Board Members present: Susie Smith, Jeff Osanka, Sandra Bishop, and Dorothy Anderson. Commissioner Dyer was excused.
Others present: Garry Kunkel, Manda Bednarczyk, Tom Buckhouse, Marty Douglass, Eric Hiaasen, Jim Maloney, Jim Origliosso, Scott Spettel, and Krista Hince of the EWEB staff; and Kim Kunkel, Minutes Recorder.
President Smith called the meeting to order.
ELECTRIC INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN
Referring to a memorandum and attachments included in the meeting agenda packet, Resource Planning Analyst Jim Maloney said the purposes of the Work Session, the sixth to focus on the development of the Electric Integrated Resource Plan (IERP), were to
Referring to and reviewing the aforementioned Futures Table, Mr. Maloney explained that the table places into 9 categories the Board-suggested alternative views concerning what may happen in the future in a number of areas relevant to the IERP. He said the nine categories include:
Mr. Maloney noted that the first five categories include alternative views largely influenced by industry structure factors, while the alternative views under the remaining four categories are generally influenced by other, non-industry structure factors.
Mr. Maloney solicited feedback regarding whether the Futures Table was an accurate representation of the Board's list of alternative states that was generated during the April 7 Work Session.
President Smith expressed concern regarding the statement in the April 7 Work Session minutes that "Mr. Maloney determined there was Board consensus to shift to a 10-year planning time frame while remaining cognizant of future impacts." She said it was her understanding that the Board had agreed to a 10-year time frame with regard to shorter-term decision-making, while maintaining a longer-term planning horizon. President Smith said the minutes did not accurately reflect the Board's stated position on the matter.
Vice President Osanka said it was his recollection that the Board had consented to staff's suggestion that EWEB utilize a 10-year time line due to the variables now present in the electric industry; however, he did not recall the Board issuing support for a permanent shift to a 10-year planning time line. Noting that the minutes reflected his edits, Mr. Maloney solicited clarification regarding the Board's position on this matter.
President Smith stated that the minutes did not adequately capture that EWEB is not shifting to a 10-year planning time line, but continues to utilize a 20-year or longer planning horizon. She said that although the Board had left open-ended the precise duration of EWEB's planning horizon, it had agreed to utilize a 10-year time line in terms of taking "soundly judged actions" and effecting implementation strategies.
Resource Planning Analyst Eric Hiaasen proposed that the following language be included in the April 7 Work Session minutes: "EWEB is working on a long-term plan: 20, 30, or 40 years; however, the focus is on decisions that need to be made in the next 10 years. All impacts, be they environmental or financial, that extend beyond the 10-year time frame will be captured."
Commissioner Bishop requested that the minutes clearly reflect that the minimum time frame for EWEB's long-term planning is 20 years.
Mr. Maloney stated that he cannot conduct credible technical analyses beyond his forecasting capabilities. President Smith said she did not expect staff to analyze years 10-20 with a rigor equal to the analysis of years 1-10; however, it is crucial that EWEB acknowledge the issues that face the utility in both the near and distant future.
In response to a request for additional feedback from Mr. Maloney, the Board expressed support for the Futures Table in concept and issued the following suggestions for revision:
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.