Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) articles from February 2006

Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) archives from February 2006

50 years ago--1956.(A Look Back at Public Power)
February 1, 2006... Chelan PUD bought Rock Island Dam (Wash.)... Seattle City Council reappointed Dr. Paul J. Raver for a four-year term as Superintendent of Lighting (Wash.)... Shasta and Friant Dams reduced flows on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers of...

25 years ago--1981.(A Look Back at Public Power)
February 1, 2006... The Northwest Power Planning Council was off and running with all eight members named and in place... Three British Columbia Hydro scientists developed a process that destroys polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)... The Oregon Public Utility...

5 years ago--2001.(A Look Back at Public Power)
February 1, 2006... BPA began a public service announcement campaign educating energy consumers on the issues facing the industry... James Hoecker, chairman of the FERC, abruptly announced his resignation in mid-January... Craig Thompson retired from Snohomish...

Upcoming Policy Perspectives Forum will focus on Energy Policy Act of 2005.(Association News)
February 1, 2006... On March 28 and 29, the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) and its state-wide organization partners are holding the Policy Perspectives Forum: Energy Policy Act of 2005 in Portland, Ore. The focus of this upcoming forum is to help...

This year's Annual Conference will highlight what is good for the west.(Association News)
February 1, 2006... What do speakers signing contracts, hotel rooms being booked, and the week-long agenda being finalized all have in common? They are sure signs that the 66th NWPPA Annual Conference and Membership Meeting is right around the corner! This...

Government Relations Committee to meet in Seattle in March.(Association News)
February 1, 2006... NWPPA is excited about its upcoming Government Relations Committee (GRC) meeting that is being held in March. The meeting will be held at the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle, Wash., on Thursday, March 9. To better accommodate committee...

NWPPA's certificate programs continue to evolve.(Association News)
February 1, 2006... During 2006, NWPPA members will notice a major increase in the number of certificate programs offered by the NWPPA training department. New and existing classes are included in these programs to provide comprehensive education for utility...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2006... Two companies, ABD and Wesco, were omitted from the list of exhibitors in the 2006 E&O Conference program, which is inserted in this issue of the Bulletin. Both companies will have displays at the conference.

Training for March, April & May 2006: for a detailed list of all upcoming courses and conferences go to www.nwppa.org.(NWPPA Training Opportunities)
February 1, 2006... DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY; TIPS & TRICKS TO ENHANCE YOUR UTILITY'S IMAGE Who Should Attend: Utility employees working in the fields of communication, public relations, or public information. Overview: Like any other digital technology, the...

Implementing GASB 40: deposit and investment risk disclosures.(Accounting & Finance)
February 1, 2006... Eventually accounting standards catch up with the real world. Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 40 (GASB 40) is a case in point. After several publicized troubles affecting investment portfolios from the repurchase troubles...

Northwest RiverPartners reflects on 2005 accomplishments and makes goals for 2006.(Fish Issues)
February 1, 2006... The past inaugural year was a good one for Northwest RiverPartners, a partnership of farmers, electric utilities, and large and small businesses in the Pacific Northwest, joined together to ensure that the Columbia and Snake rivers remain...

Eight rules to cure network blues.(Information Technology)
February 1, 2006... It is happening every day: online fraud, identity theft, viruses, and computer worms. There are endless security threats awaiting small- and medium-sized businesses. The creation and virility of viruses, spam, Trojan horses, worms, and spyware...

Grid West votes to fund business plan development.(Power Supply)
February 1, 2006... The Grid West utilities have agreed to fund a business plan which would address activities throughout 2006 and 2007, including planning, seams management, tariff administration, and other functions. The business plan will also detail how and...

Lockout/tagout: it can save your life.(Safety)
February 1, 2006... Recently, while instructing an OSHA compliance course at a utility, I asked if there had been any accidents or near misses during the past month. One of the line foremen raised his hand and with a concerned tone to his voice answered, "We had...

KEA welcomes Randy as new manager of operations and generation.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... Paul Randy will be joining Kodiak Electric Association (KEA) as manager of operations and generation. Over the years, Randy worked his way up through merging companies that eventually became known as Excel Energy. His most recent position...

General Manager Paul leaves Thurston county PUD to retire again.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... After more than two years of post-retirement service, Harry Paul stepped down as General Manager of Thurston PUD to re-enter retirement on January 17. Paul came out of retirement more than two years ago to oversee utility operations after 20...

Washington PUD Association presents Public Service Award to Douglas PUD employee.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... Douglas PUD Distribution Operations Supervisor Ray (Mac) McGregor received the William T. Elmgren Public Service Award at the Washington PUD Association Annual Meeting. This award recognizes a PUD employee who has made outstanding contributions...

We remember.
February 1, 2006... Midstate Electric's District No. 6 director, Sterling Benzel, passed away from natural causes at his home on November 16, 2005. He was 78 years old. Sterling had been on Midstate Electric's board for 17 years. He had earned his director...

CRC helps Valley Electric Association continue its seamless service.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... Valley Electric Association, Inc. (VEA) in Pahrump, Nev., recently partnered with Cooperative Response Center, Inc. (CRC) in Austin, Minn., to expand to a 24-hour service system. Currently, CRC provides after-hours customer service and...

