A COM MUNIT Y- OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITY

News and views from your Central Lincoln Board Members

without the benefit of legislative oversight. The assessment has continued to rise. Central Lincoln has been involved in two efforts through the courts to have the ESA declared a tax instead of a fee and therefore bring ODOE’s spending under the jurisdiction of the legislature. Last year I wrote about a suit that Central Lincoln and other community-owned utilities had brought against the ODOE and I noted that the wheels of justice move slowly. Briefs have been filed and arguments presented but we still await a decision. We hope to hear soon.

Due to the adverse publicity that ODOE has been receiving, last year’s legislature created a committee to examine the department and make recommendations for improvement. After a number of meetings, it was clear that the committee was unable to reach consensus on a solution and several committee members sponsored bills to move forward a variety of recommendations. Of great concern to us were proposals to add more responsibility to the department by having it supervise climate change activities and to add an oversight committee to make sure the department was doing a good job. Neither of these proposals would have done anything to get the department’s budget in check. It also appears strange that a department that is not performing well would be given additional responsibility.

Fortunately, none of these proposals passed through the legislature. Central Lincoln and our fellow community-owned utilities worked hard to make sure legislators heard our concerns. It was a valiant effort indeed. And, another ODOE scandal surfaced near the end of the session: A longtime ODOE staffer received almost $300k in bribes in return for tax credits.

We are also seeing the end of ODOE’s misadministration of tax credit

programs as several programs are set to end, and others have been moved over to Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency.

There is however, a bright spot in all of this. Maybe partially because we have been a noticeable critic of the value we receive from ODOE, last November, the Governor’s office contacted us and asked if we would partner on a submittal to the National Governor’s Association (NGA) to participate in its Policy Academy on Grid Modernization. The project we submitted in collaboration with ODOE and the Governor’s Office is focused on the development of a prioritization framework for local energy resiliency with a focus on coastal needs following a Cascadian-type event. Ultimately, the work we’re doing will be scalable and available to utilities across the state, but participating in the development of the framework ensures that our customers will get maximum value from Central Lincoln’s participation. This work is expected to be completed by mid-2018 and our emergency preparedness efforts will benefit from all we learn.

This is an excellent example of how the state can bring value to the utilities who pay for the department. This project was brought forward by the Governor’s Energy Advisor. Maybe it takes someone working outside of ODOE to see what useful value can be provided. ODOE is acting as a resource to this project. And in case you were wondering, the ESA does pay for the Energy Advisor’s salary, too.

Curt Abbott President

cabbott@peak.org541-563-2257Mapleton, Seal Rock, South Beach, Swisshome, Waldport, Yachats

ODOE, the ESA, and Looking Forward

For the last three years, I have focused my Boardlines piece on the Oregon Department of Energy’s (ODOE) Energy Supplier Assessment, known as the ESA. Community-owned utilities like Central Lincoln, as well as investor-owned utilities like PacifiCorp and Northwest Natural, all pay into a fund which is used to supplement ODOE’s activities and fund new programs,

2017

President Abbott drives his electric-powered Chevy Volt in this year’s Waldport Beachcomber Days Parade. The plug-in Volt’s batteries are backed up by a gas-powered generator.

Boardlines

CLPUD offers many rebate and incentive programs to our customers for qualified energy-saving projects. Visit clpud.org/rebate-information

Florence: 600 ampere overhead rebuild.

• Beverly Beach Subdivision, Newport: line rebuild.

• NW 12th to NW 6th, Newport: “tying” one substation to another in the area for a backup loop.

• Moolack Beach area, Newport: new distribution line, and a “loop feed” to our new Northern Operations Center (NOC).

• South Bay Road, Toledo: line improvements.

• Yasek Loop to Murray Loop, Toledo: line improvements.

• Smith River Bridge, Reedsport: We’ll be replacing some rotting pilings in the water. (Those pilings are called “dolphins” in line worker’s slang.)

Nearly all of the projects on this list will improve reliability in some spots that are prone or vulnerable to outages.

So, when you see Central Lincoln crews out working, please don’t honk—smile; and stay back a safe distance if you pause to watch. Like the rest of us, they’re working for you.

Ron Benfield Treasurer

rbenfield@newportnet.com541-265-2770Newport

Change is Inevitable, But It Isn’t Always Easy

As some of you know, I retired from Central Lincoln 24 years ago as the Director of Finance and Accounting. In

2017Central Lincoln PUD Boardlines

Judy Matheny Vice President

jjmatheny@q.com541-902-8724Dunes City, Florence

What Are Our Line Crews Up To?As the Central Lincoln board

member representing the Florence area, I was really pleased when we formally reopened our revamped substation north of Florence earlier this year. That was the last milestone in our Florence Area Reinforcement Project—which included a new substation, two upgraded substations, and new transmission lines, particularly along Highway 101 in Florence. This project was really important—during some severely cold winters, we were operating uncomfortably close to 100% capacity in the Florence area. We are committed to providing reliable service, and I am relieved the Reinforcement Project is finished. Now we’ll easily be able to handle increased electricity needs in the Florence area for at least the next 20 years.

