Blog Archive

Friday, February 19, 2021

February 23, 2021, Regulary EPB Meeting

 TENTATIVE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD JANUARY 26, 2021 6:00 PM This meeting will be exclusively via teleconference, with no members physically present and with no physical access available to the public. To provide access in compliance with all applicable laws and rulings, the meeting will be televised on EPB Cable6, and on Facebook (on the Glasgow EPB page at https://www.facebook.com/glasgowepb/


  1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

   2. CONSIDER MINUTES OF JANUARY 26, 2021 REGULAR MEETING AND SPECIAL     MEETINGS

   3. CONSIDER COVID RESPONSE, BAD DEBT RESULTS

   4. CONSIDER VEHICLE REPLACEMENT BIDS

   5. CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO CABLE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE

   6. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT MARCH 1

   7. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

                       A. JANUARY METRICS AND FINANCIAL METRICS REVIEW

                       B. MARCH FCA                                                                 

                       C. CPD LEDGER

                       D. IMPACT OF WINTER STORMS - LARGE OUTAGES

      8.  OLD/NEW BUSINESS

                        A. DISCUSS FORMAT OF FUTURE EPB MEETINGS

   9.   ADJOURN



MEMORANDUM

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                               

                                                                                     

TO:                       Members of Glasgow Electric Plant Board                 

                                                                                               

FROM:                  William J. Ray, PE                 

                                                                                               

DATE:                  2/19/2021

                                                                                                                  

SUBJECT:            Board Meeting Information                                          

 

 

                                     

February Main Topics

 

Ø  EPB and COVID-19 Bad Debt Results

Ø  Review Bids on Vehicle Replacement

Ø  Appointments to Programming Committee

Ø  Appointment of Interim Superintendent

Ø  Reports


Action Items

March 1 FCA

Ø  The March 2021 TVA FCA is projected to increase to 1.536 cents per kWh.

Ø  In January, energy sales were higher than projected, while available hydro power was reduced. Coal generation was also below normal due to forced outages. Higher purchases of power from neighbors then produced this increase in fuel cost.  

Ø  On March 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this change.      

Vehicle Replacement Bids

Ø  EPB Unit #4 has reached the economic and reliability end of its life. We drafted specifications for a replacement an opened bid on February 5.

Ø  We were disappointed to only get one bid, as General Motors had apparently already ended production of 2021 units. However, the bid from Gillie Hyde Auto Group was a good one that we can recommend accepting.

Ø  At the meeting we will review the bid and the options we have from selling the old unit when the new one arrives.

 Cable Programming Committee Appointments

Ø  The three-year terms of Beverly Vance and Terrell Alexander expires at the end of January.

Ø  Both have expressed a willingness to serve another term, should you wish to appoint them.

 Appointment of Interim Superintendent

Ø  At the Special meeting on February 11, the Board reached an agreement with me for my stepping down as Superintendent on March 1, 2021.

Ø  The position of Superintendent of EPB is one which must be filled in order to satisfy Kentucky law and the Power Contract with TVA.

Ø  In order to remain in compliance with those requirements, the Board should appoint someone to fill that role, even if that appointment is only on an interim basis.

 

Reports

 

Ø  Metrics and Financial Review

Ø  March 2021 FCA

Ø  CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status

-       kW demand markup was implemented two 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  Large Outages relative to recent extreme weather

Old/New Business

Ø  Discuss Format of Future EPB Meetings

 

Conclusion

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


Friday, January 22, 2021

January 26, 2021 EPB Regular Meeting

 January 26, 2021 Regular EPB Meeting

TENTATIVE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
JANUARY 26, 2021
6:00 PM
This meeting will be exclusively via teleconference, with no members physically present and with no physical access available to the public. To provide access in compliance with all applicable laws and rulings, the meeting will be televised on EPB Cable6, and on Facebook (on the Glasgow EPB page at
https://www.facebook.com/glasgowepb/

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. CONSIDER MINUTES OF DECEMBER 22, 2020 REGULAR MEETING 3. CONSIDER COVID RESPONSE, BAD DEBT RESULTS 4. CONSIDER ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH FROST BROWN TODD
5. CONSIDER ANY MODIFCATIONS OF COURT ORDERS 6. CONSIDER REPORT ON NEW RETAIL RATE SUGGESTION 7. CONSIDER CABLE PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATIONS 8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT A. DECEMBER METRICS AND FINANCIAL METRICS REVIEW B. FEBRUARY FCA C. CPD LEDGER D. IMPACT OF CHRISTMAS DAY EXPLOSION IN NASHVILLE 9. OLD/NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSS FORMAT OF FUTURE EPB MEETINGS 10. ADJOURN

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

Every three years we have to renegotiate Retransmission Consent Agreements with the
broadcasters in Bowling Green. These “negotiations” are always contentious and there is very little negotiation. We are offered the ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox networks for an outrageous price, and it is then left up to us to take them or leave them.

