HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 09/21/1994E
Minutes to be Approved by the Board at the October 19, 1994 Meeting.
FORT COLLINS ELECTRIC BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
September 21, 1994, 5:00 - 7:30 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
John Allum, Bill Brayden, Jeff Eighmy, Mark Fidrych, Barbara Rutstein, and Jim Welch.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
Richard Smart
STAFF PRESENT:
Ellen Alward, Don Botteron, Delynn Coldiron, John DeHaes, Bob Kost, Bill Switzer, and Dennis
Sumner
OTHERS PRESENT:
Alan Apt
BOARD LIAISONS:
Council Liaison -- Alan Apt
Staff Liaison -- Don Botteron
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Don Botteron reported that Chairperson Smart had been delayed and would not be
attending tonight's meeting. Board Member Rutstein agreed to serve as interim
Chairperson.
There was brief discussion on the Electric Heat to Gas Conversion program presentation
from the August meeting. Board Members made no changes to the August 17, 1994
Minutes and unanimously approved them as submitted.
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Don Botteron reviewed election guidelines. He mentioned that Barbara was now eligible
for re-election and that Chairperson Smart had been re -appointed by Council to the Electric
Board. Board Member Smart, in an earlier conversation, expressed to Don his willingness
to serve as Chair for another term, if that should be the decision of the Board.
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Board Member Rutstein opened the floor for nominations. Board Member Fidrych
nominated Richard Smart for a second term as Chair. Board Member Allum seconded the
nomination. No other nominations were made. By unanimous vote of the Board, Richard
Smart was re-elected to a second term as Chair.
Board Member Allum nominated Mark Fidrych for Vice Chair. Board Member Welch
seconded the nomination. No other nominations were made. By unanimous vote of the
Board, Mark Fidrych was elected as Vice -Chair.
Board Member Fidrych assumed Chairperson responsibilities and continued the meeting.
3. IRP/DSM Update:
A. IRP
Dennis handed out copies of a draft Integrated Resource Plan Executive Summary and
reminded Board Members that Platte River staff will be joining the November meeting to
discuss the IRP and Platte River's recommendations. Mayor Azari has asked that the
Board prepare a recommendation on the IRP for City Council.
Board briefly discussed the option of preparing a City IRP. There was consensus that the
Utility is way ahead of legislative requirements. Staff intends to use the Platte River IRP
as a guideline but mentioned that this does not limit us from doing more. Loss of peaking
capacity from the Glen Canyon Dam is a current priority, as well as continued DSM
efforts as identified with the Board. Board Members were satisfied that the Platte River
IRP did not limit the Utility and anticipate that they might want to determine clear
objectives and make recommendations on this issue from the City's perspective from time
to time.
Council Member Apt was interested in an Energy Services budget and program update.
There was some discussion on CLIP funding. Don mentioned that his best guess is that
we might spend as much as $150,000 of the CLIP funds during the remainder of '94,
leaving approximately $200,000 in the fund. Staff will be able to better evaluate this at
the end of the year. The '95 budget proposes an allocation of an additional $150,000 (new
money) into this fund. Staff will likely be going to Council with a re -appropriation
ordinance recommending that the $200,000 of unused '94 funds be reappropriated to 1995.
This would make $350,000 available in 1995 for CLIP.
B. Electric Heat to Gas Conversion Pilot
This pilot program is proceeding well. Staff has heard back from six of the potential
candidates. One was not interested because they had recently spent $1,500 repairing their
heat pump system; one was undecided; and four were definitely interested. Staff plans to
move forward with the interested candidates and hopes to have furnace conversions done
by this coming winter.
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4. BUDGET:
A. 1994 Budget Update:
Don provided budget handouts and an update on 1994 budget status. The Utility
continues to have positive net income with reserves declining slightly in accordance
with efforts to reach our Purchase Power Reserve target of 10%. Don provided
clarifications for programs that have changed significantly. 1994 purchase power
expense is increasing more than anticipated. Operating revenue is slightly lower
than expected when compared to purchase power costs. Staff analysis shows that
if the current trend of 5.7% kWh growth continues through the end of the year, our
purchase power expense will exceed the budgeted amount by a minimum of
$250,000. If growth dropped off to 0%, which is not likely, purchase power
expense would exceed the budgeted amount by $8,567. Factors contributing to a
tight budget year include:
Projected 3% growth; experiencing YTD 5.7% growth and anticipate this
going higher.
Projected 910 new housing units for 1994; revised projection for 1994=
1,400 new housing units. 1993 projections were changed from 600 to
1,100 units and it was assumed that this was the peak. 1995 projection =
1,250 units. 1996 projection = 850 units. 1997-1999 projections = 700
units. Projections are determined based on an overall estimate given by the
Planning Department and then modified, if necessary, by staff.
- An estimated pay plan adjustment of 3.5 % for the entire Utility was used
while preparing the 1994 budget. There have been significant contract
settlements increasing salaries in the competitive labor market that have
influenced our ability to hire and retain line personnel (labor trades
division). This necessitated a 7.25% increase to the labor trades pay line,
in turn increasing costs in the labor intensive budget programs.