But there’s plenty more improvement work ahead. You’re very likely to see some of our crews out and about somewhere near you this summer or fall. They are working ten hours shifts four days a week to take advantage of longer daylight hours this time of year. What projects will be they be working on? Glad you asked! Here’s some highlights:

• Little Whale Cove, Depoe Bay: final phase of line replacement.

• Sweet Creek Road, Florence: line improvements.

• Rhododendron Drive to Heceta Beach Road to North Jetty Road,

1994, I decided to run for the Central Lincoln board and was elected. I think my experience as an employee in the financial side of this utility has been helpful in my board service in the years since.

When the decision was made for Central Lincoln to switch to an entirely new software system that would be more efficient and streamlined, I was supportive, and I voted to move forward with Central Lincoln adopting the new system. It’s a system that is used by hundreds of utilities around the United States, so “bugs” in it were ironed out some time ago.

Our new system has lots of great features—the Smart Hub online system that provides options such as pay online, billing and payment history info; AutoPay; the ability to sign up for paperless billing; manage one’s account, or start a service request. We now have a SmartHub app for iPhone and Android phones. For those who prefer just to make a quick payment, Pay Now is available. For customers who wish to pay by phone, the new system has, not surprisingly, the Pay By Phone option, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that’s an improvement over our old system, which was only available during business hours. And Pay By Phone offers the choice of signing up for AutoPay—automatic monthly payments—with the touch of a few buttons.

The new system offers lots of internal improvements for Central Lincoln as well—better tracking of projects, better and more accurate mapping will be available to us, and more integrated accounting.

All of these things are to the good. But on a personal level, well, I’m 81, and like a few of you, I found our new software to be a bit challenging. That’s where our Customer Service Representatives come in. Even though I’m a retiree of Central Lincoln, and a board member, I needed to ask for help, too. I’m happy to say our employees helped me just as they would help any customer and pretty quickly, I was off and running with the new system.

Larkin Kaliher Secretary & Assistant Treasurer

kaliher@cencoast.com541-270-2732Depoe Bay, Lincoln Beach, Siletz, Toledo

What is an Operations Center?What - Often unnoticed by Central

Lincoln People’s Utility District (CLPUD) customers, our Operations Centers house the muscle that beats the heart, and the backbone supporting CLPUD’s system.

Where – CLPUD has three Operation Center locations – our new Northern Operations Center (NOC) in north Newport, the Southern Operations Center (SOC) in Florence, and the Reedsport Operations Center.

Why - With our distance from outside services, and the unique needs in our coastal environment, these centers are crucial. Without the resources housed in our District it would be difficult to operate effectively and efficiently, repair, reinforce, and upgrade CLPUD’s system. Operations Centers allow us to maintain reliability, stability, and resiliency under normal, yet challenging coastal conditions.

Who - These facilities in varying degrees house crews, shops, etc. (a)The line crews that build, and maintain lines for power brought in by the

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), that CLPUD transports to your homes and businesses. The same line crews are also readily available to restore power when the need arises. (b)The meter shop that builds and maintains power monitoring equipment. (c) The substation crew and shop – we design, build, and maintain our substations. (d) Communication equipment and office that allows field crews, offices, customer calls, customer meters, and substations to communicate. (e) The operations staff who monitor our system in real time, respond to issues promptly, and dispatch necessary solutions. (f) The Engineering Techs who assist customers in designing new projects or upgrading for existing needs, and CLPUD’s utility system improvements. (g) The support staff that back up others. (h) The fleet of service vehicles, and equipment. (i) The tree trimming crew, and equipment. (j) And the warehouse and grounds provide storage for poles, wire, transformers, and needed materials.

When - Our system has grown and changed since it was first energized in 1943, and so have customers’ service and reliability requirements. The first NOC was built after World War II in South Beach. At the time of construction, this location was considered ideal. As growth and needs changed, it has had several additions. Over the years other areas joined Central Lincoln. In Florence, and Reedsport other Operations Centers became necessary. The SOC was built in the 1950’s. In Reedsport, the Operations facility was purchased from the city in the 70’s.

Your Board and staff have been planning for major upgrades for several

2017Central Lincoln PUD Boardlines

Keith Tymchuk Board Member

ktymchuk@cencoast.com541-662-0332Gardiner, Hauser, Lakeside, North Bend, Reedsport

Of Tymchuk, Fish, and Spill Let me introduce myself: I am Keith

Tymchuk, from Reedsport, the newest member of the Central Lincoln PUD Board of Directors.