Kootenai Electric Cooperative employee receives Award for Valor.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... Kootenai Electric Cooperative (KEC) is pleased to announce that lineman Doug Cardinel has been awarded the KEC Award for Valor. Cardinel was selected for this honor because he demonstrated outstanding courage and heroism in an emergency and...

Chelan PUD commissioners elect 2006 officers.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... Chelan County PUD commissioners recently named their 2006 officers and elected Gary Montague (Wenatchee, Wash.) as president of the Board of Commissioners. This is Montague's second time serving as board president since being elected in the...

GVEA's President, CEO celebrates 30 years.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... On December 14, 2005, Golden Valley Electric Association's (GVEA) President and CEO Steven Haagenson celebrated 30 years of service with the co-op. Haagenson began his career with GVEA just one day after receiving his degree in engineering from...

Midstate Electric manager appointed to CFC Board.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... On January 10, 2006, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) Board of Directors voted to fill the vacant Region IX board position with Bill Kopacz, general manager of Midstate Electric Cooperative in LaPine, Ore. The...

LLP's Board increases funds for scholarships.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... For a number of years, the Board Directors for Lakeview Light Power (LLP) has presented five $1,000 scholarships to deserving high school seniors. However, for 2006 the Board has increased the amount available to graduating seniors to five...

Aldrich leaves Snohomish PUD after 20 years.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... In January, Al Aldrich, one of the region's foremost experts in energy issues and public policy, announced that he would be leaving Snohomish PUD to join the senior business strategy team at Strategies 360. "Strategies 360 is poised for...

Benton PUD's Board of Commissioners elects president and other officers.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... Robert (Bob) Bertsch was elected president of Benton PUD's Board of Commissioners at the January commission meeting. Bertsch was appointed as a Benton PUD Commissioner in February 2005. He is currently president of Ashley-Bertsch Group,...

National Financial Reporting award given to Mason County PUD No. 3.(Member News)
February 1, 2006... The finance department of Mason County PUD No. 3 was awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2004 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The award is given by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of...

Commonwealth Associates, Inc. selects new regional manager.(Associate Member News)
February 1, 2006... John P. White, P.E., has joined Commonwealth Associates, Inc. as regional manager of its Northwest office in Washington. White replaces Dean K. Scott, P.E., who opened the regional office in 1993; Scott will continue to serve Commonwealth...

Idaho-based System Protection Services is branching out.(Associate Member News)
February 1, 2006... Electrical engineering firm System Protection Services is pleased to announce their recent expansion. Though based out of Lewiston, Idaho, Bill Woods has now opened a branch SPS office in Grand Junction, Coloardo, to serve the Rocky...

WWPI elects 2006 officers.(Associate Member News)
February 1, 2006... Western Wood Preservers Institute (WWPI) has elected the following officers for 2006: * President: Ted Hodgkiss, Allweather Wood (Washougal, Wash.) * Vice President: Dave Perry, Exterior Wood (Washougal, Wash.) * Secretary: Todd...

CVO Electrical Systems.(Associate Member Profiles)
February 1, 2006... CVO Electrical Systems David Castor Jerry Witkowski 1600 SW Western Blvd. Suite 160 Corvallis, OR 97333 Phone: (541) 752-2829 Fax: (541) 752-4830 www.cvoes.com CVO Electrical Systems' engineers specialize in...

Sabre Tubular Structures.(Associate Member Profiles)
February 1, 2006... Sabre Tubular Structures Connie Aasen 2101 Murray Street Sioux City, 1A 51111 Phone: (712) 258-6690 Fax: (712) 279-0817 caasen@sahrecom.com www.sabrecom.com Sabre Tubular Structures, a division of Sabre...

NEPA: is it time to reform the Magna Carta of environmental law?(Washington D.C. Report)
February 1, 2006... On April, 6, 2005, the House Resources Committee created a bipartisan Task Force on Improving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and appointed freshman Rep. Cathy McMorris (R-Wash.) to be its Chairwoman. Reforming the law will be a...

Start planning now! Ten steps for assessing your utility's power supply future.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2006... "We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten." Bill Gates Background The Northwest Region is currently engaged in a regional dialogue about the...

A message from the 2006 conference chairman ...(The Wave of the Future--Public Power)
February 1, 2006... It is my pleasure to invite all of you to the 2006 NWPPA Engineering and Operations Conference and to Spokane, the heart of the inland Northwest. We come together again this year to learn something new, share best practices, plan for the...

Conference section committee.(The Wave of the Future--Public Power)
February 1, 2006... Presiding Chairman Rollie Miller, Engineering & Operations Manager, Hill County Electric Cooperative, Inc.--Havre, Mont. First Vice Chairman Gary Nieborsky, Engineering & Operations Manager, Kootenai Electric Cooperative--Hayden,...

Concurrent session schedule.(The Wave of the Future--Public Power)
February 1, 2006... Broadband Information Transport Wednesday: 10:05-10:55 a.m. 2-2:50 p.m. Thursday: 10:05-10:55 a.m. 2:05-2:55 p.m. Generation & Transmission Wednesday: 2-2:50 p.m. Thursday: ...

Exhibitors.(The Wave of the Future--Public Power)
February 1, 2006... Alexander Publications--Booth 114 Books, technical training manuals, and videos for workers at electric utilities. Altec Industries, Inc.--Booth 522 Truck-mounted aerial device or truck-mounted digger derrick. American...