Weather also affects the purchase power expense.
When in a growth situation, the rate of growth tends to accelerate throughout the
year. If growth continues to accelerate, the deficit could increase to as much as
$350,000-$400,000. This deficit is in appropriated funds only since there will be
a comparable increase in revenues. There was discussion on the options of
transferring funds from other projects/programs and the potential of going to City
Council to ask for an additional appropriation of revenues in order to cover the
purchase power budget deficit.
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B. 1995 Recommended Budget:
Board next focused on the draft budget memorandum. Don mentioned that the
memorandum needed to be approved before next month's meeting so that it could
be forwarded to Council before the first reading of the 1995 budget. Board
Members discussed the memorandum. It was suggested that a sentence be added
that points out that if current growth estimates exceed the budget projection, and
continue to increase, consideration of future appropriations will be brought to
Council. There was discussion on staffing needs related to the undergrounding
program and new system construction and the balance that must be maintained to
assure that the ratio of unskilled/temporary workers to skilled classified workers
does not hinder productivity, and to assure that the Utility not be faced with future
layoffs due to excessive hiring of classified employees. Board Members
unanimously approved the memorandum as amended. Don will incorporate
suggested changes and forward the memorandum to Chairperson Smart for
signature. Once signed, the memorandum will be forwarded to Council in time for
the first reading of the budget.
5. ELECTRIC UTILITY MARKET COMPETITION WORKSHOP:
Dennis mentioned that this workshop will be looking at changes in the industry and
encouraged Board Members to attend. Board Members requested staff to provide a
summary of what took place at the workshop. Dennis will do this. There was discussion
on potential industry changes, including retail wheeling, independent generation, etc.
6. STAFF REPORTS:
A. Competition:
CSU is doing a co -generation study. They are looking to see if there are better
alternatives for them including using waste heat and generating electricity. They
will be sharing their study with us.
Anheuser-Busch (AB) is also doing a study. Best guess is that Public Service is
working to increase gas sales and is trying to convince AB that there might be a
savings for them if they use more gas. Because AB uses a lot of heat, they could
recover the waste heat, as well as make their own electricity, through co-
generation. Staff mentioned that even if AB did decide to make their own
electricity, they would probably still contract with the City for standby power.
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B. Value Plastics:
Staff was working with them on some lost opportunity DSM activities. They are
now rethinking the location and are even considering sites outside of Ft. Collins.
The expenses incurred to date will be nonrecoverable if they decide to relocate
outside of Ft. Collins. The engineering analysis done for this facility cost
approximately $20,000 (not all our expense). Staff is hopeful they are more likely
to stay in Ft. Collins because of the work the Utility has done for them.
C. Environmental Fair:
The Environmental Fair was held on Saturday, September 17th. The people who
attended enjoyed it; however, the turn out was substantially smaller than previous
years. Staff is rethinking this activity to see if this type of outreach still makes
sense.
D. Hot Shot:
Staff received a call from a customer who was disgruntled with the Hot Shot
program. Dennis did not feel that the customer was satisfied, despite the factual
information he was given, and alerted Board Members to the fact that he might
appeal this to the Board. Staff sent this customer the necessary paperwork to file
an appeal to the Board.
7. INFORMATIONAL REQUESTS:
Board Member Welch would like statistical information on the number of women and
minorities employed by the City.
6. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Time of Use Rates:
There was some discussion on time of use rates. There was some concern that the
survey information that was sent was dated. Some more research was done on this
and, although dated, this is the most recent information available on time of use
rates. The summary provided by Board Member Brayden was done in response to
the Board's request for more details on this topic at last month's meeting. Board
Member Brayden and staff further clarified this information.
B. Amendment 12:
There was discussion on this Amendment and how this affects us. It does affect
the Utility and will affect our relationship with the Colorado Association of
Municipal Utilities. The Utility is limited in the amount of lobbying that can be
done, etc. Board Member Allum mentioned that there are aspects of this
Amendment that can be fairly devastating to a municipal government organization.
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Board Members are concerned that we need to do something to let people know
about this. Board Member Rutstein mentioned that the League is doing a TV show
on this on Thursday night, September 22, on the City cable channel from 7:00 -
8:00 p.m. There will be two people for, and two people against this Amendment
on the show.
C. Public Attitudes about Platte River:
Board Member Fidrych asked for clarification on Mayor Azari's request that Board
Members get feedback from citizens on Platte River perceptions/discontent. What
discontent? There was some feeling that the discontent still relates to old things,
i.e., picnics, abused travel, etc. There might also be some discontent concerning
the recent sexual harassment case. Staff re-emphasized Rich's concerns with the
changing marketplace. One piece of this change is to look at our relationship with
Platte River, which is at least part of the reason this request has been made.
CRITIQUE MEETING/NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA:
Cudos to Board Member Fidrych for doing a great job as Chair!!
IRP Presentation and Discussion
- Platte River Presentation
- Board Discussion and Recommendation
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Delyn� Coldiron, Board Secretary
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