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PUD 3 Commission Report for January 24, 2012

Posted January 26, 2012

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Jay Himlie retiring as PUD 3 power supply & energy services manager.
Commissioners reject Bonneville Power Administration request to sign settlement over small farm and residential exchange program.
Staff report on snow and ice storms.

CONSENT AGENDA

PUD 3 Commissioners approved payment of vouchers worth $3.98 million. Linda Gott, commission president, noted that $2.6 million of that amount was for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) wholesale electricity bill.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Louis Cofoni, Shelton resident, thanked the commission and PUD staff for the speedy response to electrical outages caused by the recent snow and ice storms. Cofoni said that utility customers are seeing the benefits of tree trimming and system maintenance.

ACTION ITEMS

Commissioners adopted Resolution 1559, Declaring Distribution System Items Surplus.

STAFF REPORTS

Power Supply

Jay Himlie, retiring power supply & energy services manager, announced that the meeting was his last appearance as a PUD employee before the commission.

Matt Samuelson, incoming power supply manager, reported on another attempt by BPA to persuade utilities to sign on to a settlement regarding the way in which the small farm and residential exchange program was managed.

Samuelson pointed out that PUD 3 commission had twice voted not to sign the agreement, which would require the waiver of legal challenges by dissident utilities.

PUD commission voted unanimously to not sign the third offer from BPA.

Manager’s Report

Wyla Wood, PUD 3 manager, stated that a farewell party will be held in February to celebrate the contributions of Jay Himlie to the utility.

Bob Smith, operations manager, reported on the outage restoration efforts during the recent snow and ice storms.

Smith said that the PUD had plenty of time to prepare for the arrival of the inclement weather. He said although there were no large scale outages, affected customers were spread throughout the PUD’s service territory.

Smith said that the outage center was opened on Thursday the 19^th, and that employees took an “all hands on deck” approach to restore electricity to customers. Employees worked straight through to Saturday, when the outage center was closed.

He pointed out that while other areas of western Washington lost electricity to their core businesses and city centers, PUD 3 was able to maintain service to the business community.

Smith noted mutual aid provided by line crews from Mason County PUD No. 1, Douglas PUD, and Okanogan PUD.

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS

Commissioner Gott reported that she had attended the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce Gala January 20 and received praise for the reliability of the PUD’s service and quick response to the recent storms. She noted that she was pleased to see all of the utility’s employees working together to “get the job done.”

NEXT MEETING

The next PUD 3 commission meeting takes place February 14, 2012 at 10:00 AM in the PUD auditorium at 307 West Cota Street in Shelton.

Mason PUD 3 - Electricity Restored to Nearly 2,000 Lake Cushman Customers

Posted January 25, 2012 - 3:35 AM

Mason County PUD No. 3 restored electricity at 3:00 this morning to nearly 2,000 customers in the Lake Cushman area west of Hoodsport.

Strong gusty winds in the Olympic Mountains caused a tree to fall across power lines, causing the outage at approximately 9:45 last night.

Blustery weather buffeted various areas of Mason County overnight. Selected observations include:

Belfair – 38 MPH
Shelton – 35 MPH
Matlock – 35 MPH
Hoodsport – 31 MPH
Grapeview – 24 MPH

There were reports of small, scattered outages in other areas of the PUD service territory overnight, but none as extensive as that affecting the Lake Cushman area.

During any outage situation customers are urged to stay away from lines that may have fallen on the ground and call the PUD to report them. Reports can be made any time of the day or night to 360-432-1533 (Shelton), 360-275-2833 (Belfair), 360-861-4247 (Elma). Customers may obtain outage information via the Mason County PUD 3 twitter feed: http://twitter.com/pud3 or on the PUD 3 website: www.masonpud3.org.

Outage Affects Nearly 2,000 Lake Cushman Electricity Customers

Posted January 24, 2012, 10:42 PM

Nearly 2,000 Mason County PUD No. 3 customers in the Lake Cushman west of Hoodsport are without electricity this evening due to strong, gusty wind and driving rain that hit the Olympic Mountains.

PUD 3 linemen were alerted to the outage at approximately 9:45, and are at work to restore electricity to the affected customers as soon as possible.

Blustery weather has buffeted various areas of Mason County this evening. Selected observations include:

Belfair – 38 MPH
Shelton – 35 MPH
Matlock – 35 MPH
Hoodsport – 31 MPH
Grapeview – 24 MPH

There have been reports of small, scattered outages in other areas of the PUD service territory, but none as extensive as that affecting the Lake Cushman area.

