To put the scenario in proper proportions,
Salem Electric services an eighteen square mile area including all of West
Salem, fifty percent of our Downtown Central Business District, a portion of
Northeast Salem including Portland Road and the Northgate residential area, and
approximately fifty percent of Keizer. This area embraces 15,000 customers,
both residential and commercial. Among our largest commercial customers are
Mitsubishi Silicon America, Agripac, Neilsen Manufacturing, RainSweet, Wiltsey
Foods, Gerlinger Casting and Capital Manor. This fairly sizable customer base is
serviced by a field crew of only fourteen persons, 24 hours per day, 365 days
per year. The line (field) personnel are broken down
essentially into three crews: a service crew including a leadman and one
journeyman; and two line crews which include a foreman, one or two journeyman,
and an apprentice; there is also a backhoe operator and a groundman.
Additionally, there is a journeyman meterman doing inspections and testing, an
apparatus technician (substation), plus an underground locator. Most of the
crews are interchangeable and able to assist where needed. To become a journeyman requires three (3)
years of working as an apprentice, intensive schooling, ongoing testing and
close supervision. As an apprentice you are not allowed in the "bucket" on the
trucks and all crews are skilled in pole climbing in areas where trucks cannot
reach. Our equipment includes three extensively equipped bucket trucks, two
digger derricks, and miscellaneous other support pieces like backhoe, dump
truck etc. Two measurements of excellence in a utility
company are the factors of reliability and safety. Salem Electric has an extremely high record
of service reliability and continuity of service. A nationwide survey in the
early 90s placed our utility in the 95th percentile or above as compared to
other utilities. Safety is always a major concern in working
within an arena of 12,000 to 115,000 volt power lines. Ongoing safety training
is a high priority. All our crews are trained in CPR. Our crews are on-call after hours, 4 p.m.
to 7 a.m. during the week and 24 hours on weekends, every day of the year. If
on-call, they must be alert and available for immediate response. The crews
rotate this assignment. So next Fall or Winter, when the wind is
howling and the elements are severe, while our lights may flicker, let's give a
big salute to the skilled and dedicated staff who help us to continue to enjoy
a comfort level we often take for granted. The Salem Electric Board of Directors convened at
7:10 p.m. on July 22, 1997; all members were present. The first item considered
was a request for donation from Jim Gray, representing the Oregon Symphony
Association in Salem. Gray noted that Salem Electric has been a co-sponsor for
many years and expressed his appreciation. Salem is the smallest city in the
U.S. to enjoy a full symphony orchestra. Support from organizations such as
Salem Electric is vital to its continued existence. Gray asked that SE again
contribute $1,750 as a co-sponsor. Director Culver asked if they had a program
to allow underprivileged children to attend. Gray indicated that they did have
a program for children. Although directors Wolf, Culver, and Dyer all expressed
some concern over the amount in the budget allowed for donation requests, all
directors agreed that maintaining good community relations has always been very
important to Salem Electric and will be even more important in the event that
restructuring becomes a reality. T motion to donate $1,750 carried unanimously.
Staff was directed to prepare a letter indicating the board's concern that some
program for underprivileged children be considered. Sara Baker-Sifford from ORECA was present to give
the board a legislative update. Sara was on the forefront of the successful
push by ORECA and a coalition of organizations to slow down restructuring until
there has been time to adequately study it. The legislature adjourned on July
5th with HB2821 being defeated. When asked by Director Anderson what she
foresees for the next session, Sara said retail wheeling would come up again
and that there are already special deal contracts being negotiated in order to
ensure that customers stay with their utilities. Director Koho mentioned that
we should not allow ourselves to resign to the fact that retail wheeling is
inevitable in the next session. He said that is what everyone was saying one
year ago and yet we were successful in defeating it. All agreed it will be
important for us to remain informed and actively involved in the decisions to
come. The board recessed and reconvened in executive
session at 8:10 p.m. | Board Reports |
September 1997
An
extremely vital area of Salem Electric's service to our many customers is our
Operations Department" which incorporates our Engineering and Operations
Manager and Line Superintendent and his Line Foremen and crew that
maintain a good portion of our service delivery system.
Minutes of the Meeting Held on:
July 22, 1997
-- Bill
Wolf, Secretary/Treasurer