  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.

 

Friday, December 18, 2020

December 22, 2020 Regular Glasgow EPB Meeting

December 22, 2020 Regular EPB Meeting
TENTATIVE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
DECEMBER 22, 2020
6:00 PM
GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD Regular Meeting, 6:00 PM
This meeting will be exclusively via teleconference, with no members physically present and with no physical access available to the public. To provide access in compliance with all applicable laws and rulings, the meeting will be televised on EPB Cable6, and on Facebook (on the Glasgow EPB page at
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
2. CONSIDER MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 24, 2020 REGULAR
MEETING
3. CONSIDER COVID RESPONSE,
RESULTS
4. CONSIDER BAD DEBT WRITE-OFFS
5. CONSIDER RESPONSE FROM TVA REGARDING FLEXIBILITY
OPTION
6. CONSIDER CHANGES TO EPB PAY PLAN
A. CONSIDER ANNUAL SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE
REVIEW
7. CONSIDER CABLE PROGRAMMING RECOMMENDATIONS
8. CONSIDER ROOF REPAIR BID OPENING
9. CABLE TELEVISION RATE ADJUSTMENT
10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
A. NOVEMBER METRICS AND FINANCIAL METRICS
REVIEW
B. JANUARY FCA
C. CPD LEDGER
D. TVA RATE CHANGE PROPOSAL
11. OLD/NEW BUSINESS
A. DISCUSS FORMAT OF FUTURE EPB MEETINGS
12. ADJOURN
TO: Members of Glasgow Electric Plant Board
FROM: William J. Ray, PE
DATE: 12/18/2020
SUBJECT: Board Meeting Information
December Main Topics
 EPB and COVID-19
 Accounts to be Written Off
 Review and Consider EPB Pay Plan for 2020
 Evaluate Superintendent’s Performance
Discussion of TVA's Response to Flexibility Agreement Inquiry
 Roof Repair Bid
 Cable Television Rate Change
 Reports
Action Items
January 1 FCA
 The January 2021 TVA FCA is
projected to increase to 1.577
cents per kWh.
 Continued abundant hydro
power capacity and reduced
energy sales due to the COVID
impact, result in record low FCA
numbers.
 On January 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this
change.
Bi-Annual Write Offs Report and Recommendation
 List of accounts proposed to be written-off is provided as an attachment.
 Superintendent will review the list of accounts with board and make a
recommendation.
Annual EPB Pay Plan Review
 Per the Board’s long-standing directions, a survey of the pay plans of peer
utilities has been conducted.
 This year, the delta between EPB Hourly pay rates and the average of the peer
group was found to be 2.0%.
 Superintendent will recommend a 2.0% adjustment to hourly position pay rates
for 2021, along with corresponding adjustments to the midpoints of the six EPB
merit pay grades.
 Nationwide CPI change over the 12 months ending in November, as reported by
Bureau of Labor Statistics, is 1.6% https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
 Superintendent will recommend budgets for hourly, merit, apprentice, and
retirement/replacements for 2021, and those recommendations will continue the
five-year trend of annual salary budgets increasing only 1.25% on average.
Performance Review of Superintendent
 A performance review of the Superintendent is customarily performed during the
December meeting
Programming Committee Recommendations
 Every three years we have to renegotiate Retransmission Consent Agreements
with the broadcasters in Bowling Green. These “negotiations” are always
contentious and there is very little negotiation. We are offered the ABC, NBC,
CBS, and Fox networks for an outrageous price, and it is then left up to us to
take them or leave them.
 As usual, the offer from WBKO is coming in at the very last minute. In fact, as
this is written, the final numbers are not even available to us.
 At the meeting I will give you the recommendations of the Programming
Committee relative to these broadcast channels. Your decision on their
recommendation will be a major part of the cable rate adjustment that is also on
the agenda for this meeting.
EPB Main Office Roof Repair
 For many years EPB has done proactive management of the flat roof on the main
office building, so as to plan for the expense and timing of the maintenance
necessary on the roofing systems.
 2021 is the planned time to perform replacement of a large segment of the
roofing system on the older part of the main office building. To that end, bid
specifications were developed and bids were solicited on December 1, 2020.
 There was only one bidder. At the meeting I will recommend that you approve
that bid and give me permission to engage Gunter Roofing to perform the roofing
system maintenance and replacement.
Needed CATV Rate Adjustment
 The usual July rate adjustment was not made in July 2020, due to the pandemic
and the economic hardships attendant thereto.
 All programmers pass along automatic January 1 rate increases, and this year
the local broadcast stations in Bowling Green are also passing along dramatic
increases.
 The proposed increase can be mitigated some because of the dramatic increase
in LAN Only accounts, for which we do not have to pay programming costs.
At the meeting a proposed rate adjustment for cable television services will be
presented and recommended to the Board, such that the growing cost of
programming will be addressed.
Reports
 Metrics and Financial Review
 January 2021 FCA
 CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status
- kW demand markup was implemented two 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.
 Retail Electric Rate Change Proposal to TVA
 TVA – EPB Flexibility Agreement Matter
Old/New Business
 Discuss Format of Future EPB Meetings
Conclusion

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

Monday, November 23, 2020

Special Called EPB Board Meetings, November 24, 2020

 Glasgow EPB Special Board Meeting/Meetings, November 24, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, and 9:00 PM

GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD
This series of Special meetings will be held exclusively via teleconference, with no members physically present and with no physical access available to the public. To provide access in compliance with all applicable laws and rulings, the meeting, or meetings, will be televised on EPB Cable6, and on Facebook (on the Glasgow EPB page at
https://www.facebook.com/glasgowepb/
These Meetings Called by DT Froedge
The agenda for all of the special meetings will be the same as the agenda published for the regular meeting, which has already been posted here.
Friday, November 20, 2020

Regular EPB Meeting, November 24, 2020

   GLASGOW ELECTRIC PLANT BOARD Regular Meeting, 6:00 PM

This meeting will be exclusively via teleconference, with no members physically present and with no physical access available to the public. To provide access in compliance with all applicable laws and rulings, the meeting will be televised on EPB Cable6, and on Facebook (on the Glasgow EPB page at

https://www.facebook.com/glasgowepb/

   1.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

   2.  CONSIDER MINUTES OF OCTOBER 27, 2020 REGULAR MEETING

   3.  CONSIDER COVID RESPONSE, RESULTS

   4.  CONSIDER FRAUD POLICY 

   5.  CONSIDER CHANGES TO EPB RULES OF PROCEDURE

   6.  CONSIDER ENGAGEMENT OF OUTSIDE ATTORNEY TO DEFEND BOARD AGAINST            LEGAL  ACTION BY SUPERINTENDENT IN BARREN CIRCUIT COURT

   7.  CONSIDER ACTION ON THE EXPIRATION OF THE TVA FLEXIBILTY AGREEMENT    DEADLINE

   8.  SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

A. OCTOBER METRICS AND FINANCIAL METRICS REVIEW

B. DECEMBER FCA

C. CPD LEDGER

D. TVA RATE CHANGE PROPOSAL

E. REPORT ON ILT PAYMENTS

   9.  OLD/NEW BUSINESS

A. DISCUSS FORMAT OF FUTURE EPB MEETINGS

B. CONSIDER PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

   10.   ADJOURN


TO:                       Members of Glasgow Electric Plant Board                 

                                                                                               

FROM:                  William J. Ray, PE                 

                                                                                               

DATE:                  11/20/2020  

                                                                                                                  

SUBJECT:            November Board Meeting Information                                           

 

 

                                     

November Main Topics

 

Ø  EPB Operations in COVID-19 Environment and Results of Resuming Non-Payment Disconnects

Ø  EPB Fraud Policy

Ø  Discuss Changes to EPB Rules of Procedure

Ø  Engage New Defense Counsel

Ø  Potential Action Relative to TVA Flexibility Agreement

Ø  Reports

Ø  Programming Committee Recommendations

 

The November meeting has a rather short agenda, but the discussions about that agenda might be lengthy.  

We all know that the present legal status of the Board is tough due to rulings and orders issued by Barren Circuit Court. However, the EPB mission is still fixed and it is imperative that all members meet to discuss these matters on the agenda. I urge you to attend, and to approve an agenda so that we can keep moving forward.

