Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) articles from January 2006

Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) archives from January 2006

A look back at public power.(Association News)
January 1, 2006... 50 Years Ago--1956 Othello city council refused to grant a franchise to the Washington Water Power Company and instead assigned it to the Big Bend Electric Cooperative (Wash.)... Commissioner George Hamilton was elected president of the...

2006 E&O conference--catch the wave!(Association News)
January 1, 2006... The 2006 NWPPA Engineering & Operations Conference is just a few months away and we hope to see everyone there. This year's conference is being held once again at the centrally-located Spokane Convention Center from April 24-28. With the...

Euclid Technology helps NWPPA improve its tracking of member data.(Association News)
January 1, 2006... On October 1, 2005, the Association went live with ClearVantage, our new association management software (AMS) provided by Euclid Technology, LLC. According to Euclid, the product "provides all of the functionality of a top-tier AMS...

A new year brings new NWPPA staff members.(Association News)
January 1, 2006... Last year brought changes to our Northwest Public Power Association staff. However, we are proud to say that we are starting 2006 with a full staff once again. Please join us in welcoming the three newest members of our NWPPA family: Gay...

NWPPA 2006 proposed education and training schedule.(Association News)
January 1, 2006... This 2006 proposed training schedule is provided to assist NWPPA members and associate members in planning for training classes, conferences, workshops, and related services and activities. This schedule is subject to change based on the...

Training for February, March & April 2006.(NWPPA Training Opportunities)
January 1, 2006... For a detailed list of all upcoming courses and conferences go to www.nwppa.org MAKING MEETINGS WORK Who Should Attend: Anyone who bas been tasked with tile responsibility of conducting a meeting where involvement in problem solving,...

There's a crisp wind blowing in Alaska.(Conservation & Renewables)
January 1, 2006... Arctic winds blow steady across the flat, frosted tundra at the tip of a peninsula in Northwest Alaska. The winds are ideal for powering the 13 turbines at Alaska's oldest utility wind farm in Kotzebue. It is a technology more village...

Seven points to keep in mind when drawing a road map to success.(Customer Service)
January 1, 2006... There are a lot of challenges to running a successful electric utility. That's why it's more important than ever that utilities have a clear road map of where they're headed and how they intend to get there. Without a road map, the fast...

Composite resin: the new, cost-effective alternative in utility poles.(Engineering & Operations)
January 1, 2006... Utility poles, which help light the continent and provide voice services, are a key component of the electrical grid's infrastructure. Recent developments in advanced materials technology have created significant breakthroughs allowing for...

Governors, tribal leaders support resolution of Columbia River differences.(Fish Issues)
January 1, 2006... On December 15, 2005, Oregon federal district court Judge James Redden indicated that the proposal from environmental plaintiffs to use more Columbia River water next year for fish will need more evaluation and regional discussion. However, the...

Keeping the flu bug out of the office.(Human Resources)
January 1, 2006... With the constant onslaught of news about the avian flu and other strains of disease descending upon the world, people are beginning to think and talk about what measures they can use to prevent its spread. The risk of spreading germs is...

Kootenai names Erika Neff as communications coordinator.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Kootenai Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce the addition of Erika Neff to the staff as Communications Coordinator. As of early December, her responsibilities include the preparation, design, and production of all formal communications...

SMUD wraps up its two-year control area expansion project.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... In the early moments of December 1, 2005, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District's (SMUD) Control Area concluded a two-year process by incorporating the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP) and the Modesto Irrigation District (MID)...

Eric Christensen named Everett Area Employee of the Year.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce has recognized Snohomish County PUD Assistant General Counsel Eric Christensen as Employee of the Year for his work in connection with the PUD's legal battle with Enron. The Employee of the Year award...

We remember.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Mrs. Mary M. Bloom, wife of Lance Bloom (previous NRECA RS&I field rep for the Northwest states), passed away December 2, 2005. She was born on February 13, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minn., but had been a current resident of Vancouver, Wash.,...

