Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) articles from February 2005

Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) archives from February 2005

A look back at public power: 50 years ago--1954.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... The 14th Pacific Northwest member of the "one cent club", was Clatskanie (Ore.) PUD, thanks to a 14 percent rate cut. Clatskanie's average cost of electricity for residential use would be safely under one cent per kilowatt hour in 1955....

A look back at public power: 25 years ago--1979.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... Control and management of the five nuclear power plants being built by the Washington Public Power Supply System would be removed from the Supply System's board of directors and given to three appointed officials under a bill that was being...

A look back at public power: 5 years ago--1999.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... The Columbia River PUD (St. Helens, Ore.) Board of Directors approved an 11 percent interim rate cut. The decrease in rates was provided to all PUD commercial and small industrial customers, and was effective with the acquisition of Portland...

Annual Conference to highlight utility leadership in local communities.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... Since public power grows leaders within its ranks and these leaders also serve their local communities and the entire power industry, the 65th Annual NWPPA Annual Conference & Membership Meeting will focus on leadership when it runs May 22-26...

Pre-annual conference seminars set.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... Monday, May 23, is the day for Pre-Conference Seminars that will be held in conjunction with the NWPPA Annual Conference & Membership Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif. The two seminars are Wholesale Power Management 101 (Condensed), and Coaching...

2005 E&O Conference: ... is a "Sure Bet": April 18-22, 2005 in Reno, Nev.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... If you have a job or an interest in the engineering & operations area at your utility, then a trip to Reno for the 2005 NWPPA Engineering & Operations Conference and Trade Show is one you need to invest your time in. The conference, themed...

Excellence in communication process begins.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... By the end of this month, communicators and managers at NWPPA member systems, associations, and associate members should begin seeing the Call for Entries for the 12th Annual Excellence in Communication Competition. The Excellence in...

Safety awards entries due March 4.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... The 2004 NWPPA Safety Contest is underway, and nominations are due back to the Association by no later than Friday, March 4, in order to be considered for an award. Utilities should have received their packets by now, complete with...

Government Relations Committee sets March agenda.(Association News)
February 1, 2005... The NWPPA Government Relations Committee is set for its March meeting, and has announced its agenda. The meeting, set for 1:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower on Wednesday. March 9, 2005, will open with comments from...

Training for March, April & May 2005.(NWPPA Training Opportunities)
February 1, 2005... For a detailed list of all upcoming courses and conferences go to www.nwppa.org BUILDING TRUST, WORKING THROUGH CONFLICT & SERVICE PLUS Who Should Attend: All employees who have customer (member) interaction on a consistent basis....

Hazardous Materials Task Force update.(Hazardous Materials Update)
February 1, 2005... The NWPPA Hazardous Materials Task Force meeting was held at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel on January 10, 2005. This meeting featured a three-hour update from Dan Duncan from EPA Region X, Dr. Laura Block and Caleb Schaffer, EPA Region...

Laptop technology raises the bar again.(Information Technology)
February 1, 2005... When I look at the photo of our first line truck (a 1927 Reo), it's really amazing how far we have come with technology in the utility industry. Today, computers have become a standard piece of equipment for line crews. Peninsula Light...

How consumer-owned utilities can effectively adopt Sarbanes Oxley.(Policy Making & Management)
February 1, 2005... As utility leaders, many of you may feel the world divided after the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (known as SOX) on July 30, 2002--Pre-SOX and Post-SOX. This far reaching law enacted in response to a spate of corporate scandals at public...

TID acquires certification to operate its own electric control area.(Power Supply & Risk Management)
February 1, 2005... Turlock (Calif.) Irrigation District is gearing up to begin operating its own electric service control area on March 1 following certification by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). WECC Board of Directors meeting in...

Two years later, what's happening in Ferry County?(Pricing, Rates & Economics)
February 1, 2005... Two years ago, Ferry County PUD (Republic, Wash.) was facing some tough, tough times. It still is. Four of the utility's five industrial customers had closed down or curtailed their operations, reducing the demand for industrial load...

Roseville Electric named most reliable utility in nation.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... For the fourth consecutive year, Roseville Electric has received PA Consulting Group's ReliabililtyOne Award. The award recognizes Roseville Electric as the best municipal power provider in the country for utilities that serve less than 100,000...

Energy Northwest announces key personnel moves.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... Energy Northwest officials have announced two key personnel moves at the diversified energy company. Effective at the beginning of the year, Cheryl Whitcomb assumed the position of vice president, organizational performance and...

Skeahan named Cowlitz PUD general manager.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... Brian Skeahan has become general manager at Cowlitz County PUD (Longview, Wash.), effective January 1. Skeahan replaced Denny Robinson who retired at the end of the 2004. The 48-year-old Nebraska native joined Cowlitz PUD in June 2003 as...

After a decade at PPC Helm, Leone announces retirement.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... Jerry Leone has announced her retirement as Public Power Council's manager. Her departure from the position will be April 1, 2005. She took over as manager of the Council in July of 1994, and fought hard for the virtues of, and fervently...

Grant County PUD issues Wanapum Dam bonds.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... A $127.8 million January bond issue by the Grant County Public Utility District is now available. This Wanapum Hydroelectric Development revenue bond issue received favorable ratings. Local brokers had the opportunity to acquire the bonds...

