Your PUD
News Release
Commissioners hear plans for meeting energy conservation requirements
Chelan County PUD
News Release
5/4/2009
Chelan County PUD is proposing a target of saving 1.5 average megawatts of energy in 2010-2011, necessary for Chelan County PUD to meet the requirements of Initiative 937, approved by voters two years ago to take effect next year.
Members of the PUD’s conservation staff briefed commissioners Monday afternoon about District plans to comply with requirements of I-937, which calls for utilities to set achievable cost-effective conservation targets and measure results, in addition to using power from renewable resources. One megawatt is roughly the amount of energy needed to power 500 Northwest homes.
Conservation staff members Mark Wiser and Jim White said the PUD historically has achieved about one-third of the new targeted amount per year, primarily through the Resource$mart program which allows the PUD to pay for energy efficiency measures in industry that pay for themselves over time in energy savings. Due to budget constraints, the PUD plans to invest $172,000 with one industrial customer on energy conservation steps this year.
Commissioners said they hope financial conditions will improve so the PUD can make more conservation investments in the future.
In other action, commissioners:
- Approved a motion calling for each commissioner to reduce voluntarily the amount of per diem payments ($104 per day) they receive in 2009 to equal 5 percent of the possible per diem and salary that can be earned by each commissioner (a reduction of 15 days for three commissioners and 17 days for the other two). The step was taken to show support for PUD managers and staff who are reducing budgets and taking time off without pay to trim costs this year.
- Received a plaque from United Way honoring the PUD as a Business Star for employee contributions to the 2008-09 campaign of $42,850.
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Commissioners will hold a special meeting from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 7, at the North Central Regional Library headquarters in Wenatchee to discuss board governance and strategic planning.
The next regular commission meeting is at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 11, 2009, in the PUD boardroom at 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org