PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION WALLINGFORD ELECTRIC DIVISION 100 JOHN STREET WALLINGFORD, CT August 4, 2009 6:30 p.m. PRESENT: Chairman Robert Beaumont, Commissioners David Gessert and Richard Nunn, Director George Adair, Electric Division General Manager Richard Hendershot, Electric Division Office Manager Thomas Sullivan, Water and Sewer Divisions General Manager Roger Dann, Water and Sewer Divisions Office Manager William Phelan, Recording Secretary Kathleen White, Bob Gross Long Hill Road, Mr. & Mrs. Amato MINUTES The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. 1. Discussion and Action: Approval of Meeting Minutes of: A. July 7, 2009 Mr. Nunn made a motion to approve item 1A, the meeting minutes of July 7, 2009. Mr. Gessert seconded the motion. Mr. Dann indicated that there was a correction. Page 5, Item 6, third paragraph, last sentence In addition. to the customer should be changed to Subsequently, a continuation of the lien must be filed at which time a fee is paid. Those in favor of approving the July 7, 2009 as amended; Votes: 3 aye B. July 15, 2009 Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve Item 1B, the workshop minutes of July 15, 2009. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. No additions or corrections.
C. July 16, 2009 Mr. Nunn made a motion to approve the July 16, 2009. the motion. Mr. Gessert seconded Discussion with regard to a statement that Brian Forshaw of CMEEC made relative to peak hours occurred. D. July 22, 2009 Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of July 22, 2009. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. Mr. Adair indicated that he had once correction on Page 1, Item 1, paragraph 2. Change A discussion took place to I discussed the matter. Those in favor of approving the July 22, 2009 minutes as amended; 2. Discussion and Action: Approval of the Director s Report for the Month of June 2009. Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve the Director s Report for the Month of June 2009. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. Mr. Adair summarized the Director s Report, highlighting areas including the Billing Software Conversion, decrease in Electric sales, and a problem at the East Street substation. Water Division experienced a decrease in production compared to last June, and rainfall for the month was 83% above the historical average. The reservoir project is moving along slowly due to weather. Wastewater Treatment Plant experienced an increase in flow of 24% compared to last year. The I&I study was concluded. 3. Discussion and Action: Approval of Policy E-5. Mr. Adair summarized the policy, indicating the importance of establishing ownership boundaries for the customer and the WED. Mr. Hendershot discussed the necessity of such a policy and the resulting ability of the WED to educate existing and new customers. The practices included in the policy are long-standing and well established, with nothing new having been added. Drawings have also been included as part of the policy depicting both residential and commercial/industrial services, overhead and underground. 2
Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve Policy E-5. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. PUBLIC QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD Bob Gross, Long Hill Road questioned the electric bill and various charges that appear on the bill, i.e. customer service charge, energy charge, and the energy conservation fund. The BMS wastewater permit renewal was also discussed. Information was provided to Mr. Gross by Mr. Hendershot, Mr. Adair and Mr. Dann. 4. Discussion and Action: Motion to Waive Article 1, Section 1 and Move Up Items 9 and 10. Mr. Gessert made a motion to move up Items 9 and 10. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. 5. Discussion and Action: Remove Amato Billing Issue from the Table. Mr. Nunn made a motion to remove the billing issue from the table. Mr. Gessert seconded the motion. 6. Discussion and Action: Billing Issue Amato. Mr. Dann indicated that the Commission had requested a dollar value on the interest charges on this account through August 1. The total interest accumulated on the account during this time period is $146.17. Additionally, there is one lien fee in the amount of $20.00. The remainder of the account balance ($939.88) is for Water/Sewer usage. Mr. Gessert stated that at the last meeting, it was suggested that the payment period be extended as a possible solution. Mr. Gessert made a motion to waive the interest charges on this account if the Amatos pay tonight. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. The Amatos stated that they would pay the bill tonight, less the $50.00 good faith payment made in June. The Amatos also requested that any future bills for this account be sent to their home address. 3
