Work in OlympiaWashington state legislation is underway with a flurry of activity. While the focus is on the budget deficit, hundreds of new bills have been introduced, with another 2,000 bills technically still alive from last session, which runs in two-year cycles.
Prior to the session starting, Benton PUD participated in meetings with representatives from PUDs, utilities, municipalities, rural co-ops and others impacted by Initiative 937 to develop a coalition to work together on issues surrounding the Initiative. The group developed a proposal that would not change the original intent of the Initiative but would help clarify some of the issues that make Initiative 937 difficult and costly. Legislation to amend Initiative 937 was introduced in the House and Senate by Rep. John McCoy and Sen. Phil Rockefeller, both chairmen of the committees that oversee energy issues in the House and Senate. Hearings were held in both committees. The Washington PUD Association coordinated testimony with representatives from various PUDS in attendance. The bills that were introduced were a start but are problematic for Benton PUD and other utilities across the state. The bills contain some positive points but also include an increase in the amount of qualified renewables that utilities are required to purchase. (The Initiative requires utilities to purchase three percent of their electricity from qualified renewable energy sources by 2012, nine percent by 2016 and 15 percent by 2020.) Benton PUD will continue to work closely with other utilities and the Washington PUD Association on bills relating to Initiative 937 and other issues impacting Benton PUD and public power. |
Energy Independence Day in OlympiaThe second annual Energy Independence Day will be held in Olympia on February 4. Organizations and businesses from the Tri-Cities region will showcase the diversity of energy generated and energy related projects in the Tri-Cities including nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar and biomass. Benton and Franklin PUDs will have a display at the event that takes place in the Capital Building. The event is sponsored by Representatives Larry Haler and Brad Klippert and Senator Jerome Delvin.
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Commissioner Hall elected WPUDA Vice-PresidentJeff Hall, Commissioner for Benton PUD, was elected Vice-President of the Board for the Washington PUD Association (WPUDA) for 2010. Hall served as Secretary-Treasurer for the association this past year and has also served on the Legislative Committee. Hall has been a Benton PUD Commissioner since 2002, representing Prosser and surrounding areas. WPUDA represents 27 public utility districts that provide electricity, water and wastewater services and wholesale telecommunications to more than 1.7 million people in Washington. The mission of the association is to support, protect and enhance members’ ability to provide nonprofit, locally controlled utility services for the benefit of the people of Washington. |
Harvesting Clean Energy ConferenceThe 10th annual Harvesting Clean Energy Conference, February 7 – 9, 2010, will be held locally at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. The Harvesting Clean Energy Conference brings together agriculture and energy interests working to advance new opportunities for agriculture producers and rural communities in clean energy production. Keynote speakers include Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Jay Inslee, who will speak at the Opening Luncheon and Congressional Leaders Forum, 11:20 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Sunday, Feb.7 and Representative Doc Hastings who will speak the following morning, 8:00 a.m., Monday, Feb. 8. Benton PUD and Franklin PUD will have a display at the conference featuring our clean, emission free power – hydro, nuclear, wind, and conservation. The Harvesting Clean Energy Conference features experts with direct experience in successful clean-energy projects who will talk about project feasibility and economic assessments, technical and financial resources, and the latest renewable energy and energy efficiency technology and policy. For more information and registration visit www.harvestcleanenergy.org. |
Helpful definitions on your billBelow are a few helpful definitions of terms you might find on your electric bill. kilowatt-hour (kWh) - The unit of energy meaning 1000 watt hours to measure your electricity usage each month. For example, if you operate a 1,000-watt microwave for one hour, or if you operate a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours, each will use one kilowatt-hour of electricity. Demand charge - Reflects the capacity necessary to meet a large commercial or industrial customer's monthly peak demand. The demand charge is multiplied by the average number of kilowatts used during the 30-minute period of peak demand (highest electricity use) each month. The peak demand is calculated either by the kilowatts shown on the meter, or stated in the demand clause of the customer’s rate schedule. **For details on your specific demand charge, please call 585-5395. Power factor - When a customer's power factor is less than 95 percent (0.95), as measured under actual load conditions, Benton PUD may adjust the kW demanded that month to reflect the extra volts-amperes generated in order to meet that demand. The adjusted demand is figured by multiplying the measured kW (as shown on the meter) by 95 percent, and dividing by the customer's unique power factor. |
DOE selects NW and Benton PUD for $178M smart grid demoThe Department of Energy has selected a Pacific Northwest team, including Benton PUD, to conduct a regional smart grid demonstration project designed to expand upon existing electric infrastructure and test new smart grid technology with up to 60,000 customers in five states. Benton PUD is one of 12 utilities who partnered with Battelle and the Bonneville Power Administration on the proposal. The team combines energy providers, utilities, vendors and research organizations. Total estimated cost for the project is $178 million. DOE will provide half the funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project’s participants, primarily utilities and industry team members, including Benton PUD, will provide the remaining funds. The Northwest study will involve more than 60,000 metered customers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Using smart grid technologies, the study will test new combinations of devices, software and advanced analytical tools that enhance the power grid’s reliability and performance. At its peak, the project could create about 1,500 total jobs in manufacturing, installation and operating smart grid equipment, telecommunications networks, software and controls in the five states. “We are thrilled to be a part of this project. It will accelerate the process for Benton PUD to develop Smart Grid concepts for the benefit of our customers,” said Rick Dunn, Benton PUD Director of Engineering. The project team will install equipment and technology in 2010 and 2011. Then, for the next two to three years, project leaders will gather data on smart grid performance from 15 test sites that represent the region’s diverse terrain, weather and demographics. The test sites range from Fox Island in Washington State’s Puget Sound, to the Teton Mountains in western Wyoming, and include the campuses at the University of Washington and Washington State University as well as in Benton PUD’s service area. |
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