Mason PUD News

The Mason County PUD No. 3 Board of Commissioners approved vouchers in the amount of $745,538.

Shelton resident Louis Cofoni urged commissioners to continue their present course to construct a new PUD 3 operations center in the Johns Prairie area near Shelton. Cofoni stated that although some have advised a delay, this will only mean higher costs. He commented on previous proposals to expand current facilities, which due to city codes and requirements would not be sufficient to address space needs.

Cofoni said that he saw a “win-win” opportunity for a plan forwarded by the Mason County Senior Activities Association which would

Jay Himlie, Power Supply Manager presented his recommendations to meet conservation requirements of the Washington State renewable energy law (Initiative 937). Under the state’s “Energy Independence Act,” all electrical utilities with more than 25,000 customers must determine their conservation potential and develop energy saving goals consistent with guidelines of the Northwest Power & Conservation Council (NWPCC). Himlie stated, however, that the NWPCC does not assign conservation targets for individual utilities; under the law, the task of identifying cost-effective energy saving measures is delegated to the local entity.

Himlie told commissioners that a number of factors affect the effectiveness or availability of certain conservation measures:

• The Washington State energy code may be updated, requiring more energy efficient homes;
• Certain energy-saving technologies are not commercially available at this time (I.E. heat pump water heaters)
• The type of electric heating used by most customers in the PUD 3 service territory affects the ability to realize savings through conversion to other sources, such as heat pump technology;
• The PUD service territory has a large number of manufactured homes, which save less energy per square foot than site-built homes for energy efficiency measures;
• There are fewer multi-family residences in Mason County, compared to other areas of the state. This can negate conservation opportunities in those instances;
• PUD 3 is in a milder climate zone, which reduces the potential energy savings compared to other areas that have more dramatic temperature extremes;
• There are existing conservation requirements for new appliances.
• Because large commercial buildings such as skyscrapers do not exist in the PUD service territory, there is no conservation opportunity from this sector;
• The PUD has been aggressively working with local industrial customers to implement conservation programs. This reduces the overall energy saving opportunities into the immediate future.

Given his evaluation of energy savings that are outside the PUD 3’s influence, and those the utility can control, Himlie recommended that the commission adopt a ten year conservation potential of 21,885 megawatt hours, and a 2010 to 2011 biennial conservation target of 4,377 megawatt hours.Himlie stated that he expects the PUD to exceed the conservation targets. He further stated that he does not anticipate rate increases to do so, especially since many of the local efforts are reimbursed through Bonneville Power Administration energy efficiency programs.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the recommendations of a ten year conservation potential of 21,885 megawatt hours, and a 2010 to 2011 biennial conservation target of 4,377 megawatt hours to meet the 2010 through 2011 conservation requirements of the Washington State renewable energy law.

Commissioners approved Resolution 1495, Declaring the Residential/Office Structure on the PUD 3’s Johns Prairie Road Property as Surplus. The resolution authorizes PUD staff to advertize for the removal of the building or salvage of materials from the structure.

Commissioners approved Resolution 1496, Authorizing a Revision to a Power Sales Contract to Assign the Packwood Hydroelectric Project Output. PUD 3 has a ten percent share in the low-impact hydro project. The resolution allows for the sale of this share to Snohomish County PUD for a year. The PUD 3 share will eventually be included in the utility’s local energy portfolio.

PUD 3 Finance Manager Annette Creekpaum reported on the status of the budget, ending October 31, 2009. October expenditures were $3.8 million. Expenditures for the first ten months of the year were $41.5 million, or 73 percent of the proposed 2009 budget. Revenue for October was $3.9 million. Revenue for the first Ten months of the year was $46.6 million, which is 81 percent of the proposed 2009 budget.

Treasurer Sherry Speaks said that the PUD ended the month of October 2009 with a reserve balance of $28.5 million. Total investments were $31.4 million.

Manager Wyla Wood reported that Marissa Davidson, the daughter of Mason PUD No. 3 customer service rep Susan Carrington, has been awarded the Washington PUD Association’s Walkley Educational Scholarship for $1,000.

Wood stated that PUD 3 had recently received a finding-free audit by the Washington State Department of Revenue. She said that the PUD will be provided a refund of $1,700 as a result of the inspection.

The next PUD 3 commission meeting takes place November 17, 2009 in the PUD 3 auditorium at 307 West Cota Street in Shelton at 10:00 a.m.