Lonneker named director at Forest Grove Light & Power.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... Janet Lonneker has been named director of the Light and Power Department in the City of Forest Grove, Ore. After 13 applicants were narrowed to three finalists who were interviewed by a selection panel comprised of public power managers,...

Patton named to Wasco Electric Cooperative Board.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... DeOra Patton has been appointed to a position on the board of directors at Wasco Electric Cooperative (The Dalles, Ore.). The selection was announced by board President Neal Harth, who said Patton will fill the unexpired term of Bob Ashley....

Elmhurst recognized for Community Service.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... Each of the last four years Elmhurst Mutual Power and Light (Tacoma, Wash.) has provided a Christmas party for local senior citizens residing at Marymount Manor, an apartment complex for senior citizens on fixed incomes. This year...

Mason PUD 3 officers named; Gott sworn in for second term.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... The Mason County PUD No. 3 (Shelton, Wash.) commissioners recently elected officers of the board. Bruce Jorgenson was elected as commission president, Linda Gott as vice-president, and John Whalen as secretary. The officers will serve two...

Utilities encouraged to sign transfer agreement with BPA prior to March 31, 2005.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... If enough customers agree, existing BPA preference customers that receive BPA power via other utilities' lines will keep getting the same kind of service for the next 20 years that they get today. BPA has offered its existing general...

Cowlitz, PacifiCorp sign relicensing plan for dams.(Member News)
February 1, 2005... Cowlitz County PUD (Longview, Wash.) and PacifiCorp (Portland, Ore.) have reached an agreement on a relicensing plan for four dams on Southwest Washington's Lewis River. The plan will open nearly 174 miles of salmon habitat along the...

Calendar of upcoming public power meetings.(Member News)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... Calendar of Upcoming Public Power Meetings March-05 3- Public Power Council Executive Committee Meeting. Portland, Ore. 7- ARECA Insurance Exchange Investment Review Committee meeting. ...

PNGC Power promotes power supply executive.(Associate Member News)
February 1, 2005... PNGC Power (Portland, Ore.) has promoted Steven D. Kern to senior vice president of power supply. As senior vice president of power supply, Kern oversees the full scope of activity related to meeting electricity loads for PNGC Power's...

Megger introduces Bite 3 Battery Impedance Test instrument.(Technology Marketplace)
February 1, 2005... The new innovative Megger BITE 3 Battery Impedance Test Set is the only battery test instrument on the market today that measures float and ripple current. It also measures internal impedance, cell voltage and intercell connection resistance....

Sempra Energy Global Enterprises changes names.(Associate Member News)
February 1, 2005... To better reflect the nature of Sempra Energy Global Enterprises' (SEGE) business units have changed their names. Effective the beginning of the New Year, Sempra Energy Resources' new name is Sempra Generation. If you do business with...

S&C selected to construct wind turbine collector system.(Associate Member News)
February 1, 2005... S&C Electric Company, an NWPPA Associate Member, has been awarded the contract to construct a wind turbine collector system and interconnect substation--including all underground and overhead distribution--on a turnkey basis for the Horseshoe...

ARC Technology.(Associate Member Profiles)
February 1, 2005... ARC Technology Debbie Lindstrom 206 Frontage Road North, Suite B-2 Pacific, WA 98047 Phone: (253) 735-0485 Fax: (253) 735-3110 E-mail: dlindstrom@cbsales.com www.arc-technology.com For over a decade, ARC...

Cadet Manufacturing.(Associate Member Profiles)
February 1, 2005... Cadet Manufacturing Kelly Dunning P.O. Box 1675 Vancouver, WA 98668-1675 Phone: (360) 567-1333 Fax: (360) 694-6939 E-mail: kdunning@cadetco.com www.cadetco.com Cadet has been manufacturing quality electric...

NWPPA gets to know one of Washington's newest members of Congress: Rep. Cathy McMorris (R).(Washington D.C. Report)
February 1, 2005... "I am honored to serve on committees that are so important to growing the economy in our district and region... My number one priority is to serve the people of Washington's Fifth Congressional District, have an office that is open and...

Facility and infrastructure security advances at utilities.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2005... Since September 11, 2001, much has been done in advancing electric utility security concerns. Utilities large and small have been modernizing their security practices. To be really effective, security procedures are now subject to much more...

A message from the 2005 conference chairman.
February 1, 2005... I would like to personally invite you to attend NWPPA's 2005 Engineering & Operations Conference in Reno, Nev., the week of April 18-22, 2005. This year's theme of "Public Power--A Sure Bet for a Bright Future," is a match, we can all let it...

Conference section committee.(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... Presiding Chairman Jason Dunsmoor, Engineering & Operations Manager, Pacific County PUD--Raymond, Wash. First Vice Chairman Rollie Miller, Engineering & Operations Manager, Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc.--Havre, Mont. Second...

Exhibitors.
February 1, 2005... ABB--Booths 419, 421, 518 & 520 Utility power products. AFL Telecommunications--Booth 635 Power and fiber optic communications products. Altec Industries--Booth 433 Truck mounted aerial device or truck mounted digger derrick. ...