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HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 10/20/1993Minutes to be Approved by the Board at the November 17, 1993 Meeting. FORT COLLINS ELECTRIC BOARD MEETING MINUTES October 20, 1993, 5:00 - 6:30 P.M. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: _ . John Allum, Jeff Eighmy, Mark Fidrych, Barbara Rutstein, Richard Smart, Larry Walsh, and Jim Welch. BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Don Botteron, Delynn Coldiron, John DeHaes, Bob Kost, and Dennis Sumner. OTHERS PRESENT: Felix Lee BOARD LIAISONS: Council Liaison -- Alan Apt Staff Liaison -- Don Botteron 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The following changes were suggested to the September 20, 1993 Minutes: Page 4 -- C. in front of Conclusions. should -be changed to_a_B—_ Page 4 -- Title for 2. was changed to read: 2. DSM Program Implementation Process. Page 5 -- The Financial Assistance clause under number 3, Additional Factors, was changed to read: - Financial assistance -- When appropriate, intent is to provide financial assistance to customers for viable projects. Board Member Welch made a motion to approve the Minutes as corrected. Board Member Smart seconded the Motion. The Motion carried unanimously and the Minutes from the September 20, 1993 meeting were approved as corrected. -1- 2. ENERGY SERVICES UPDATE: Dennis gave a brief update on Energy Services efforts and answered Board Member questions on the information that was sent out in meeting packets. There was discussion on targets, goals and tracking of various Energy Services outreach efforts. The Hot Short program was discussed as an example. Staff noted that historically the Utility has not set formal sign-up goals for this program. The orientation has been to provide customers with good information so they may make informed choices. It was noted that customers typically are interested in Hot Shot to achieve savings in their energy costs and Hot Shot is only one option. Looking strictly at reducing demand costs for residential customers, other conventional choices are a water heater timer, with a front-end cost of $60 to $100 and potential savings as high as $20 per month, or a demand controller, with = a front-end cost in the neighborhood of $1,000 and the potential -of eventigher monthly- - - - savings. Rather than encourage customers to make one choice over another, the approach has been to advise customers of their options, pointing out advantages and disadvantages of each, and encouraging them to make a selection that serves them best. Also discussed was follow-up on customer contacts. It was suggested that it would be informative to see some type of tracking of follow-up on customer action which resulted from contacts or services provided. 3. BUILDING STANDARDS, RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL: Dennis introduced Felix Lee, Administrator of Building Permits and Inspections Division. Dennis mentioned that the City has minimum energy efficiency standards for residential buildings known as "prescriptive standards." Building Inspection provides flexibility to the marketplace by taking advantage of the Energy Score Home Rating System. When using Energy Score, Building Inspection allows developers, architects, builders, homeowners, etc., the flexibility of not being limited by the prescriptive standards. Instead, they are given the flexibility to follow "performance standards" to enable them to use altemate methods, i.e., different methods for glazing, different types of birming, earth shelters, etc., to achieve comparable energy efficiency. Felix began by explaining that regulating building energy efficiency is only one aspect of their work. Although energy standards have not always been a state mandate, the City .. requires that certain energy_ standards -be met -in residential -and oommeraial- Gmswmfion. In the mid 80s a Model Energy Code was developed which is the basis for the City's energy standards. The Model Energy Code is currently being reviewed and revised in conjunction with regulation efforts throughout the country for higher efficiency standards than presently exist. Felix also explained some of the differences between the 1986 and 1992 Model Energy Codes. He also reviewed some of the revisions being suggested to the current energy code. -2- There was some discussion on whether or not incentives were being offered to contractors, etc., for meeting more than just the prescriptive standards. There is some incentive from a development point of view through the Land Development Guidance System which gives a builder points for energy efficiency beyond the minimum standards. It was noted that this is an area which needs to be explored further. There was also discussion on how the Utility could get involved prior to the architect and builders submitting their plans. Felix explained that this would need to be done during the development/conceptual stage. He mentioned that this could be done as part of the approval through the Planning and Zoning Board. Board Members were interested in making some sort of recommendation to the Building Review Board that encourages them to include increased energy standards In their review of the Model Energy Code. After discussion, it was decided that staff will prepare a memo from the Electric Board to the Building Review Board exploring the possibilities of the Electric Board having the opportunity to provide input on building code revisions related to energy efficiency. Copies will be sent to the Council Liaison for each Board to inform Council of what is being proposed. Board Members also decided to include this in their 1994 Work Plan. 4. 1994 WORK PLAN: Board Members reviewed the draft 1994 Electric Board Work Plan which was provided in meeting packets. After discussion, a number of changes were made which will be included in a revised draft for discussion and adoption at the November 17th meeting. 