Blog Archive

Friday, December 14, 2018

December 18, 2018 EPB Meeting



TENTATIVE AGENDA
GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
DECEMBER 18, 2018, 6:00 PM



1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING


2. ANALYTICS REPORT FOR MONTH OF NOVEMBER


3. REPORT ON JANUARY 2019 FCA


4. CONSIDER BI-ANNUAL WRITE OFFS


5. CONSIDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT WITH ELSTER


6. PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS


7. CONSIDER 2019 EPB SALARY PLAN


8. CONDUCT EVALUATION OF SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE


9. NEW / OLD BUSINESS / REPORTS

A. CPD CHARGE STATUS                           

B.  EPB TEAM MASTER PLAN CHANGES

C.  END OF YEAR INTERNET SPEED UPGRADE


10. ADJOURN


MEMORANDUM
                                                                                                                  
                                                                                               
                                                                                     
TO:                       Members of Glasgow Electric Plant Board                 
                                                                                               
FROM:                  William J. Ray, PE                 
                                                                                               
DATE:                  12/14/2018  
                                                                                                                  
SUBJECT:            Board Meeting Information                                          


                                     
December Main Topics

Ø  Accurate peak prediction for November issued using four predicted days
Ø  Reorganization of team, due to retirements and illness, will continue through 2019
Ø  Discuss appointments to Cable Television Programming Committee
Ø  Review and consider EPB Pay Plan for 2019
Ø  Evaluate Superintendent’s Performance
Ø  EPB Internet Speed Upgrade



Action Items
January 1 FCA
Ø  The January 2019 TVA FCA is projected to decrease to 1.849 cents per kWh. Since the meeting is a week early, final TVA figures on the FCA are not yet available.
Ø  On January 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this anticipated decrease to the wholesale cost of energy.
        
Bi-Annual Write Offs Report and Recommendation
Ø  List of accounts proposed to be written-off is provided as an attachment.
Ø  Superintendent will review the list of accounts with board and make a recommendation.

Software/Hardware Support Agreement with Elster/Honeywell
Ø  Another example of our fixed costs increasing comes from the vendor for our metering technology, Elster, which was acquired by Honeywell.
Ø  Annual support was previously about $17,000 per year. Since the acquisition by Honeywell, the new cost proposed is over $22,500 per year, which requires Board action.

Cable Television Programming Committee Appointments
Ø  The Programming Committee acts independently of EPB to consider what programming is appropriate for the EPB Cable Television system. The committee makes these determinations and recommends same to the EPB.
Ø  The committee was purposely created to isolate EPB from any potential violation relative to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Ø  The committee consists of six members, with staggered terms, in addition to the Superintendent, who acts as Chairperson and liaison between the committee and EPB.
Ø  The terms of Mary Genice Burchett-Bower and Karl Napier expire at the end of this year. Ms. Burchett-Bower has served two terms and Mr. Napier has served one term.
Ø  Action on this item is not essential this month, but should be done in January, 2019.  

Annual EPB Pay Plan Review
Ø  This year, the delta between EPB Hourly pay rates and the average of the peer group was found to be 4.6%.
Ø  Superintendent will recommend a 4.1% adjustment to hourly position pay rates for 2019, along with corresponding adjustments to the midpoints of the six EPB merit pay grades.
Ø  Nationwide CPI change over the 12 months ending in October, as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics, is 2.5%.
Ø  Superintendent will recommend budgets for hourly, merit, apprentice, and retirement/replacements for 2019.


Performance Review of Superintendent
Ø  A performance review of the Superintendent is customarily performed during the December meeting.


Reports

Ø  CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status
-       kW demand markup was implemented last year to cover TVA wholesale cost for missed peak predictions
-       Updated calculations will be presented at the meeting if available. The fund is in excellent shape due to recent accuracy of peak predictions, but the reporting format is being overhauled.

Ø  EPB Team Staffing Master Plan
-       Report on progress of long-term staffing plan
-       Updated chart on Master Plan will be presented

Ø  End of Year Internet Upgrade Plans
-       EPB has historically recognized the value of its internet access products and the customers who use the product, by performing the necessary work to upgrade speed offerings each year.
-       The authorization by the board has allowed us to procure the necessary hardware and software upgrades to upgrade speeds again this year, and those upgrades have been successfully installed, with little interruption to customer services.
-       Our team is completing the testing of speeds in recently upgraded neighborhoods, where growth of customers had outpaced our predictions. As soon as this testing is completed, an announcement will be made on the precise speed upgrades to be implemented.  


Conclusion

Please let me know if you have any questions before the meeting.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for December's peak electric demand to occur on Tuesday, December 11th between 7am - 1pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. You will be billed for your contribution to the peak hour which falls within one of our predicted periods only. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for December's peak electric demand to occur on Wednesday, December 5th between 7am - 1pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. You will be billed for your contribution to the peak hour which falls within one of our predicted periods only. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for November's peak electric demand to occur on Wednesday, November 28th between 7am - 1pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. You will be billed for your contribution to the peak hour which falls within one of our predicted periods only. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Monday, November 26, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for November's peak electric demand to occur on Tuesday, November 27th between 7am - 1pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. You will be billed for your contribution to the peak hour which falls within one of our predicted periods only. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018

November 27, 2018 EPB Meeting


TENTATIVE AGENDA
GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
NOVEMBER 27, 2018
                       

                       
1.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

2.         ANALYTICS REPORT FOR MONTH OF OCTOBER
                                                                                                                       
3.         REPORT ON DECEMBER 2018 FCA

4.         CONSIDER CHECK SIGNERS AUTHORIZATION

5.         CONSIDER FINAL RETAIL RATE TARIFFS

6.         CHOOSE DATE FOR DECEMBER MEETING

7.         NEW / OLD BUSINESS / REPORTS
                                                                                               
            A. CPD CHARGE STATUS                           

            B.  EPB TEAM MASTER PLAN CHANGES

            C.  END OF YEAR INTERNET SPEED UPGRADE

            D. LARGE OUTAGE REPORT  
           


8.         ADJOURN

MEMORANDUM
                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                           
TO:                       Members of Glasgow Electric Plant Board                                                                                              
FROM:                  William J. Ray, PE                                                                                                         
DATE:                  11/21/2018                                                                                                                     
SUBJECT:            Board Meeting Information

November Main Topics

  • Accurate peak prediction for October issued using four predicted days
  • Reorganization of team, due to retirements and illness, will continue through 2019
  • Review and revision of retail rates, based upon agreement with Advisory Council and EPB action in September, approved by TVA


Action Items

November 1 FCA
  • The December 2018 TVA FCA is going to increase to 1.944 cents per kWh.
  • On December 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this increase to the wholesale cost of energy.
        
Report to City Council on FY 2018
  • Superintendent will deliver his annual report to City Council at a regular meeting on November 26, 2018.
  • The report will cover activities of EPB during the last year, as well as an overview of the annual audit and a report on the retail rate changes to be implemented on January 1, 2019.
  • Lanny White with CRI will be in attendance at the meeting, in case specific questions relative to CRI’s audit of EPB arise.

Check Signing Authorizations
  • Retirements have created the need for an updated list of EPB employees, who are authorized by the Board to sign checks.
  • Some local banks require certified excerpts of the minutes before authorized signatures can be updated.
  • Auditors have specifically recommended that accounting personnel who generate checks should not be authorized to sign them. 

Rate Design Discussion for FY 2019


Reports

  • CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status
  • kW demand markup was implemented last year to cover TVA wholesale cost for missed peak predictions
  • Updated calculations will be presented at the meeting

  • EPB Team Staffing Master Plan
  • Report on progress of long-term staffing plan
  • Updated chart on Master Plan will be presented

  • End of Year Internet Upgrade Plans
-       EPB has historically recognized the value of its internet access products and the customers who use the product, by performing the necessary work to upgrade speed offerings each year.
-       The authorization by the board has allowed us to procure the necessary hardware and software upgrades to upgrade speeds again this year. Our team is awaiting the installation of the new gear. After installation, testing will be done to determine what speed upgrades will be possible.

  • Large Outage Report
-        On November 20, at 8:30 am, one of our crews was attempting to make repairs to a pole and down-guy damaged by a hit and run driver, several days earlier. The crew had, thankfully, donned rubber gloves and asked our dispatch center to place the circuit in non-reclose.
-         Immediately upon beginning the work, unforeseen damage to an insulator caused the circuit to arc to ground, which, in turn, tripped the circuit and the back-up breaker feeding all circuits at Industrial Drive Substation, affecting about 2,000 customers. Most of the customers were restored to normal in 20 minutes. About 620 customers were off another 35 minutes as the original problem was repaired.
-         We were very lucky to make it through this event without any injuries to our team.


 
Conclusion

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for November's peak electric demand to occur on Wednesday, November 21st between 7am - 1pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. You will be billed for your contribution to the peak hour which falls within one of our predicted periods only. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for November's peak electric demand to occur on Wednesday, November 14th between 7am & 1pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. A peak demand hour can occur during any of the maximum of 24 hours of each month during one of our predicted peaks. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Friday, October 19, 2018

October 23, 2018 EPB Meeting

TENTATIVE AGENDA
GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
OCTOBER 23, 2018, 6:00 pm
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
2. ANALYTICS REPORT FOR MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
3. REPORT ON NOVEMBER 2018 FCA
4. CONSIDER AUDIT REPORT
5. CONSIDER CHANGES TO DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
6. REPORT ON TVA DELIBERATIONS ON PROPOSED RETAIL RATE CHANGES
7. NEW / OLD BUSINESS / REPORTS
A. CPD CHARGE STATUS
B. EPB TEAM MASTER PLAN CHANGES
C. TVA REGULATORY REVIEW OF EPB
D. IN LIEU OF TAX PAYMENTS
E. LARGE OUTAGE REPORTS
8. ADJOURN
MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of Glasgow Electric Plant Board
FROM: William J. Ray, PE
DATE: 10/18/2018
SUBJECT: Board Meeting Information
October Main Topics
Ø Accurate peak prediction for September issued using only three days
Ø Reorganization of team, due to retirements and illness, will continue through 2019
Ø Review and revision of retail rates, based upon agreement with Advisory Council and EPB action in September, being considered by TVA
Action Items
📷
November 1 FCA
Ø The November 2018 TVA FCA is going to increase to 1.920 cents per kWh.
Ø On November 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this increase to the wholesale cost of energy.
Audit Report on FY 2018
Ø Lanny White, from Carr, Riggs & Ingram, will deliver the annual report on findings by the team of auditors who examined all EPB finances and methods of operating the business.
Ø Copies of the report will be shared with the City of Glasgow, and I will appear before City Council on November 12 to discuss the audit and other 2018 activities of Glasgow EPB.
Deferred Compensation Plan Updates
Ø EPB adopted the original 457 – Deferred Compensation Plan in 1987 and the plan has not been materially updated since then.
Ø The plan allows employees who choose to participate, to defer wages into the plan without paying taxes on that amount, until such time as withdrawals are made from the account.
Ø The plan is fully funded by the employees who choose to participate. EPB has never made matching contributions to the 457 plan.
Ø Antiquated terms regarding investments, and the need for a clear way for succession of the Administrator and Trustee, makes up the bulk of the recommended changes to the plan.
Ø Copies of the proposed amendments are provided.
Rate Design Discussion for FY 2019
Ø Per Advisory Council’s agreement, and as a result of board directions, the rate plan approved by you last month has been submitted to TVA for their regulatory review of all six rate tariffs.
Ø TVA is evaluating our request, and tracking our financials since 2011, when we last had a retail rate increase.
Ø TVA hopes to give us an answer by early November, such that I can report to City Council at their meeting on November 12. Should they not meet this goal, our rate change will have to be delayed until January 1, 2019.
Reports
Ø CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status
- kW demand markup was implemented last year to cover TVA wholesale cost for missed peak predictions
- $107,122 was collected from October 2017 through September 2018
- $76,777 has been used for missed peaks during the last year, leaving a balance to carry forward into year two of $30,345, which will carry until end of term
Ø EPB Team Staffing Master Plan
- Report on progress of long-term staffing plan
- Recommendations from Reed Public Relations will be available for review
- Updated chart on Master Plan will be presented
Ø TVA Regulatory Review of EPB
- TVA performs regular audits of each Local Power Company (LPC) to determine compliance with terms of the TVA Act and the power contract between each LPC and TVA. Glasgow’s audit was performed earlier this year
- The results of the audit report are attached. You will note that it is a 100% clean audit. The TVA field auditors found Glasgow EPB in complete compliance with the Act and with the power contract.
Ø Glasgow EPB In Lieu of Tax Payments to Local Government Agencies
- Although Glasgow EPB is a non-profit municipal corporation, it also makes payments in lieu of taxes to City of Glasgow, Barren Fiscal Court, Barren County Schools, Glasgow Independent Schools, Mary Wood Weldon Library, and now, the Ambulance Service
- Over the last five years, while our competitors got a free pass from making these payments, Glasgow EPB has paid these agencies over $1.8 million
- This year alone, Glasgow EPB is writing $390,000 in checks to local governments and schools
- There is a difference between Glasgow EPB and other area utilities!
Ø Large Outage Report
- We had an outage on the afternoon of October 15 that affected 550 customers fed from our Dana Substation. This was caused by a tree falling. The duration was about 30 minutes.
- We had another outage on October 17, initially affecting LSC Communications (formerly RR Donnelley) at 7:10 am. This outage was complicated to correct because it involved a fire within the switchgear owned by LSC. At one point, the outage grew to over 4,000 customers as different segments of our transmission lines were impacted. All customers were returned to service by 9:15 am, and the larger outage time was only 10 minutes. This event will be explained in detail at the meeting.
Conclusion
Please let me know if you have any questions before the meeting.
Sunday, October 7, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for October's peak electric demand to occur on Monday, October 8th between 12pm & 6pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. A peak demand hour can occur during any of the maximum of 24 hours of each month during one of our predicted peaks. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.
Thursday, October 4, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for October's peak electric demand to occur on Friday, October 5th between 12pm & 6pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. A peak demand hour can occur during any of the maximum of 24 hours of each month during one of our predicted peaks. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341
Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Coincident Peak Notice

E.P.B. Electric Customers on the Variable Price Rate- We predict the POSSIBILITY for October's peak electric demand to occur on Thursday, October 4th between 12pm & 6pm. This is only a prediction based upon our best guess as to what the combination of all customers in Glasgow will demand from T.V.A. A peak demand hour can occur during any of the maximum of 24 hours of each month during one of our predicted peaks. This is our forecast which is provided as a convenience for E.P.B. customers who wish to receive forecasts. If you want to move to a fixed energy rate without coincident peak demand charges, please contact us at 270-651-8341.