As 1999
comes to an end, I wanted to take one more opportunity to reassure our
customers that Salem Electric has taken all reasonable and prudent measures to
prepare for Y2K. Last February, the board was presented with a comprehensive
planning document outlining all the steps that would be taken to test equipment
and plan for any problems. Through the year we have been given monthly updates
and feel, once again, that the Salem Electric staff has done an excellent job. Can we say with all certainty that we will not experience any
problems this New Year's Eve? No. Due to the complex nature of the Regional
Transmission System, and our reliance on the Bonneville Power Administration,
we cannot guarantee there won't be any interruptions to your electrical system.
However, we can say we have made every effort to be Y2K compliant. Electric utilities, probably more than most businesses, deal
regularly with emergency situations. Y2K is certainly a different situation
from a storm related outage, but it is comparable in that the Salem Electric
staff is used to dealing with the unexpected. We urge all members to also be
prepared on their end, the same as you would prepare your home or business
every winter when power outages could occur.
Salem Electric will be fully staffed as 2000 rolls in and will
continue to be staffed as needed to make sure any and all problems are
addressed and fixed as quickly as possible. If you have any particular
questions or concerns about the Y2K planning efforts, please feel free to call
the office and talk to the experts. Nancy Towslee The
meeting was called to order by President Nancy Towslee at 7:00 p.m. All board
members were present. Mark Snook from Oregon OSHA congratulated Salem Electric on being
the most recent recipient of the SHARP award, recognizing Salem Electric's
commitment and achievement in the areas of safety and health. Salem Electric is
the 44th company in Oregon to receive this award. Terry Kelly reported on Salem Electric lineman Brian Aicher's
recent demonstration of the workings of a line truck at Salem Housing
Authority's "SHAfest" this month. Several employees also donated time to staff
a booth at the Home and Remodeling Show at the fairgrounds. The booth offered
information on the many special programs offered to our customers. The board reviewed the discussions currently ongoing with ORECA
(a major lobbying group representing Oregon electric cooperatives). One large
issue relates to ORECA and its organizational restructuring. Our board has
recommended unanimously that ORECA move toward hiring a general manager with
sound administrative and communication skills and also hire a second individual
to assume the specific lobbying activities. General Manager Bob Speckman introduced the budget document for
the next fiscal year. Jack Belleque and Roger Kuhlman reviewed the budget
section by section, including "footnote" explanations on the major areas
needing clarification. The board congratulated staff for once again putting together a
very thorough and comprehensive budget package. The board was instructed to
review the budget thoroughly over the next month and to call with any questions
or observations. The board will vote on acceptance of the final budget document
at the November meeting. The ongoing discussion of deregulation of the electric industry
was revisited by the board. Several board members expressed concern that Salem
Electric be as proactive as possible as we begin to prepare for the next
legislative session. The board recessed at 8:30 p.m. and moved into executive session
to deal with confidential personnel matters. Secretary/Treasurer
| Board Reports |
December 1999
President
Minutes of the Meeting Held on:
October 26, 1999
Curt Culver
