Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) articles from March 2002

Bulletin (Northwest Public Power Association) archives from March 2002

NWPPA representatives visit Capitol Hill. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Public power representatives deluged Capitol Hill January 27-30 during the annual American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally. This event brings hundreds of public power officials from across the U.S. to Washington D.C. to...

NWPPA names Will Lutgen to executive director post. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA)has named Will Lutgen, Jr. as its new executive director. NWPPA President Ron Benfield made the announcement on February 19. Lutgen replaces Craig McCollom, who retired on January 1, 2002 after 17...

Learn to Protect Against Threats to Computers and Information Management Systems. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Since September 11, it is a whole new world when it comes to security concerns, and it's time for NWPPA and its member utilities to prepare themselves for the worst. Thus, NWPPA is offering a course, Protect Against Threats to Computers &...

E&O Conference just around the corner. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Don't forget the annual NWPPA Engineering & Operations Conference is just around the corner. The Conference and its famous Exhibit Show run April 15-19 at the Silver Legacy Resort in Reno. The NWPPA Engineering and Operations Trade Show is...

Distance learning through NWPPA Web site marks one-year anniversary. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Northwest Public Power Association's (NWPPA) Web-based training program has been providing distance learning to members for more than 12 months now and has been receiving rave reviews. Our users state that they like the ease of access to the...

NWPPA Associate member profiles. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Gore Electric Ron Gore 8722 123rd Lane, NE, Kirkland, WA 98033 Phone: (425) 827-3630, Fax: (425) 827-3660 E-mail: gore_electric@msn.com Gore Electric is a manufacturer's sales representative for major electrical equipment...

Training at NWPPA's N.U.T.S. facility is "right on". (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... "This is some of the best training I have ever received in my 30 years as a lineman!" Comments like this are becoming the norm when asked about the hands-on performance-based training offered at our new 80-acre training facility, National...

Welcome: New associate members. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... TWACS by DCSI (Distribution Control Systems, Inc.) 5657 Campus Parkway, Hazelwood, MO 63042 (314) 895-6408, FAX (314) 895-6543 e-mail: mdhillon@twacs.com Web site: www.twacs.com DCSI is located in St. Louis, Mo., and has...

Excellent communication pieces sought by NWPPA. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Believe it or not, it is already time to start gathering up the most excellent communication pieces done by your utility in the year 2001, and getting them ready for the 2002 NWPPA Excellence in Communication Competition. This year's...

Spring skill building for HR professionals. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... Are you tasked with human resources and supervisory duties and don't know quite what to do? Are the words "negotiation," "collective bargaining," "mediation and "labor relations" mentioned in your job description? Would you like an opportunity...

NWPPA Hazardous Materials Task Force update: The next meeting of the NWPPA Task Force is Monday, April 15, 2002, in Reno, Nev. (What's Happening).
March 1, 2002... The January, 2002 meeting of the NWPPA Hazardous Materials Task Force was held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Seattle, Wash. The meeting was extremely well attended with representatives of approximately 40 electric utilities in attendance. ...

Prepare for the Worst Case Scenario. (What's Happenings).
March 1, 2002... Any local utility employee, security personnel, or law enforcement personnel involved in assessing the potential for a terrorist attack on their local utility and in developing a plan to deal with potential terrorist targets at their utility...

Staker joins AVO International. (People).
March 1, 2002... Bret Staker is the new account manager for AVO International the maker of Biddle, Multi-Amp, Megger and Metrosonics product lines. After receiving his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, and a master's degree in aeronautical...

Bechtel to retire from OPALCO. (People).
March 1, 2002... Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (Eastsound, Wash.) Manager Doug Bechtel has decided to retire from the utility this year. Bechtel has agreed to stay on for a few extra months to help situate the new manager, who will have big shoes to...

Pend Oreille PUD's Scott named Operator of the Year. (People).
March 1, 2002... The Evergreen Rural Water Association has named Mark "Bubba" Scott as the Water System Operator of the Year 2001. Mark is the water systems supervisor for Pend Oreille PUD (Newport, Wash.). The award is based on the extraordinary...

