Speaking of the Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA), GVEA recently filed its latest quarterly report for COPA. It might take a while to download. They notice the increase in both oil and anticipated coal increases and having less cheap intertie power available. They see a $5.6mm deficit in collection. Expect our COPA to go up substantively.
They also filed their latest Simplified Rate Filing (SRF), which they can submit, as I recall, every 6 months. It comes with much less notice and filing requirements, but they can only increase rates a small amount with each SRF request. Their latest SRF tariff requestwas just approved.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007
Regulatory Commission of Alaska website upgrade
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) has upgraded their website with a lot of fine features for finding out about utilities' issues before the RCA. I urge all those who can take 15-30 minutes to browse a subject or utility and see what goes on and how the process works. Power to the people and hats off to the RCA for making their regulatory of model of openness.
And if you think GVEA has issues
Just to let folks know that, by contrast to Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) and Chugach Electric Association (CEA), GVEA is quite stable as far as board, membership, and executive administration relations.
MEA tried to ram a coal fired power plant down the members' and communities' throats, but finally appears to have reconsidered.
CEA has had a running back-and-forth battle between two camps on the board of directors. They recently appointed a new board member to fill a vacancy who I was told really has no idea what a cooperative is and put her on a committee to get the current CEO. This is politics at its base and it hurts the utility. The members get riled up by some factions claiming the IBEW union, who represent the employees, are taking over.
The Chugach board's latest move is a special board meeting called for this coming Wednesday to fire General Manager Bill Stewart. No reason given except they want to go in a different direction, with no hint of what that direction might be. Rebecca Logan (new appointed board member, Uwa Kalenka and Elizabeth Vazquez will comprise the committee to search of a new GM. I'm told that many good employees are bailing out. This sounds to me like a majority of the board is on a political purge. Ray Kreig, former board member, has been most active in engineering this takeover by avowed anti-union board members. I certainly admire activism and the espoused goal of more openness, but have seen no indications that the recent or future board actions empower the members.
When they aren't fighting internally, they sue each other. MEA doesn't generate any of its own power, relying on AML&P, Homer Electric, and Chugach for their generation.
Not to say, while all this acrimony goes on, they don't try to get together, with recent reports that Chugach is investigating merger with AEL&P and still working on a joint agency to deal with upcoming supply issues.
Now if they could only get Fire Island wind project off the table. Non-renewable resource costs aren't getting any cheaper, nor are climate change impacts going away without some serious mitigation.
MEA tried to ram a coal fired power plant down the members' and communities' throats, but finally appears to have reconsidered.
CEA has had a running back-and-forth battle between two camps on the board of directors. They recently appointed a new board member to fill a vacancy who I was told really has no idea what a cooperative is and put her on a committee to get the current CEO. This is politics at its base and it hurts the utility. The members get riled up by some factions claiming the IBEW union, who represent the employees, are taking over.
The Chugach board's latest move is a special board meeting called for this coming Wednesday to fire General Manager Bill Stewart. No reason given except they want to go in a different direction, with no hint of what that direction might be. Rebecca Logan (new appointed board member, Uwa Kalenka and Elizabeth Vazquez will comprise the committee to search of a new GM. I'm told that many good employees are bailing out. This sounds to me like a majority of the board is on a political purge. Ray Kreig, former board member, has been most active in engineering this takeover by avowed anti-union board members. I certainly admire activism and the espoused goal of more openness, but have seen no indications that the recent or future board actions empower the members.
When they aren't fighting internally, they sue each other. MEA doesn't generate any of its own power, relying on AML&P, Homer Electric, and Chugach for their generation.
Not to say, while all this acrimony goes on, they don't try to get together, with recent reports that Chugach is investigating merger with AEL&P and still working on a joint agency to deal with upcoming supply issues.
Now if they could only get Fire Island wind project off the table. Non-renewable resource costs aren't getting any cheaper, nor are climate change impacts going away without some serious mitigation.
GVEA transition
GVEA will have a new CEO/president real soon - Brian Newton. Steve Haagenson has retired, Chief Finance Officer John Grubich is also moving on to other pastures outside Alaska. The new executive team will have their hands full, as the capital spending binge of the new tie line from Healy to Fairbanks, the biggest battery backup in the world "BESS", and two new oil fired generation units in North Pole have pretty much broke the bank. Our board approved all these expenditures and plan on having management to ask for more rate hikes. Expect these increases to be substantial. The assertion will likely include increased fuel costs, but as far as generation goes, we already pay for those increases through the 'cost of power adjustment" or COPA.
Maybe they are going to look at some internal cost cutting that has thus far been sacrosanct. We might even end up with a less glitzy and less costly annual meeting actually focused on real issues and less P.R. Feel free to contribute ideas and suggestions.
Maybe they are going to look at some internal cost cutting that has thus far been sacrosanct. We might even end up with a less glitzy and less costly annual meeting actually focused on real issues and less P.R. Feel free to contribute ideas and suggestions.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
500+ conributors to the SNAP purchasers program
The website says 350, but Tom DeLong tells me that there are now more than 500 SNAP purchasers (people who contribute extra money to pay alternative energy producers in the SNAP program). The site also says that "GVEA is well on its way" to meeting its goal of producing 10 percent of its peak load from alternative sources. However, it doesn't say what that peak load is (anticipated to be 230 MW) or what percentage is actually produced from alternative energy sources. Or at least, I can't find it. Does anyone know what this is, and how close or far GVEA is from meeting its goal?
It would be helpful, on this page, to have contact e-mails or links to the members of the Green Power Advisory Committee. I know several of these people, so I have that info, but others may not.
It would be helpful, on this page, to have contact e-mails or links to the members of the Green Power Advisory Committee. I know several of these people, so I have that info, but others may not.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The new bills
It's been a few months now since the new-format bills came out, so I've had time to get used to them. Guess what?
I still don't like them.
The little bar graph is nice and all, but I don't know exactly HOW much electricity I used each month in the last year. A close approximation, yes, and a nice visual quickie look-see, yes, but exact amounts? No. I have to go to my old bills and look 'em up.
Not so convenient.
Okay, done now.
I still don't like them.
The little bar graph is nice and all, but I don't know exactly HOW much electricity I used each month in the last year. A close approximation, yes, and a nice visual quickie look-see, yes, but exact amounts? No. I have to go to my old bills and look 'em up.
Not so convenient.
Okay, done now.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Schedule set for GVEA distribution tariff request
While the tariff filing is confidential, here's a look at the sense of what was filed back in August 2007. All the other documents relating to this case can be found on the RCA website under U-07-08
There is reference to a summer 2008 cost study, in which the balance/allocation of costs between commercial and residential could impact the rates.
There is reference to a summer 2008 cost study, in which the balance/allocation of costs between commercial and residential could impact the rates.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Alaska Utility Plans in need of full environmental considerations
It's nice to know that GVEA isn't the only utility with challenges.
Chugach Electric has had ongoing controversy surrounding a board that either is or isn't supportive of its union employees and their labor representative IBEW.
Matanuska Electric Association is now going out to members to ask about siting for a coal fired power plant, justified by a new state prison to be built. This was recently reported in the Anchorage Daily News. There are a number of members who believe a coal plant has environmental concerns that have not been taken into account. The CH2M Hill Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) commissioned by MEA is not available to the members, so they have no way to review it. I'm happy that GVEA hasn't been so secretive with their IRP and having it available to members for review can lead to a better report. Members don't charge for their input.
In a recent study commissioned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to look at meeting future power needs, they also came out with a recommendation to build (another) coal fired power plant on campus. Having access to the report helped point out that the economic analysis didn't include any carbon cost analysis, no substantive consideration of alternatives and a near-total wash on further conservation/demand side reductions. You can download the Utility Development Plan at the bottom of the linked page in 3 different sections.
When GVEA performed an Integrated Resource Plan in order to justify the experimental coal plant in Healy in the 1990s, the study found that conservation would cost 1.5 - 2 cents/kwh vs. 3.5 -4.5 cents for a new plant. What the MEA IRP found is anyone's guess. The irony of UAF's plan to add a coal plant is that a coal plant is either on full time or it isn't. There is no load balancing one can do without hours or days for starting a plant. If one builds a 20 mw plant, the most efficient use of that plant is to use 20 mw, not less. This is actually a disincentive for conservation.
I also notice that Governor Palin just awarded Usibelli Coal an award for exporting large quantities of coal to Korea. Rewarding a company for exporting a product that creates pollution that alters our environment? This is the same governor who just created a sub-cabinet level group to find ways that the state can reduce its "contribution" toward climate change.
With all the recent ramp up in discussion over climate change and the added CO2 that coal puts out, it seems like the discussion and research being performed demonstrating all the hazards aren't being translated into action.
Perhaps others would like to add their info about GVEA's Green Power goals?
Chugach Electric has had ongoing controversy surrounding a board that either is or isn't supportive of its union employees and their labor representative IBEW.
Matanuska Electric Association is now going out to members to ask about siting for a coal fired power plant, justified by a new state prison to be built. This was recently reported in the Anchorage Daily News. There are a number of members who believe a coal plant has environmental concerns that have not been taken into account. The CH2M Hill Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) commissioned by MEA is not available to the members, so they have no way to review it. I'm happy that GVEA hasn't been so secretive with their IRP and having it available to members for review can lead to a better report. Members don't charge for their input.
In a recent study commissioned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to look at meeting future power needs, they also came out with a recommendation to build (another) coal fired power plant on campus. Having access to the report helped point out that the economic analysis didn't include any carbon cost analysis, no substantive consideration of alternatives and a near-total wash on further conservation/demand side reductions. You can download the Utility Development Plan at the bottom of the linked page in 3 different sections.
When GVEA performed an Integrated Resource Plan in order to justify the experimental coal plant in Healy in the 1990s, the study found that conservation would cost 1.5 - 2 cents/kwh vs. 3.5 -4.5 cents for a new plant. What the MEA IRP found is anyone's guess. The irony of UAF's plan to add a coal plant is that a coal plant is either on full time or it isn't. There is no load balancing one can do without hours or days for starting a plant. If one builds a 20 mw plant, the most efficient use of that plant is to use 20 mw, not less. This is actually a disincentive for conservation.
I also notice that Governor Palin just awarded Usibelli Coal an award for exporting large quantities of coal to Korea. Rewarding a company for exporting a product that creates pollution that alters our environment? This is the same governor who just created a sub-cabinet level group to find ways that the state can reduce its "contribution" toward climate change.
With all the recent ramp up in discussion over climate change and the added CO2 that coal puts out, it seems like the discussion and research being performed demonstrating all the hazards aren't being translated into action.
Perhaps others would like to add their info about GVEA's Green Power goals?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I ran into Dan Osborne the other day
and he told me that yes, in fact, the margin required on the G&T was not the 1.25 minimum required by the Regulatory Commission, it was higher, as they had presented, because of GVEA's own requirements. He thinks the membership made an error in voting the G&T down; I disagree--there were other things about the proposal that I didn't like, aside from the margin weirdness. My question to him was, if there was a requirement within GVEA to keep the margin higher, then why didn't anybody tell me this when I asked them, or explain the seeming discrepancy by telling me where the requirement came from? He wasn't able to explain that, but then, we only discussed it briefly and in passing.
Anyway, we are going to get together and he'll tell me all about it then. I'm hoping he can explain this business here, too. Even though the whole thing was rejected by the membership, I think it's important to know what happened and why, because a lot of people I've talked to feel like the board was attempting to get one over on the membership. That's not a good thing.
Anyway, we are going to get together and he'll tell me all about it then. I'm hoping he can explain this business here, too. Even though the whole thing was rejected by the membership, I think it's important to know what happened and why, because a lot of people I've talked to feel like the board was attempting to get one over on the membership. That's not a good thing.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
GVEA Districts 5 & 6 Elections
I'm inviting all GVEA Districts 5 & 6 candidates to be blog contributors themselves. To invite them, If they don't want or aren't able to do so, they are welcome to offer comments to this posting or any other.
My invitation to all current GVEA Board directors to become blog contributors remains.
My invitation to all current GVEA Board directors to become blog contributors remains.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
News-Miner interviews of District 5 candidates
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has interviews with the candidates, too, asking them about upcoming priorities. According to the article, the priorities break down like so:
•Bartos - taking greater advantage of alternatives to petrochemical power generation: alternative fuels, using state and federal programs that encourage alternative fuelsBut read the full article.
•Berg (the incumbent) - hiring a new manager, improving communications
•Pieczynski - maintaining infrastructure (looking at renewables on the way, even if not currently cost-effective), working on easements, adding more members to the grid (through greater transparency)
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Interviews complete
Jeanne Laurencelle interviewed all six candidates for the two open seats on the GVEA board of directors at the annual meeting, and the article will appear in the May Republic. The questions she asked (on the G&T issue and how it was handled; renewable energy; and domestic partner benefits) and the answers they supplied will supplement those found at the GVEA website.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
GVEA Annual Meeting 2007 re-cap
While still in the Carlson and folks still carting away piles of hard cookies, the last GVEA meeting was less contentious and a little less of a glitzy media presentation than in recent years past. The board members even said a few words as they introduced themselves. Board chairman Bill Nordmark made it through chairing the meeting with retiring CEO Steve Haagenson.
Members referred to the upcoming rate hike to be proposed at 4.5%, but it wasn't mentioned in the annual report or by GVEA folks. I had heard much higher than that. We'll see and it members will have a chance to weigh in through the RCA when the time comes.
Twelve SNAP producers were presented checks for about between $30-$1200 (as memory serves me). About $25,000 was contributed by members.
We heard nothing about Alasconnect finances.
My agenda item was to get board members talking to and hearing from their districts' constituents more than now (just about nil). In months and years past, I've suggested blogs, web forums, opt-in emails, district meetings as in years past, newsletters. The best methods to start are the ones that 1) don't cost much 2) more importantly, will allow transparent two-way communications. Surprisingly, Bill Nordmark and Ron Bergh expressed positive opinions, as did Tom Delong and Karen Cedzo. Apparently, they may now be hearing about such things at some of the many presentations, workshops, and conferences they attend. While I've heard promises before (usually when the board member is up for election), the 4 of them constitute a majority, so if they really want to, it can happen.
Others may have additional contributions to a recap of the meeting. Feel free to comment.
Members referred to the upcoming rate hike to be proposed at 4.5%, but it wasn't mentioned in the annual report or by GVEA folks. I had heard much higher than that. We'll see and it members will have a chance to weigh in through the RCA when the time comes.
Twelve SNAP producers were presented checks for about between $30-$1200 (as memory serves me). About $25,000 was contributed by members.
We heard nothing about Alasconnect finances.
My agenda item was to get board members talking to and hearing from their districts' constituents more than now (just about nil). In months and years past, I've suggested blogs, web forums, opt-in emails, district meetings as in years past, newsletters. The best methods to start are the ones that 1) don't cost much 2) more importantly, will allow transparent two-way communications. Surprisingly, Bill Nordmark and Ron Bergh expressed positive opinions, as did Tom Delong and Karen Cedzo. Apparently, they may now be hearing about such things at some of the many presentations, workshops, and conferences they attend. While I've heard promises before (usually when the board member is up for election), the 4 of them constitute a majority, so if they really want to, it can happen.
Others may have additional contributions to a recap of the meeting. Feel free to comment.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
article forthcoming
My intrepid reporter has interviewed each of the board candidates and will be preparing an article for the next issue of the paper. I, like a numbskull, completely forgot about the annual meeting, and didn't go. Sigh.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
director interviews
I may have found a person who will interview the GVEA candidates for the May issue (comes out May 15) of the Republic. If anyone has questions they'd like asked, information they think might be worth finding out on a candidate's stance, please comment here, and I'll check back.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
director elections
Information taken from the GVEA website:
(here's the current board, for comparison.
Candidates for district 5
Candidates nominated by committee:
Ron Bergh, incumbent
David Pieczynski
Candidates nominated by petition:
Hank Bartos
Candidates for district 6
Candidates nominated by committee:
Karen Cedzo, incumbent
John Sloan
Candidates nominated by petition:
Brian Corty
It would be nice to have a little more information on these people other than their answers to GVEA's questions. The ballots will be mailed May 4, but it's not clear when they'll have to be sent back and when they'll be counted (other than the 6/07 rough date).
(here's the current board, for comparison.
Candidates for district 5
Candidates nominated by committee:
Ron Bergh, incumbent
David Pieczynski
Candidates nominated by petition:
Hank Bartos
Candidates for district 6
Candidates nominated by committee:
Karen Cedzo, incumbent
John Sloan
Candidates nominated by petition:
Brian Corty
It would be nice to have a little more information on these people other than their answers to GVEA's questions. The ballots will be mailed May 4, but it's not clear when they'll have to be sent back and when they'll be counted (other than the 6/07 rough date).
Friday, April 06, 2007
GVEA MAC member communications only One Way
Apparently, those GVEA board members who attend Membership Advisory Committee (MAC) meetings don't carry back the comments of the MAC members. At a recent MAC meeting, the MAC members were quite animated about the G&T vote (not in favor), but the board members present failed to mention this to the full board when they presented their report.
I again strongly urge the GVEA board to develop effective TWO WAY communications and offer this site as a forum, since there seems to be no official means.
I again strongly urge the GVEA board to develop effective TWO WAY communications and offer this site as a forum, since there seems to be no official means.
GVEA President to resign
GVEA announced that Steve Haagenson plans to resign as President and CEO of GVEA in November 2007.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Annual meeting coming up!
The GVEA annual membership meeting is coming up on April 24, at the Carlson Center. Here's the agenda:
•6-7:30 p.m. - Registration
•7:30 p.m. - Welcome from the Chairman of the Board
•Pledge of Allegiance & Anthems
•Secretary’s Report of Quorum
•Approval of 2005 Minutes
•Report by Chairman and President & CEO
•Financial & Project Updates
•MAC Acknowledgements
•Announcement of Districts 5 & 6 election of directors by mail ballot and introduction of candidates
•Unfinished Business
•New Business – Announce Scholarship Awards
•Member Comments
•Prize Drawings
•Adjournment
Member comments ought to be interesting...
•6-7:30 p.m. - Registration
•7:30 p.m. - Welcome from the Chairman of the Board
•Pledge of Allegiance & Anthems
•Secretary’s Report of Quorum
•Approval of 2005 Minutes
•Report by Chairman and President & CEO
•Financial & Project Updates
•MAC Acknowledgements
•Announcement of Districts 5 & 6 election of directors by mail ballot and introduction of candidates
•Unfinished Business
•New Business – Announce Scholarship Awards
•Member Comments
•Prize Drawings
•Adjournment
Member comments ought to be interesting...
Thursday, January 04, 2007
GVEA filing with RCA approved U-06-060
Just reporting that the RCA approved GVEA's filing to expand their service area, mostly in the Delta area. The RCA link is here. Listing of all the filings in this document can be found here. Note that many of the RCA documents are in a scanned .tif format. You should open these files in Microsoft Office Image Viewer. The RCA is working on making these documents in a more accessible format. In the meantime, I've taken the main submission and converted it to Adobe Acrobat for your convenience. The document includes a lot of pro-forma info on GVEA that may be of historical interest.
GVEA filing with RCA approved U-06-060
Just reporting that the RCA approved GVEA's filing to expand their service area, mostly in Delta area. The RCA link is here. Listing of all the filings in this document can be found here.
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