Your PUD
News Release
Commissioners say “yes” to monthly meter reading
Chelan County PUD
News Release
2/14/2005
After hearing recommendations from customer accounting staff and managers, PUD commissioners voted Monday to go ahead with monthly meter reading, to take effect this summer.
Wayne Wright, assistant general manager for Customer and Environmental Services, encouraged commissioners to approve the change. “Let the system do what it was meant to do,” he asked. The billing system, which the PUD moved to last year, was designed for monthly meter reading, a standard utility practice.
Wright, John Stoll, Jill Stephens and Mark O’Bryan from the Customer Service Department related customer frustration with the existing system of reading customers’ meters every other month and estimating consumption in the off month. Many found the bills and the estimates confusing. The PUD hoped it could avoid the cost of monthly meter-reading by using estimates.
“This will be an investment in customer service and satisfaction,” said Stoll as he explained the estimated $195,000 increase in his department’s budget.
The change, which is expected to add one new seasonal, and four new full-time meter readers, could be in place by midyear. The PUD currently employs one seasonal and six full-time meter readers.
In other business, commissioners:
- Authorized $2.2 million for the purchase of 69 pickup and bucket trucks, tractors and mowers through the Washington State Department of General Administration, who administers contracts to purchase goods for state agencies and nonprofit organizations. The vehicles, which are included in the 2005 vehicle budget of $4.2 million, are being purchased to replace equipment with compliance and safety issues. Another 34 vehicles were put out for bid, and 24 of those will be purchased from local vendors. The state contract saved the PUD $60,249 through a volume purchase.
- Authorized a $120,000 agreement with Action to Excellence, South Burlington, Vt., to establish a continuous quality improvement program to build on the PUD’s operations to improve efficiency and overall quality. Commissioner Werner Janssen abstained on the vote.
- Authorized a $100,000 agreement with Michael McHugh for economic modeling and forecasting services.
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Due to the Presidents Day holiday, the next regular meeting of the PUD commission will start at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the boardroom of the Headquarters Building, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page, www.chelanpud.org.
Christine Shearer
Communications Specialist
509.661.4258
509.421.4258, cell
christin@chelanpud.org