Taffe named Clatskanie PUD Power Manager. (People).
March 1, 2002... Joseph Taffe became Clarskanie PUD's new Power Manager on January 7. Taffe comes to the position with over 25 years experience in the Northwest utility industry. Formerly with Tacoma Public Utilities, he has an extensive background in...

Kootenai's Anderson appointed to NWBOA Board. (People).
March 1, 2002... Kootenai Electric Cooperative's Energy Services Director Peter Anderson has been appointed to the Northwest Building Operators Association (NWBOA) Board of Directors. Anderson's term will be through 2003. The NWBOA is based in Boise, Idaho,...

Duncan goes to work rebuilding America after September attacks. (People).
March 1, 2002... With the encouragement and support of his former employer, Kevin Duncan has left Snohomish County PUD to form his own business and help the U.S. Department of State rebuild America after the terrorist attacks against our nation. "The...

We remember. (People).
March 1, 2002... Northwest Public Power Association lost a close friend, family member even, on March 3, 2002, when Tom Hougan passed away. Hougan, a long-time supporter of NWPPA and volunteer judge to NWPPA's Excellence in Communication Awards program, was...

Murray Power facility honored. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... CEntry Constructors and Engineers (Sandy, Utah) has recently received recognition for their work on the Murray City Power Gas Turbine Electrical Generation Facility. The Utah Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) awarded the...

Dirt sharing saves money in Tacoma. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... Early last summer,, Tacoma Power Construction Inspector Mark Schmidt was driving past the Highway 16 widening project and had a flash: What were the contractors going to do with the tons of fill dirt they were removing? Barely a mile south...

Pacific Utility Equipment acquired by Terex-Telelect, Inc. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... Pacific Utility Equipment has been acquired by Terex-Telelect, Inc., a Watertown, S.D., subsidiary of Terex Corporation based in Westport, Conn. Pacific Utility Equipment Co., established in 1967 in Portland, Ore., has grown from its one...

Yellowstone Valley opens new office. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative (Huntley, Mont.) recently hosted some 350 members and guests at an open house to dedicate its new office facility. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Billings Chamber of Commerce Blue Blazers kicked...

Funds raised warm hearts and homes. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... Snohomish County PUD (Everett, Wash.) customers and employees raised nearly $120,000 last year to help those struggling to pay utility bills. The contributions were distributed to customers throughout 2001. Project Pride is a program funded...

Northern Lights offers scholarships. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... Continuing Northern Lights Inc. (Sagle, Idaho) history of supporting education, NLI is now accepting applications for an educational scholarship program. NLI will be presenting four $500 scholarships at this year's Annual Meeting, on Saturday,...

AVEC sponsors Iditarod musher. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) board of directors voted to sponsor Iditarod musher Mike Williams for $1,000 for the 2002 race. Williams, a Yupi'k Eskimo from Akiak, became known throughout Alaska as the "Sobriety Musher" after...

PUDs urge BPA to not join Regional Transmission Organization. (Industry News).
March 1, 2002... The Washington Public Utility Districts Association is urging the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to not participate in a proposed Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), warning that BPA's involvement would be costly to the Northwest's...

Public power plays key role in hydropower licensing reform. (Washington D.C. Report).
March 1, 2002... As the Senate debates S. 517, the Daschle-Bingaman Energy Policy Act of 2002, a small group of public power representatives and others are working feverishly to negotiate improvements to the federal hydropower licensing process, with the goal...

Good guy, bad bill. (Forum).
March 1, 2002... It's hard to dislike Rep. Joe Barton, the personable Texas Republican who chairs the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Through a long series of often grueling hearings on electricity industry restructuring, Barton demonstrated...

Corporate brandings: The identify of your business.
March 1, 2002... Corporate branding has become a big part of the electric power industry over the last two or three years. A big part of that is due to deregulation. Even public utilities, which for years had no need to differentiate themselves from...

Snohomish PUD launches fuel cell demonstration project. (Feature).
March 1, 2002... In February, Snohomish County PUD introduced the first residential fuel cell demonstration project in Western Washington. The utility's Board of Commissioners, senior PUD staff, university researchers and local media were all on hand to witness...