|
|
|
|
|
FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
.jpg)
|
|
The
meeting was called to order by Vice-President Paul Ennor. Other directors
present were: Carl Beach, Alicia Bonesteele and Joe Van Meter. Bonesteele
presented Rachel Knotts with a certificate and scholarship, recognizing her
time and service on Salem Electric’s board during the past school year as the
Leadership Youth Representative. Knotts expressed her appreciation for the
scholarship and said she plans to attend Oregon State University in the fall.
Administrative Services Manager,
Jack Belleque, said the notice of capital reserve allocations was sent in May.
The Statesman Journal notice went out on June 10. He reported that 600 claims
have been made for 1979 and 1980, representing payments of approximately
$15,000. He said total claims, so far, have totaled about $75,000.
Engineering & Operations Manager,
Roger Kuhlman, provided a map of development in the service area and pointed
out several projects including: West Meadows, Phase 2 & 3; Deer Ridge 6 on
Glen Creek Road; Eagle’s View #2 off Eola Drive; and Vineyard View on the
western edge of the service territory. The Vineyard View addition is 1,100’
from SE’s existing facilities, so options are being considered as to the best
way to serve this addition. The Portland Road project has been put on hold
because of the uncertainty of funding for the project. It was budgeted for this
year, but it has been delayed another 5 to 10 years.
Member Services Manager,
Terry Kelly, provided a flyer on energy saving LED lights and a sample of the
coupons that will be available for qualifying hard-wired Energy Star rated
light fixtures. Kelly also said he received notification of the new Leadership
Youth student, Richard Schultz, a junior at West Salem High School. In regard
to the solar water heating program, Kelly clarified that Salem Electric will
provide a $600 rebate, or customers will be offered the option of a
low-interest loan up to $5,000, and may be eligible for tax credits from the
State of Oregon.
General Manager, Bob
Speckman, said there will be a board tour for our new director on July 12
beginning at 9:30 am. All board members are welcome to attend.
Speckman distributed a proposed letter addressed to
the governor, drafted by the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The
letter urges the Governor to request that BPA reduce summer spill to the lowest
level possible in order to reduce pressure on BPA’s wholesale power rates. It
has been shown that summer spill costs tens of millions of dollars at a time
when few fish are in the river to benefit from it. The board voted unanimously
that Salem Electric sign the proposed letter. Speckman reported that
information was provided in the packets regarding Salem Electric’s involvement
with renewable resources. Van Meter commented that he enjoyed reading the
material and found it very informative.
Speckman reported that Ennor and Beach have registered
to attend the NWPPA Ethics and Governance Workshop in July. He also reported
that ORECA has hired a lobbyist to replace Laura Waterman, who resigned last
month.
Ennor reviewed his reasons for thinking the board may
want to have a strategic planning session. He recognized the five company goals
as good guidelines, but said they really do not constitute a plan. He referred
to several situations where a strategic plan would be helpful, such as:
evaluating the general manager, negotiating BPA contracts and securing
renewable power. He said the board, as a whole, should determine if they want
to have a planning session, and then staff can come up with a format and secure
a facilitator, if necessary. It was agreed to add the proposal to the August
agenda.
Belleque reviewed the proposed changes to the policy
of providing computers for use by directors. The board voted unanimously to
approve the amendments to the policy as presented.
Belleque reviewed the purpose of Landlord Agreements.
Through these agreements, landlords keep Salem Electric informed as to who is
moving in and out of apartments and rentals. Salem Electric’s attorney has
reviewed the privacy and confidentiality policy and suggested several changes.
The policy changes allow disclosure of a
renter/lessee’s name to the landlord if there is a Landlord Agreement in force.
Under this policy, no financial information regarding the tenant can be
divulged to the landlord. Motion carried unanimously to approve the policy
changes as presented.
The meeting adjourned at 8:02 pm.
Secretary/Treasurer
Carl E. Beach
|
|
TOP
|
|
.jpg) A Challenge for the
Northwest
I attended the annual meeting of the American Public
Power Association in Seattle in June. This meeting was attended by over 2,000
delegates from across the United States. I talked to representatives of public
utilities about their problems and successes. I was even more convinced that
our small utility is fortunate in our ability to serve our members with
reliable and comparatively low cost power. There is constant pressure applied
in Congress and in state legislatures to take away the ability to locally
control the decisions concerning electric power supply. The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) persists in its efforts to regulate public power
and weaken local control.
I listened to a panel made up of speakers from areas
where Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) have been formed. It has
forced implementation of RTOs in the East and Midwest. New England reported
that customers have experienced a 150% increase in power costs since beginning
the process to establish an RTO. Texas reported an increase of 64%. This same
story was repeated in the Midwest and other areas where an Independent Service
Operator (ISO) or RTO has been implemented. All stated prices to the consumer
were driven higher and with loss of reliability. This same system is being
pushed by FERC for the Northwest.
An RTO will not benefit public power members and
customers in any way in the Northwest. Our best chance at avoiding the problems
other areas are experiencing is to let our legislators know through our
organizations and as individual members and customers of public power that we
oppose implementing either an ISO or an RTO in our region.
Jim Dyer
President
|
|
|
TOP
|
| Board Reports
|
|