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HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 03/18/1992Minutes to be approved by the Board at the April 15, 1992 meeting. FORT COLLINS ELECTRIC BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 18, 1992, 5:00 - 6:30 P.M. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: John Allum, Dane Brandt, William Orendorff, Barbara Rutstein, Richard Smart, and Larry Walsh. BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Mark Fidrych. STAFF PRESENT: Don Botteron, Allen Boushee, Delynn Coldiron, John DeHaes, Ron King, Bob Kost, Bob Nastan, and Dennis Sumner. BOARD LIAISONS: Council Liaison Gerry Horak Staff Liaison -- Don Botteron CALL TO ORDER: Barbara Rutstein called the meeting to order. AGENDA: 1) Approval of Minutes 2) Questions/Discussion on Underground Report and Recommendation 3) Discussion on Integrated Resource Management Policies and Activities 4) Electric Rate Options Discussion 5) Other Business - Minutes from Natural Resources Board - By-laws 6) Critique Meeting/Next Meeting's Agenda DISCUSSION TOPICS: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A Motion was made by Board Member Allum to approve the Minutes. Board Member Orendorff seconded the Motion. The Motion carried unanimously and the Minutes from the February 19, 1992 meeting were approved. UNDERGROUND REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: Al Boushee reviewed the Underground Report with the Board. He provided the Board with background information on the undergrounding program, reviewed the analysis that was done in comparing the old report to the new report, and explained the options which have been considered by the Utility related to the future of the program. The biggest incentive for undergrounding the overhead system is the increase in system reliability. This program is voluntary and customers are not forced to have their service put underground. There has been very good customer participation to date, but there have been a couple instances where house modifications would have been necessary, and the customers chose not to have their service put underground. A concern of the Utility is that if we accelerate the undergrounding project too much, Columbine Cablevision and US West will not be willing to continue to participate in the undergrounding effort -- they tend to participate only when there is a joint trench available (when alleys are located in back of affected properties), when maintenance is necessary, or when budgets permit. Customers prefer to have everything (electric, phone and cable) put underground at the same time. Major factors causing cable deterioration have been moisture and the poor quality of the cable. Subsurface insects or rodents have not been a problem for the Utility. So far the Utility has experienced cable life of about 20 years. We are now, however, experiencing some failures and have implemented a cable replacement program to ward off an avalanche of cable failures. We are now using an improved cable which is surrounded by an extra jacket -- evolution of the technology for the manufacture of cable has increased cable life expectancy. Board Member Allum made a motion endorsing staff's recommendation that the Utility continue the undergrounding program in accordance with the current schedule (Original pilot proposal schedule - complete in 13 more years - by YE 2004. Construction commitment would be set at $1,019,000 (2.20% of the Light & Power annual budget.)), but remain flexible and accelerate the pace of the undergrounding program if Columbine Cablevision and US West will cooperate. After a second from Board Member Smart, the Motion carried unanimously. INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES: Dennis highlighted pertinent issues from the package that was previously sent to the Board. Included in the package were acceptance criteria for energy efficiency type programs for Electrical Integrated Resource Management activities, a brief explanation of a three part effort that is currently underway with respect to these types of activities, and information on the IRM activities the Utility is currently, or was involved in. Dennis mentioned that the Utility has more detailed information available on each of these IRM activities if Board Members are interested. Bob Kost mentioned that approval from the Board the basis for evaluating at some time in the near future staff would like of the acceptance criteria. These will serve as IRM activities. -2- 0 • Bill Emslie has been scheduled to come to the April 15th Board meeting to give a detailed overview of the project involving Platte River Power Authority and the four cities. Board Member Allum mentioned that "IR planning" is today's buzz word and is happening on a regional basis. He said it is important to move along with this issue quickly and cover all the bases. After discussion on this issue, Board Members decided to wait until after Bill Emslie's presentation at the April 15th Board meeting, prior to making a motion to approve of the acceptance criteria. 4. ELECTRIC RATE OPTIONS: Don met with the City Manager and City Finance Director to discuss rate options, sequence of events and expectations. They suggested to Don that he present these issues to the Council Finance Committee to see if they had any changes. The meeting scheduled with the Finance Committee was canceled and, because they could not reschedule the meeting for another month, it was decided that we go ahead and prepare a report to Council on the rate options. At last month's meeting, the Board endorsed going with Option #5, and changing the wording within the purchase power reserve paragraph. Don suggested that the Board take resolution action on the two items previously endorsed by the Board. Following resolution action by the Board, Don proposed that he forward the staff rate report to Council. He also mentioned that he would like to present to Council an ordinance which would allow a transfer of reserve funds to cover the negative income. Don felt it would be a very positive move to use reserve funds to offset the immediate rate increase -- this is the purpose for having the reserve funds. Chairperson Rutstein mentioned that the Minutes from the last meeting show that the Board reached consensus on these two items. The Board felt it was appropriate for Don to forward the rate report to Council as a staff report. Chairperson Rutstein suggested that when the ordinance is prepared, the Board could review and approve this. Don will forward the rate report to Council as a staff report, noting consensus from the Electric Board. All rate options and the Rate Option Summary will be attached to the report. The current plan is to follow this up by forwarding an ordinance to Council in mid -May. The ordinance will be made available, prior to this, for review and approval by the Board. OTHER BUSINESS: A. MINUTES FROM NATURAL RESOURCES Chairperson Rutstein mentioned that she is obtaining copies of the Minutes from the Natural Resources Board. It is her intent to highlight main points from these Minutes which might be of interest to Board Members at Board meetings. If any Board Members would like to receive a copy of the Minutes referred to during a meeting, see Chairperson Rutstein or Delynn -3- after the meeting. If any Board Members would like to receive a copy of these Minutes on a regular basis, see Delynn and she will include them with your regular monthly meeting packets. B. BY-LAWS Chairperson Rutstein prepared draft By-laws which were handed out and briefly discussed by the Board. There was also some discussion on the appeals procedure and the types of appeals which might be heard by the Board. Chairperson Rutstein asked that Board Members review the draft By- laws and be prepared to discuss and finalize these at the April 15th meeting. Appeals procedure issues will also be re -addressed and further clarified at that meeting. 6. CRITIQUE MEETING/NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA: Board Members were very pleased with the meeting. Board discussed items to be included on next month's Agenda: Integrated Resource Management Issues - Presentation from Bill Emslie - Adoption of Acceptance Criteria By-laws Appeals Procedure TASKS: Don will forward the rate report to Council and will draft an ordinance for the Board's review. Board Members should review By-laws in preparation for next month's meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. 4 Delyn R. Coldiron, Board Secretary -4-