of Douglas County for his years of service. Jeff thanked the Commission and said "This is an amazing place to work, with good people. It has been a pleasure to be here this long."

• Held the scheduled hearing for the Distribution System 2018 budget and the Wells Project 2017-2018 budget.

• Adopted the 2018 Distribution System budget which estimates revenues at $48 million, a decrease of 8.5%. This estimate includes a previously approved rate adjustment resulting in $1 million of the revenue total.  The cost to an average residential customer would be $2 per month. Operating expenses are estimated at $48.1 million, a decrease of 1.1%. Retained earnings are expected to decline $1.7 million. The capital budget is $15.45 million, of which $11 million is for electrical facilities. The balance of capital spending is for improvements and new connections to the Douglas County Community Network, for new equipment, and for right-of-way easement costs. (17-157)

• Adopted the 2017-2018 fiscal year Wells Hydroelectric Project budget. At $54.7 million, the total Wells Hydroelectric Project Operating Expense Budget amounts to a $1.3 million decrease compared to last year's budget. The Wells Project Revenue Budget estimate is equal to the Operating Expense Budget as required by contract. The Wells Project Capital Budget totals $29.5 million. Major items include generating unit refurbishment, 300T gantry crane replacement, recreation action plan items and generator circuit breaker replacements. (17-158)

• Approved the Environmental Reviews for the 2018 Distribution System Capital Budget and the 2017-2018 fiscal year Wells Hydroelectric Project Operating, Capital and Extraordinary Expense Budget. (17-159)

• Authorized a call for bids under bid document 17-21-D, supply and deliver compact 1100 kcml EPR primary underground cable. (17-160)

• Approved Northwest Power Pool agreement to amend and restate the agreement to form and appoint designated representative for frequency response sharing group. This amends the existing agreement and extends the term to April 1, 2019. (17-161)

• Authorized negotiation of a professional service agreement under RFQ 17-15-W, model testing and verification at the Wells Hydroelectric Project for NERC standards. The District is required to perform field verification model testing on various systems and equipment. (17-162)

• Affirmed addendum Nos. 1 and 2 to bid document 17-16-W, directional drilling of HDPE pipe through a railroad/roadway embankment at the Wells Hydroelectric Project to provide clarifications to the contract documents. (17-163)

• Approved letters to and continuation of an agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey, United Stated Department of the Interior relative to 2017-18 river-gaging station maintenance and operation costs. River gaging is related to the operation of the Wells Hydroelectric Project and the cost is not to exceed $26,625. (17-164)

• The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Oct. 23, 2017 at the District's East Wenatchee office.