PUD 3 Mopping up From Snow & Ice Storms - Customers Asked to Watch for Tree Crews & Linemen

Posted January 23, 2012

Mason County PUD No. 3 is in the mop up stage as it helps its customers recover from last week’s electrical outages.

PUD 3 crews will be working throughout the area assessing remaining damage to the utility’s system and dealing with leaning trees and broken or weakened limbs that may be threatening power lines.

The PUD asks motorists to be aware that its personnel will be working along area roads and highways, and to be careful and courteous in these work zones.

Most of the outages last week were scattered throughout Mason County, some in isolated areas. At the peak of restoration efforts, nearly 3,600 of the 33,000 PUD 3 customers were without electricity. However, almost 2,900 of those were from a short substation outage on the Tahuya Peninsula.

PUD 3 is proud to provide its customers with safe, reliable service. Linemen worked through lingering ice on trees & slushy snow to restore electricity. They were committed to working as quickly and as long as necessary to get the remaining customers’ power back on line.

Line crews from Mason County PUD No. 1, Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD provided mutual aid to PUD 3.

Although Mason County was hit with extreme weather, the PUD believes that its aggressive tree trimming program; an emphasis on system maintenance and upgrades; as well as an active pole condition inventory helped set the stage for lower outage impacts than what could have been seen otherwise.

Mason PUD 3 - January 21 - 6:30 PM Outage Restoration Update

(6:30 PM Update)

With an estimated 50 customers remaining, Mason County PUD No. 3 is in the home stretch in restoring electricity to those affected by this week’s snow and ice storm. Most of the customers involved are mostly scattered and isolated outage pockets.

Areas where PUD 3 linemen are working this evening include:

Belfair
Brewer Road
Harstine Island: Burgundy Road
Loertscher Road
Mason Lake
Other scattered, isolated outages.
Shelton: spot outages
PUD 3 tree crews are clearing numerous trees/limbs on lines throughout the area.

At the peak of restoration efforts over the past several days, nearly 3,600 of the 33,000 PUD 3 customers were without electricity. However, almost 2,900 of those were from a short substation outage on the Tahuya Peninsula.

Linemen had to work through lingering ice on trees & slushy snow during their work to restore electricity. But they were committed to working as quickly and as long as necessary to get the remaining customers’ power back on line.

Line crews from Mason County PUD No. 1, Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD provided mutual aid to PUD 3.

PUD officials are keeping a close watch on the weather forecast for Sunday, which shows there may be breezy conditions in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal region.

Customers are urged to stay away from lines that may have fallen on the ground and call the PUD to report them. Reports can be made any time of the day or night to 360-432-1533 (Shelton), 360-275-2833 (Belfair), 360-861-4247 (Elma).

Mason PUD 3 - January 21 - 3:00 PM Outage Restoration Update

Here is the status (as of 3:00 PM) of electrical outage restoration efforts by Mason County PUD 3.

An estimated 200 customers are without electricity. The outage restoration has been aided by an afternoon lull in the weather. Most of the customers involved are mostly scattered and isolated outage pockets. PUD 3 officials expect to have most electrical customers back on line this evening.

Areas where PUD 3 linemen and crews from other public utilities are working include:

Dusty Lane
Harstine Island
Home Port Lane (Assisted by Okanogan PUD crew)
Loertscher Road
Matlock (Assisted by Douglas PUD crew)
Old Olympic Highway
Pickering Road
Springs Road
Story Road
Timberlakes
Other scattered, isolated outages, and numerous trees/limbs on lines

Lingering ice on trees, and slushy snow have hindered efforts by linemen in their efforts to restore electricity, but they are committed to working as quickly as possible to get the remaining customers’ power back on line.

PUD officials are also keeping a close watch on the weather forecast for Sunday, which shows there may be breezy conditions in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal region.

Line crews from Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD are providing mutual aid to PUD 3. A Mason County PUD No. 1 crew is assisting as needed over the weekend.

Customers are urged to stay away from lines that may have fallen on the ground and call the PUD to report them.

Reports can be made any time of the day or night to 360-432-1533 (Shelton), 360-275-2833 (Belfair), 360-861-4247 (Elma).

Mason PUD 3 - January 21 - 12:30 PM Outage Restoration Update

Here is the status (as of 12:30 PM) of electrical outage restoration efforts by Mason County PUD 3.

As of mid-day, an estimated 200 customers are without electricity; affected by mostly scattered isolated outages.

