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Continuing their 2020 budget hearing, Okanogan County PUD commissioners heard about proposed items from engineering, construction and operations departments during meetings Nov. 4.
The main struggle for engineering and construction is recognizing the need to replace and upgrade equipment to reduce the risk of power outages, but balancing that with the need to minimize costs that would lead to large rate increases. Construction Design Manager Allen Allie said some big projects have to be pushed back and stretched out, such as replacing the Okanogan to Brewster transmission line.
For 2020, the redesign of the Tonasket substation has been delayed, partly due to the overall cost. Another factor is working with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which owns the transmission lines into the substation. Either BPA needs to redesign their lines or sell the lines to the PUD.
Enloe Dam’s dewatering safety inspection project will be another cause to delay other projects, as it will cost around $6-7 million, but is a state-mandated inspection.
Allie listed several smaller projects that will get done, but said that the aging infrastructure is an issue for many utilities, and pushing projects back farther means more projects will keep coming up.
General Manager Steve Taylor said staff have been working on spreading out high cost projects to produce a minimal impact to ratepayers, but at the same time acknowledge the risks associated with not getting projects done.
The operations department also presented their proposed 2020 budget, which includes hiring a third mechanic to work on the 137 pieces of equipment in the district’s fleet, currently driving up overtime for current staff. Operations Manager Randy Bird also requested a safety coordinator position, which would train the safety committee and non-operations staff, as well as update, maintain and execute safety-related policies and procedures.
Operations Superintendent JD Adams shared that the district has more apprentices now than they have had in many years, with four linemen apprentices and one meterman apprentice. Apprentices attend school on Saturdays in Spokane for much of the year, among other training programs.
Operations Superintendent Reid Rubert added that 29 of the operations employees require fire-resistant (FR) clothing due to the electrical hazards they face in regular work. The district provides an FR allowance of $1,500 for these employees’ first year, and $750 per year after that. Standards are very strict to replace clothing that shows much wear, so most clothing lasts only one or two years. A long-sleeve T-shirt costs about $60, pants $75 and a coat $300, for example.
Another evening board work session will be held Nov. 18 at 6 p.m., following the regular 3 p.m. board meeting. Presentations will be made by both the generation and power resource departments.
Earlier in the board meeting Nov. 4, the commissioners also: