MEMORANDUM

TO:                       Members of Glasgow Electric Plant                                    

FROM:                  William J. Ray, PE                 

DATE:                  1/22/2021

SUBJECT:            Board Meeting Information                                          

 January Main Topics

• Ø  EPB and COVID-19 Bad Debt Results
• Ø  Review Engagement of Frost Brown Todd
• Report on New Electric Retail Rate Directive
• Cable Television Programming Recommendation
• ØReports

Action Items

February 1 FCA

Ø  The February 2021 TVA FCA is projected to decrease to 1.494 cents per kWh. Continued abundant hydro power capacity and reduced energy sales due to the COVID impact, resul another record low FCA number. On February 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this change.

Engagement Agreement with Frost Brown Todd

Ø  A copy of the proposed agreement is attached to this narrative. Since this agreement was not available when the Board acted to engage this firm, some members might find the terms of the agreement shocking. At the meeting, the Board can review the terms and decide whether to propose changes, ratify the agreement as it stands, or cancel it entirely.

Ø  Beyond just the agreement, we have asked the firm for some additional detail on what the invoiced costs to EPB are to date, and we also asked them for some background information on their work for other utilities. I hope that will be provided for your consideration, but I do not have it yet.

Court Orders

  This item is inserted as a place-keeper. One new order has been issued by Judge Alexander this week, and it is possible that more will follow. If there are any issues that need to be addressed by the Board in response, this item will allow same.

Report on Study of Board Recommended Retail Electric Rate Change

Ø  At the last meeting the Board issued a directive for my team to develop and report on a new retail electric rate initiative. The Board issued several criteria for the new rate concept, which set up the framework for the rate to be studied.

  The EPB team applied FY 2020 consumption records for all non-industrial customers, and produced bill impacts for all customers, using the criteria given by Board action. At the meeting, these impacts will be revealed for the Board’s consideration.

  The drastic bill impacts illustrate the conclusions reached by TVA when they considered this new rate architecture. The proposal, while certainly simple, fails on other rate goals. This rate is not cost-based, and it is discriminatory. Further, the rate passes along no variable pricing signals.

  One of the largest problems with the proposal is that widely different classes of customers are thrown into one super-tariff, which really upsets the stability of the tariff, and brings about drastic positive and negative bill impacts. My team is working hard to produce graphics that help explain this problem. We look forward to sharing this information at the meeting, and getting your orders on how to proceed.

Programming Committee Recommendations

  As usual, the offer from WBKO came in at the very last minute before the contract was set to expire on 12.31. We put together a Special Programming Committee meeting to consider the offer. Luckily it was quite similar to what we had predicted when we proposed our February 1 rate adjustment. At the meeting we will look at the final numbers and consider the Programming Committee’s recommendation.

  At the meeting, you will also be asked to consider appointments to the Programming Committee. The terms of Beverly Vance and Terrell Alexander are expiring on February 1.

Reports

Metrics and Financial Review

  February 2021 FCA

  CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status

-       kW demand markup was implemented three years ago, to cover TVA wholesale cost for missed peak predictions

-       Updated calculations will be presented at the meeting if available. The fund is in acceptable shape due to overall accuracy of peak predictions, but the problems with accuracy in 2019 and 2020 have hurt the fund.

Ø  Christmas Morning Explosion in Nashville – Impact on EPB Customers

Old/New Business

Ø Discuss Format of Future EPB Meetings

Conclusion

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