Areas where PUD 3 linemen and crews from other public utilities are working include:

Arcadia, Lynch & Sells Road areas.
Beil Road near Shelton.
Belfair.
Birch Street, Shelton.
Harstine Island.
Kamilche Point.
Lake Limerick.
Mason Lake.
Matlock.
Old Olympic Highway.
Trails End.
Highway 108 & Old Olympic Highway.

Other scattered, isolated outages, and numerous trees/limbs on lines throughout the area.

PUD officials are also keeping a close watch on the weather forecast for Sunday, which shows there may be breezy conditions in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal region.

Line crews from Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD are providing mutual aid to PUD 3. A Mason County PUD No. 1 crew is assisting as needed over the weekend.

Mason PUD 3 - January 21 - 9:20 AM Outage Restoration Update

Here is the status (as of 9:30 AM) of electrical outage restoration efforts by Mason County PUD 3.

As of this morning, an estimated 300 customers who are affected by mostly scattered isolated outages. Windy conditions, lingering ice on trees, and slushy snow have hindered efforts by linemen in their efforts to restore electricity, but they are committed to working as quickly as possible to get the remaining customers’ power back on line.

Areas where PUD 3 linemen and crews from other public utilities are woring include:

Beil Road near Shelton.
Belfair.
Cloquallum & Matlock areas.
Harstine Island.
Highway 108 & Old Olympic Highway.
Shelton, individual outages.
Stretch Island.
Tree Crews are working in the Belfair & Crestview areas.
Other scattered, isolated outages, and numerous trees/limbs on lines throughout the area.

Line crews from Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD are providing mutual aid to PUD 3. A Mason County PUD No. 1 crew is assisting as needed over the weekend.

Customers are urged to stay away from lines that may have fallen on the ground and call the PUD to report them.

Reports can be made any time of the day or night to 360-432-1533 (Shelton), 360-275-2833 (Belfair), 360-861-4247 (Elma).

Mason PUD 3 - January 20 - 8:00 PM Outage Restoration Update

Here is the status (as of 8:00 PM of electrical outage restoration efforts by Mason County PUD 3.

The PUD is making headway in restoring electricity to an estimated 450 customers who are affected by mostly scattered, isolated outages. Linemen have been hindered somewhat by frozen rain, fallen trees and tree limbs on power lines.

Areas without electricity include:

Arcadia area.
Benson Loop.
Bloomfield Road.
Cloquallum Road.
Harstine Island.
Hurd Road (Belfair View Estates).
Kamilche & Highway 108.
Dayton-Matlock area: Little Egypt Rd, Muller Rd, Dinning Rd, Kelly Rd & Pyramid Ct.
Lynch Road.
Pickering.
Shorecrest.
Grapeview: Stretch Island & Thomas Road.
Tiger Mission Road.
Other scattered, isolated outages, and numerous trees/limbs on lines throughout the area.

Line crews from Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD are providing mutual aid to PUD 3. A Mason County PUD No. 1 crew is assisting as needed over the weekend.

As ice begins to thaw from power lines and trees, The PUD is concerned that this could result in trees or limbs that could fall on lines, especially if winds pick up.

Customers are urged to stay away from lines that may have fallen on the ground and call the PUD to report them.

Reports can be made any time of the day or night to 360-432-1533 (Shelton), 360-275-2833 (Belfair), 360-861-4247 (Elma).

Mason PUD 3 Restoration Efforts January 20, 2012 - 4:15 p.m.

Here is the status (as of 4:15 p.m.) of electrical outage restoration efforts by Mason County PUD 3.

The PUD is working to restore power to an estimated 500 PUD 3 customers. While power has been restored in many locations falling trees and limbs continue to cause problems, and there are still scattered outages throughout the county.

Areas without electricity include:

• Arcadia and Lynch Road

• Shorecrest

• Timberlakes

• Harstine Island

• Kamilche & Highway 108

• North Shore Road

• Stretch Island & Thomas Road in Grapeview

• Hurd Road (Belfair View Estates)

• Tiger Mission Road

• Little Egypt Rd, Muller Rd, Dinning Rd, Kelly Rd and Pyramid Ct in the Matlock area

• Other scattered, isolated outages, and numerous trees/limbs on lines throughout the area.

Crews continue to work around the clock to make repairs. Line crews from Okanogan County PUD and Douglas County PUD are providing mutual aid to PUD 3, and a Mason County PUD No. 1 crew will be assisting as needed over the weekend.

The PUD remains concerned about the weak trees or limbs that could fall on lines, especially if winds pick up. Customers are urged to stay away from lines that may have fallen on the ground and call the PUD to report them.

Reports can be made any time of the day or night to 360-432-1533 (Shelton), 360-275-2833 (Belfair), 360-861-4247 (Elma).