5. INFORMATIONAL REQUESTS: Board Members discussed the handling of informational requests. There have been some problems with Board Members wanting to have additional items added to agendas when the agenda is already full. There was discussion that a procedure would help eliminate this and multiple calls from individual Board Members to the Chairperson and staff making these requests. ._.After,disoission it was decided that -an informational requezhulkeiwillZsaddod-to-the. - - r, meeting agenda. At that time, Board Members should share any TisformtLtibnal requests- - - they have. This would allow staff the time necessary to prepare the information for the following meeting, and also allows Board Members to reach consensus on agenda items. If a Board Member has a specific interest not shared by other Board Members, staff can meet with the Board Member at an agreed upon time to discuss this specific interest. A caveat was added that some flexibility to this procedure should be provided to allow for emergency/last minute informational requests/discussion. For emergency/last minute informational requests, Board Members should contact Chairperson to discuss adding this request to the agenda. Chairperson will use their best discretion to screen the request and determine if the request can be accommodated. -3- 6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Chairperson Rutstein began by reading the portion from the Bylaws relating to election of officers. With much regret Board Members had to accept that Chairperson Rutstein could not be re-elected for another term. Board Members and staff expressed their gratitude and sincere thanks for a job extremely well done. Board Member Allum made a Motion to nominate Board Member Smart as Chairperson. Board Member Fidrych seconded the Motion. Board Member Smart accepted the nomination and the Motion passed unanimously. Board Member Fidrych made a Motion to nominate Board Member Walsh as Vice -Chair. Board Member Eighmy seconded the Motion. Board Member Walsh accepted the nomination and the Motion passed unanimously. 7. STAFF REPORTS: - IRP Standard: Dennis mentioned that Council held a public hearing on the IRP standards on October 19th. There was a suggestion to eliminate the words "which are not direct cost based expenses of providing electric service," from the last WHEREAS clause of the Resolution Adopting the Integrated Resource Planning Standard Pursuant to the Comprehensive National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Council Member Apt was concerned that this clause was limiting and conveyed the opposite of what we were trying to convey. A Motion was approved by Council to eliminate this clause. There were no citizen comments and this Resolution and the Resolution Authorizing the Development and Implementation of an Electric Utility Integrated Resource Plan were unanimously adopted by Council. - Lost Opportunities: Council discussed the Senior Center at the October 19th meeting. Costs for the project came in above what was anticipated. Staff was contacted on day lighting issues and John Bleem was asked, -to-do an energy analysis on -using daylight in -the gymnasium. -'Phis Nadi 3 a a 9 year payback. The cost for skylights is $24,700` The skylights were eliininafed during Council action as a measure to cut costs. Dennis pointed this out as an example of how energy opportunities drop -out of new projects. Board Members discussed this and wondered if the Utility gave the Senior Center $24,700, could the skylights be included again. Board Members asked staff to provide additional information on this possibility at next month's meeting. It's I Energy Services: Dennis mentioned that the Utility is more aggressively promoting Hot Shot, etc. Additional advertising is being done and specific programs are being targeted for higher levels of participation. There is also increased concern for helping people understand how they can conserve and use energy wisely. The Utility is proceeding with DSM efforts in accordance with Board's direction. Dennis noted that based on the earlier discussion in this meeting about commercial/industrial lighting standards and possible code modifications, he understood this to be the direction the Board wanted to take, at this time, in further exploring this DSM option. Rather than wasting time in developing a variety of conceptual alternatives for commercial/ industrial lighting for the next meeting, staff will proceed based on the Board's direction to start commercial/industrial lighting efforts with code modifications. If time permits, staff will make some assumptions on how a commercial/industrial lighting standard would play out and present results of this evaluation to the Board. Energy Services has developed job descriptions, etc., for the additional staffing positions which have been approved. These are currently being routed for approval. Hiring will occur as soon as possible. 6. OTHER BUSINESS: - Growth Management Seminar: There was mention that the Growth Management Seminar is scheduled for Thursday, October 21. - WAPA Just a note that we may be seeing some things on WAPA budget deficit reduction efforts in the near future. - FAX Numbers Don asked Board Members for their -fax numbers. - PRPA IRP Efforts Board Members were interested in receiving an update on this. Dennis will bring the Board up to speed on this issue at next month's meeting. A detailed presentation on this issue will be scheduled for the January or February Board meeting. -5- CRITIQUE MEETING/NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA: Critique: Board Members were very positive about the meeting and feel that progress is being made. Board Members again expressed their appreciation to former Chairperson Rutstein for all the work she has done -- it showed!! Agenda: - 1994 Work Plan - Update on PRPA IRP Process and DSM Planning Status ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. DelyA R. Coldiron, Board Secretary Im