HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 02/12/2003City Council Liaison
Eric Hamrick
Staff Liaison
DeEtta Carr 221-6702
Fort Collins Electric Board Minutes
February 12, 2003
Electric Board Chairperson Electric Board Vice Chair
Alison Mason 493-1295 Jeff Lebesch 221-0543
Secretary
Heather Anderson 221-6700
Roll Call
Board Present: Chairperson Alison Mason, Vice Chairperson Jeff Lebesch, Tracy Babst-
Wiedenbrug, Dan Bihn and Barbara Rutstein
Board Absent: Lisa Skolds and Linda Stewart
Staff Present: Heather Anderson, Patty Bigner, Bill Bray, Eric Dahlgren, Suzanne Jarboe -
Simpson, John Phelan, Mike Smith, Wendy Williams and DeEtta Carr
Visitor: Richard Smart
Meeting Opened
Chairperson Alison Mason called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. Alison introduced the new
Electric Boardmember Tracy Babst-Wiedenbrug.
Approval of Minutes
There were no minutes to approve.
Electric Enemy Supply Policy
Mike Smith, General Manager, updated the Board on the most recent revisions made to the
Proposed Electric Energy Supply Policy. The major change to the Policy was to add three
graphs showing Fort Collins Base Case Scenario, Fort Collins Policy Target Scenario
(Consumption), and Fort Collins Policy Targets Scenario (Demand). The following are as
follows:
1. Under Environment: Objectives for the future
• Objective 5 was edited to read "Encourage Platte River Power Authority to
continue reducing emissions from fossil fuels and to avoid the use of coal in any
new generation facilities."
• Objective 8 was amended to a bulleted list instead of being repetitive.
• Objective 10 was edited to add in "Whenever possible" and remove "Develop and
implement policies that....
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Boardmember Jeff Lebesch questioned the use of the terms avoiding the use of coal. He thought
we should not single out coal, but allow for natural gas to be an exemption. Mike stated that it
was put in to show absolute support of avoiding coal. Boardmember Dan Bihn stated cleaning
green house gasses from coal is harder and that public perception of this process is much higher.
Dan stated that the three charts are looking at gross numbers and the policy is mainly per capita.
Mike said they were doing it this way because the people reading it saw the savings of energy,
but wanted to know how much energy is being saved. Mike asked the Board if the graphs added
or distracted. Alison suggested adding a footnote that stating the charts were based on the
assumption of a certain growth rate. John Phelan suggested the growth rate was assumed at
approximately 2 to 2 '/2 percent growth.
Tracy Babst-Wiedenbrug said there should be a parenthesis added to show "(Energy)" beside
Fort Collins Base Case Scenario and next to Fort Collins Policy Targets Scenario "(Change)".
She stated the graphs represent time and usage well.
Dan said he would like to see the per capita chart instead of the consumption chart. He stated it
would be insightful to see things have changed, and the policy is making a difference.
The Board agreed to have two graphs showing both the per capita and energy related scenarios
and two others showing the decrease related to both. These four graphs would extend back 10
years to show change.
Mike will be delivering a Power Point presentation on the finalized Electric Energy Supply
Policy to City Council Study Session on Tuesday, February 25.
Memo of Support on Electric Energy Supply Policy
Alison presented a memo of support to City Council on the Electric Energy Supply Policy.
Barbara made a motion to adopt the memo with amendments. Jeff seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.
2002 Market Research Update
Patty Bigner, Customer Connections Manager explained that we have received a draft of the
residential survey results. Once we have the draft report of the commercial survey results, the
team will meet with the consultant, Market Decisions to discuss the findings and begin to
develop an action plan. Patty gave a copy of the preliminary findings to the Board to review.
Barbara Rutstein asked a question about a bullet under "Coal Plants, Energy Conservation and
Renewable Energy" that stated "Support for a coal plant is reduced when respondents consider
either increase in their electric bill or increased pollution due to a plant." Suzanne Jarboe -
Simpson interjected that it might be read that people are less inclined to support a coal plant if
there is a price increase or if there is an increase in pollution. Patty reiterated that they have not
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talked to the consultant about what the findings are in the report to know what each statement is
meant to imply.
Dan asked about the questions regarding cost for the Wind Power Program in this survey and
Patty said the consultants had information on the current cost and supporting background for that
program if residents asked. Wendy Williams said the questions asked were not quantified just
whether the customers would be willing to pay more for renewable energy.
OTHER ITEMS:
DeEtta reminded the Board that a date needed to be scheduled for the Electric Board Retreat.
The Board decided March 5`h as a tentative date until the other Boardmembers could be
contacted.
Alison said they are not all getting the Public Power Weekly. Bill Bray suggested they could get
it on line at APPA.net.org. Tracy also suggested energyicentral.com as a great site to keep up
with the electric industry.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
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DeEtta Carr, Electric Board Liaison