If you’re from the southern end of the district, you just might know me. I was a six-term mayor of Reedsport; I have served as a Port of Umpqua commissioner for twenty-three years;

Change can be disconcerting, but I can say with confidence this change ultimately will result in improved customer service. Without our customers, Central Lincoln wouldn’t exist, and we’re here to provide you excellent customer service. I think our new system does exactly that!

years. The efficiency of the Ops Centers in Florence and Newport are being greatly improved with vertical warehousing requiring less physical space, modernizing shops, creating better work spaces to use computer technology, redesigning traffic patterns to reduce congestion, and improving security. Resiliency is being addressed by upgrading to current structural designs. And as I write this article, the NOC is being moved to its new location out of the tsunami inundation zone, while the Florence remodel is in the design stage.

Board members and staff celebrate the completed remodel of Central Lincoln’s substation north of Florence.

I am a lifelong resident of Reedsport and next fall I will begin my 37th year as a teacher, all but two of those at Reedsport High School. If you’re from this area, I may well have had you as a student in the classroom, or your kids, or maybe even (gulp!) your parents. Also, I serve, or have served, on multiple local, regional and statewide boards or bodies. My wife, Jennifer, teaches in Reedsport, as well. Our two daughters, Bailey and Blair, will be a senior and a sophomore at the University of Montana in the fall.

Because I have a long and varied background involving governance, boards and public service, I think I have a fair bit of understanding about what makes boards work well, and about good management. In my six months as a CLPUD director, I can confidently say that the CLPUD board has all the right stuff that creates wise governance, good policy, and thoughtful discussions. The four other members on this board are first rate. Leadership? I’ve worked with great leaders. In the management team at Central Lincoln, we have that, too. Our staff, where the rubber really meets the road, is diligent, dedicated, and devoted to great service for you.

I am most impressed with the people and organization I now get to work with. It is an honor to do just that.

Oh, in my spare time, you will find me with a great book in my hand, or standing in a river chasing steelhead with a fly rod, or chasing deer in

western Oregon forests and elk off of eastern Oregon mountain tops. I have a wonderful family, a job I love, live in a great community, and get to serve in meaningful capacities with smart and dedicated people. I am surely blessed. And I’m easy to find in Reedsport. Please look me up.

So that’s my introduction. Here’s my informational piece: As an avid fly fisherman, pursuing steelhead, the nearly perfect fish, I am an advocate for Oregon’s anadromous fish. But where public policy doesn’t make sense, even in the name of fish, I must point that out, too.

The Bonneville Power Administration (Central Lincoln’s power supplier) regularly “spills” water at its dams in order to encourage juvenile fish passage. When water is spilled, power is not generated and must come from other sources. A federal court recently mandated that Bonneville engage in a spill test that would significantly increase the amount of water spilled from April to mid-June. The members of the Oregon PUD Association, and other community-owned utilities across the Northwest, believe this change to be unneeded and, indeed, costly to both ratepayers and the very fish the change is designed to protect. I agree.

We believe that too much spill can have unintended consequences – it can be bad! Increased spill reduces the amount of carbon-free power generated by the dams and decreased

2017Central Lincoln PUD Boardlines

A COM MUNIT Y- OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITY

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Outage info: www.twitter.com/CLPUD or report an outage at 866-484-3783

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Website: clpud.org Email: info@clpud.org

Pay By Phone: 1-844-239-0076Outage Line: 1-866-484-3783Energy Efficiency Programs: 1-888-883-9879Credit for Clunkers (fridges and freezers): 1-866-265-7231

Call us at: 541-265-3211 or toll free at 1-877-265-3211Your call will be answered by the first customer service representative available in Florence, Newport or Reedsport.

Office Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Florence: 966 Highway 101Newport: 2129 N. Coast HighwayReedsport: 440 Fir Avenue (Reedsport is closed 12-1p.m.)

generation generally results in increased purchases on the energy market which can be carbon-based power. In addition, there is evidence that the increased spill (where large volumes of water are shot through the dams and young fish with it) may actually increase fish mortality. Bonneville’s efforts to protect fish are already meeting or exceeding the survival standard set for the dams; in 2016 BPA expended more than $620 million on fish and wildlife costs. In recent years, those fish and wildlife costs have ranged from twenty-five to thirty percent of total costs for BPA power. Those are costs that are passed along to all of us as ratepayers.

If you would like more information, please check in with the Public Power Council at www.ppcpdx.org.

I am excited about my new gig with Central Lincoln. I aim to carry on its tradition of great leadership.

Central Lincoln’s newest board member Keith Tymchuk is sworn in earlier this year by Central Lincoln Accounting Specialist Amanda Downey, who is also a notary.