 

Action Items

December 1 FCA

Ø  The December 2020 TVA FCA will decrease to 1.483 cents per kWh. This is a sizable month-to-month decrease. In fact, this is the lowest December FCA in TVA history. COVID influenced October sales were in line with projections, and hydro generation was unusually high. Those factors allowed more load to be served with hydro power, which reduced fuel costs.    

Ø  On December 1, the energy component of our retail rates will adjust to reflect this decrease passed on by TVA.

  

COVID 19 Impact on EPB and Results of Resumption of Disconnects

Ø  Service disconnections for non-payment on essential services have now been resumed, using the guidelines you approved last month. At the meeting we will have some metrics on how that resumption has impacted our finances and those of the Community Relief Fund.

Ø  We closed the EPB lobby to the public on Wednesday, March 18, and it is still closed. While we are anxious to reopen the lobby, Barren County’s infection rates are now far higher than they were when we closed the lobby. That means it would still be risky to invite the public into the lobby. We are still in contact with GWC, FRECC, and SCRTC regarding their lobby opening decisions, but we have the smallest team, and thus the most vulnerable to a spread of the virus within our ranks. Right now, we are planning to continue our present safety policies indefinitely.  

Ø  As reported at the last meeting, City of Glasgow was lucky to receive over $1 million in CARES Act funding from the Federal Government. We have asked City of Glasgow to pass a resolution which would authorize our customers, who are in arrears on their accounts with us, to apply for a portion of that funding to help them get back to even. We trust that the City will comply with this request, but as of this writing, we still have gotten no response to our formal letter of request.

EPB Fraud Policy

Ø  Since Lanny White commented on this policy as a deficiency of EPB Internal Control during his report last month, it is on the agenda again for the Board’s consideration.

Ø  Attached to this narrative is a copy of the policy we first proposed over two years ago. Frankly, I have forgotten what problem the Board had with the policy that resulted in it not being approved, but I trust you will review it so that we can consider adopting it at the November meeting.

Ø  In 2018, after the Board declined to adopt the policy, I adapted it to use in our Human Resources policy administration, and I informed each EPB employee that this policy would be part of my administration. We also had each member of the EPB team sign the document, just to make it clear that the policy does apply to them. So, the only remaining step is for the Board to adopt the policy, which will make it also applicable to the Board.

Engagement of New Outside Counsel

Ø  This matter was added by Chairman Froedge, and I have nothing to add in the way of explanation.

TVA Flexibility Agreement Discussion

Ø  This matter was added by Chairman Froedge, and I have nothing to add in the way of explanation.

Possible Changes to EPB Rules of Procedure

Ø  Chairman Froedge has expressed his desire to alter the EPB Rules of Procedure in such a way as to make the Chairman solely responsible for setting the agenda for Board meetings.

Ø  The section of the EPB Rules of Procedure that deals with meeting agendas follows:

o   The Superintendent shall propose the AGENDA to the Board, at least five (5) days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting, and ask the members for additional AGENDA items they might want added.  After a reasonable period, the Superintendent shall publish the AGENDA, with all items proposed by the Superintendent and all Board members.  This shall become the AGENDA for the meeting, absent any action in the meeting to add or delete items. 

Ø  This section will have to be altered to put the Board Chairman in complete control of the agenda, and it is not at all clear to me how to do that. This language will be presented at the meeting so that the Board can consider specific changes to the language that will accomplish the procedure change that they desire.

 

Reports

Ø  October Metrics and Financial Review

Ø  December FCA

Ø  CPD Charge Reserve Fund Status

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

-       Updated calculations will be presented at the meeting. We are beginning a new year of this reporting, and so far, the fund is in acceptable shape due to overall accuracy of peak predictions.

Ø  Retail Rate Change Proposal Submitted to TVA – Progress

Ø  Report of 2020 In Lieu-of-Tax Payments to Local Agencies


Old/New Business

 I put the matter of deciding whether to go back to a more normal meeting format on the agenda again. We have done some research and will have a clear set of guidelines we would need to follow, should you wish to go back to a face-to-face format for our meetings. You will also need to consider ratifying recent recommendations from the Cable Television Programming Committee.

 Conclusion

 

Please let me know if you have any questions before the meeting. Prepare for another meeting experience using Zoom.