Votes: 2 ayes, 1 nay Beaumont 7. Discussion and Action: Electric Division Donation Request Firefighters Local 1326. Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve a ¼ page advertisement in the amount of $425.00. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. Mr. Beaumont questioned last year s advertisement and asked if the WED would be utilizing the same ad. Mr. Hendershot indicated that the advertisement would be rewritten. 8. Discussion and Action: Electric Division Use of $40,000 from CLM Funds for Wallingford Schools Project. Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve the use of $40,000 from RGGI CLM Funds for Wallingford Schools Project. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. Mr. Adair stated that Mr. Hendershot has been handling this matter with CMEEC and the Board of Education. These funds flow through CMEEC from other outside sources that are not part of WED s CLM budget, i.e. not collected from WED customers through the CLM charge. This matter was also discussed with the Town s Comptroller. Connecticut is part of a ten-state area that has the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). A fixed percentage of the auction proceeds are earmarked for conservation and load management purposes. The funds flow through CMEEC which distributes the money to CMEEC s customers. Mr. Hendershot stated that this is the first time that RGGI funds have been made available to the WED for a specific purpose. CMEEC has put together an RFP and has sent it out to three qualified vendors seeking prices to perform this work at the schools. This would be a one-time expenditure for this purpose, and it is our expectation that a good mid-grade energy audit of the schools will result, ending with a plan as to how the schools should approach each building s energy performance. Mr. Beaumont added that there is also money coming from the federal government. Approximately $195,000 will be received by the Town, and will be administered by Program Planning. This may also help in funding what the resulting study indicates that the schools need. Mr. Nunn asked whether funds from RGGI and CMEEC would be made available on a year-to-year basis? 4
Mr. Adair stated that he believes three RGGI auctions have been held, with a total of six to be held in Connecticut. (NOTE: Since the meeting it has been determined that a fourth auction was held in June of this year). In New England, RGGI will continue and if not for a specific use, the funds could flow in for general CLM funds. By funding the efficiency improvements identified, the schools could taxpayer s money over a number of years. The benchmarking study revealed many opportunities for reducing the energy intensiveness of the schools. Mr. Hendershot indicated that the energy conservation fund is designed to save electricity and lower electric usage. Strings attached to the RGGI funds are indicating energy efficiency in general; not only for electricity. After the lighting is done, most of the remaining problems would be heating/cooling. Mr. Hendershot stated that savings realized from this program would be twofold. It saves the WED system from buying energy and capacity, and also saves the taxpayers as the schools would need less revenue to operate. 9. Discussion and Possible Action: Mid-Period Calculation PCA. Mr. Beaumont questioned as to whether there was information available on midperiod calculation of the PCA or was it just a placeholder? Mr. Hendershot stated that it was indeed a placeholder, allowing a verbal report that the numbers do not warrant an adjustment. NO ACTION TAKEN 10. Discussion and Action: Budget Transfer Meter Expense. Mr. Nunn made a motion to approve the Budget Transfer Meter Expense. Mr. Gessert seconded the motion. Mr. Sullivan stated that there is a need for $5950 in Account #586 due to an over expenditure. Money is available in Account #587, Distribution Operation Customer Installation Expenses. 11. Review of Electric Division Disbursements for the Month of June 2009. Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve the disbursements. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. 5
Mr. Gessert asked about workmen s compensation and Mr. Hendershot replied that all personnel are back and working. Additional discussion took place regarding specific items noted on the Electric Division Disbursements. 12. Review of Water/Sewer Division Disbursements for the Month of June 2009. Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve the Water/Sewer Division Disbursements for the Month of June 2009. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. Discussion regarding various items on the disbursements listing took place. 13. Discussion and Action: Budget Amendment Water Video Camera FY-09/10. Mr. Gessert made a motion to approve a budget amendment appropriating the amount of $7,250 in account #433-9012-390 (Structures and Improvements) through a decrease of $2,750 to account #431-8920-923 (Outside Services Employed) and a decrease of $4,500 in the appropriation to cash in the Use of Funds section of the budget. Mr. Nunn seconded the motion. Mr. Dann indicated that dialogue began several years ago with the Electric Division about installing video monitoring capabilities, which would link back to the Electric Division s system. The Electric Division has been in the process of updating their video capability and is just about ready to award the bid. In the Water Division, $4500 was originally budgeted but that account lapsed at the end of the last fiscal year. A re-appropriation of those funds, in addition to a supplemental amount of $2750, will allow funding to achieve the necessary amount required for the bid. In the Sewer Division, those funds originally budgeted did not lapse. Sewer only requires the addition of the supplemental $2750. 14. Discussion and Action: Sewer Division - Budget Amendment - Video Camera - Fiscal Year 2009-2010. Motion to approve a budget amendment appropriating the amount of $2,750 in account #463-9012-390 (Structures and Improvements) through a corresponding decrease to account #461-8920-923 (Outside Services Employed). Made by: Gessert. Seconded by: Nunn 6