ORECA elects 2006 board.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... The ORECA Board of Directors has elected the following officers for the 2006 Board: * Jeri Nelson, President (Director, Lane Electric) * Terry Hanscam, Vice President (Director, Coos-Curry Electric) * Lori Anderson,...

Shane Scott resigns from Public Power Council.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Effective December 31, 2005, Shane Scott has resigned from his position as Senior Policy Analyst for Fish and Wildlife at the Public Power Council (PPC). Since his resignation, he is now in the process of establishing a private consulting...

City Light first in nation to reach zero net emissions goal.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels recently announced that Seattle City Light has become the first large electric utility in the country to effectively eliminate its contribution of harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. "We are...

Elissa Glassman named Ruralite's 2005 Communicator of the Year.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Ruralite Services named Elissa Glassman as its 2005 Communicator of the Year for her work with its magazine, Ruralite. As the communications and conservation director for Northern Lights, Inc. in Sagle, Idaho, one of Glassman's many...

Chelan County PUD and PSE agree to continue relationship.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Chelan County PUD and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) have reached an agreement in principle on a new long-term power sales contract. If approved, this agreement would continue their already 50-year relationship through 2031. It would also provide...

Columbia River PUD offering $6,000 in scholarships.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Columbia River People's Utility District (PUD) is offering four $1,500 college scholarships to graduating seniors from local high schools. The PUD Board of Directors will award the scholarships to students to recognize them for their...

John Mayse retires from Consumers Power.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... After 32 years at Consumers Power, Inc., John Mayse is retiring this month as its president/CEO. The cooperative, headquartered in Philomath, serves 20,000 accounts in six Willamette Valley counties. "CPI is truly a great company, and I am...

Benton PUD receives Financial Reporting Award.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Benton PUD for their 2004 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate...

GVEA adopts green power pledge.(Member News)
January 1, 2006... Golden Valley Electric Association's (GVEA) Board of Directors recently adopted the Renewable Portfolio Standard, a green energy pledge. This pledge calls for a two-part plan: 10 percent of the cooperative's peak power must come from renewable...

Associate member profiles.(Associate Member News)
January 1, 2006... JBR Envirnomental Consultants, Inc. Brian W. Buck 8160 South Highland Dr. Sandy, UT 84093 Phone: (801) 943-4144 Fax: (801) 942-1852 bbuck@jbr-env.com www.jbrenv.com JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. has...

Kim Ingerslev named to TAI Board.(Associate Member News)
January 1, 2006... Kim Ingerslev, President and CEO of Professional Computer Systems, Co. (PCS), has been nominated to the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) Board of Directors. "Kim stands out as one of Iowa's finest technology leaders," said Wayne...

PCS continues long-term relationship with Hunt Technologies.(Associate Member News)
January 1, 2006... Professional Computer Systems, Co. (PCS) of Denison, Iowa, announced plans for enhancing the current interfaces between the PCS CIS solution Utilit-e Connect and Hunt Technologies' power line carrier AMR systems. Currently, over 17 PCS clients...

S&C Electric Company announces new PureWave UPS[TM] Systems.(Technology Marketplace)
January 1, 2006... S&C Electric Company is pleased to announce the availability of its new 750-kilowatt and 1000-kilowatt PureWave UPS Systems for 208- through 690-volt applications. These new models feature the same robust construction as the popular...

Capitol Hill energy priorities influence NWPPA's 2006 resolution slate.(Washington D.C. Report)
January 1, 2006... President Bush's August 8, 2005, signing of The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct '05) gives legal effect to certain changes to the electric utility industry and to electricity markets in the U.S. Some of these changes had been advocated by the...

PPIW leads the way and develops a common OASIS, wesTTrans.net, to facilitate transmission access.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2006... As electrical demand continues to escalate beyond the pace of current transmission construction, the need to enhance transmission efficiency has intensified. In response, the Public Power Initiative of the West (PPIW) created a transmission...