15. Discussion and Action: Water Division - Budget Transfer - Workers Compensation Reserve - Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Motion to approve a budge transfer increasing account #431-8920-925 (Injuries and Damages) by the amount of $56,000 through decreases to various labor accounts as listed below where funds remained as a result of vacancies which occurred during the fiscal year. Account # Description Amount of Decrease 431-8640-642 Operating, Labor & Expense - Treatment $6,000 431-8640-652 Maintenance of Water Treatment Equipment 7,000 431-8660-664 Customer Installation Expenses 2,000 431-8660-673 Maintenance of Transmission & Distribution Mains 6,000 431-8660-675 Maintenance of Services 4,000 431-8660-676 Maintenance of Meters 1,500 431-8660-677 Maintenance of Hydrants 1,500 431-8900-903 Customer Records & Collection Expense 5,000 431-8920-920 Administrative & General Salaries 23,000 Mr. Dann stated that a reserve is accumulated up to $100,000, however we don t know what expenditures may take place during the year. At the end of each fiscal year, we routinely go through this process. Made by: Nunn. Seconded by: Gessert 16. Discussion and Action: Sewer Division - Budget Transfer - Injuries & Damages - Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Motion to approve a budget transfer increasing account #461-8920-925 (Injuries and Damages) by the amount of $26,000 through decreases to various accounts as listed below: Account # Description Amount of Decrease 461-8640-642 Operating Labor & Expense $16,000 461-8661-673 Maintenance of Transmission and Collection Lines 10,000 Mr. Dann stated that these funds are not from the reserve account. There were several large invoices submitted at the end of the fiscal year, and in order to make the payments, a transfer was necessary. Made by: Gessert Seconded by: Nunn 7
17. Discussion and Action: Water Division - Budget Transfer - Sick & Vacation Accrual - Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Motion to approve a budge transfer to increase account #431-8920- 926 (Pension and Benefits) in the amount of $30,000.00 through decreases to various labor accounts as listed below: Account # Description Amount of Decrease 431-8600-601 Operating, Labor & Exp. - Source of Supply $5,000 431-8600-612 Maintenance Collecting & Impounding Reservoirs 3,500 431-8600-617 Maintenance Misc. Water Source Plant 1,500 431-8620-624 Pumping Labor & Expenses 4,500 431-8620-626 Miscellaneous Expense - Pumping 1,000 431-8620-633 Maintenance of Pumping Equipment 4,000 431-8640-642 Operation Labor & Expenses - Treatment 10,500 Mr. Dann indicated that this is a typical year-end activity. Values must be placed on existing accrued sick and vacation for each employee. This value is then compared to what was accrued in the previous year and determine if the value has gone up or down. The funding is the differential between. Made by: Nunn. Seconded by: Gessert 18. Discussion and Action: Sewer Division - Budget Transfer - Sick & Vacation Accrual - Fiscal Year 2008-2009. Motion to approve a budge transfer to increase account #461-8920- 926 (Pension and Benefits) in the amount of $1,700.00 through a corresponding decrease to account #461-8640-642 (Operating Labor & Expense). Made by Nunn. Seconded by: Gessert 19. Discussion: Water and Sewer Divisions - C&D Map. Mr. Adair indicated that the determination has been made to proceed with the application for an interim change to the Wallingford C&D map and a language change in the Wallingford Plan of Development and Conservation. That is to be underway shortly. Endorsements have been received from Town Council and 8
Planning and Zoning. The PUC and the Conservation Commission have also endorsed the map. There is nothing new to report, but activity continues. 20. Committee Reports Mr. Adair indicated that due to the remodeling of the front office at the Electric Division the future meetings of the PUC would be held at the Water Division. The CMEEC Board did proceed with the August 6 application of the DOE funding. Wallingford is paying its share of project development costs. WED is not involved with the August 6 application and I will be preparing a memo confirming our position. 20. Adjournment Motion to adjourn at approximately 8:20 p.m. Made by: Nunn Seconded by: Gessert Respectfully submitted, Respectfully submitted, Kathleen White Recording Secretary Richard A. Nunn PUC Secretary 9