Related News
Related News
-
EWEB opens application for 2024 Electric Mobility Community Grants
Grant awards of up to $30,000 to cover costs associated with electric mobility projects.
Find Out More -
The Big Freeze 2024: After Action Report
Winter 2024 was one for the records books, and we'll look back on it for years to come and say, "That was a doozy!" The back-to-back January Ice Storms caused widespread damage to EWEB’s service territory, affecting approximately 38,000 customers. Preliminary repair costs were over $8 million, and additional repairs to transmission lines are still required.
Find Out More -
Fixing the Unseen: Water Pipeline Replacement in Unincorporated Eugene
Learn more about EWEB's methods for monitoring and replacing aged water pipelines.
Find Out More -
New tanks come online as EWEB modernizes water system
New drinking water storage tanks are one of several investments to ensure that EWEB can meet critical community needs in the event of an earthquake.
Find Out More -
Spring Cleaning? How about Spring Emergency Preparedness!
Spring is officially here and that means the plants are blooming, the sun is (sometimes) shining, and the grass is green! We've had our fair share of severe weather already, but spring weather is notoriously unpredictable. While you're in the midst of spring cleaning and garden care, consider completing these emergency preparedness tasks.
Find Out More -
EWEB General Manager Delivers 2024 State of the Utility
General Manager Frank Lawson delivered his address at the March 5 public Board of Commissioners meeting
Find Out More -
State of the McKenzie Watershed
EWEB’s Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) team says the McKenzie River continues to be an excellent source for drinking water.
Find Out More -
Nine days without power: My ice storm story as an EWEB customer and employee
While beautiful and peaceful, buying a home on the edge of the forest and surrounded by trees has its tradeoffs. Moving “upriver,” I knew there would be more threats to prepare for, including Mother Nature’s seasonal surprises.
Find Out More -
EWEB achieves power restoration milestone over the weekend
Crews have so far restored power for 92% of customers who originally lost power at the height of the ice storm.
Find Out More -
Reenergized McKenzie River Valley transmission lines allow EWEB crews to restore power upriver
On Friday, a majority of EWEB crews tackled power restoration efforts upriver, after federally managed transmission lines were reenergized Thursday.
Find Out More -
EWEB estimates one week to complete power system restoration
On Wednesday, EWEB crews restored power for about 10,000 customers by repairing large equipment first.
Find Out More -
Second round of ice and ensuing thaw prompt mass power outages
On Wednesday, all EWEB crews, who have been working nonstop since Saturday, traversed EWEB’s service territory assessing the damage and restoring transmission lines and main power feeders.
Find Out More -
Power restored at EWEB’s water treatment plant
Crews restored electric power at EWEB's Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant Monday evening, allowing operators to switch off the generators and rely again on the grid. Meanwhile, EWEB crews brace for additional outages amidst second round of ice and during the coming thaw.
Find Out More -
EWEB crews making downed lines safe and restoring power across Eugene and the foothills
As EWEB works to restore electric service to customers affected by the ice storm, the customer-owned utility is following established policies and its “hierarchy of repair” to prioritize repairs that restore electric service to the greatest number of customers.
Find Out More -
Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan
Plan details next steps through regulatory processes to begin dismantling Leaburg Dam by 2032.
Find Out More - Show More
April 4 Board Meeting Report
April 18, 2023 • Rachael McDonald, EWEB Communications
PUBLIC INPUT
Public participation is a hallmark of community-owned utilities. We value your comments and provide time at each Board meeting for you to address your elected Commissioners. At the April 4, 2023 Board meeting, one customer provided comments about EWEB’s water storage improvement project near E. 40th Ave. A second customer commented on EWEB's Integrated Resource Plan.
TOPICS & DECISIONS:
2022 Audit Results of EWEB Financial statement
EWEB’s independent auditors, Moss Adams, reviewed their findings for the 2022 financial statement. The result was no findings of any concern.
City of Eugene Liaison agenda
The Board discussed topics it might want to collaborate on with the city of Eugene. Ideas included improving access to electric vehicle chargers in the city.
Prefunding / Funding options for Leaburg Hydroelectric project
EWEB staff sought Board guidance as the utility plans to fund decommissioning of the Leaburg Dam and Hydroelectric Project. The goal is to balance affordability and costs and maintain flexibility for the future. The total cost is estimated at $225 million over 10 years. But if EWEB needs to take on debt, that cost will be higher because of interest payments. Commissioners agreed they want to seek ways to prefund the project to avoid some debt and minimize costs for EWEB customers. Staff said it will bring a funding recommendation back to the Board, along with an explanation of the process.
2022 State of the Watershed Report:
EWEB staff presented the 2022 State of the Watershed report to the Board. Water quality in the McKenzie River remains excellent. Among the highlights of the report were the launch of EWEB’s septic grant program for McKenzie Valley landowners impacted by the Holiday Farm Fire, continued monitoring of the McKenzie and continued restoration work to protect the watershed. In 2022, EWEB and partners conducted a spill drill on the Willamette River.
General Manager’s Annual Performance Evaluation and Merit Discussion
The Board agreed with the recommended 2.8% merit raise for General Manager Frank Lawson. He will have the option to take it as a lump sum or as vacation time. Board members pointed to Lawson’s major successes over the last year, including the decision to decommission the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project and the sale of the former headquarters building to the City of Eugene.
NOTABLE QUOTES:
General Manager Frank Lawson, on prefunding the Leaburg project: “We talk a lot in this room about resiliency. Financial resiliency is also important. There could be a number of things that happen here. Costs could go up. The schedule could change. One of the big considerations is which of these options provide the best financial resiliency for whatever Board is making these decisions in the 2030s.”
Commissioner John Barofsky on prefunding the Leaburg project: “This is a bill we have to pay. We know we have to pay it. Do we put it on our credit card or do we take a little money out of our paycheck each week? Biting the bullet early is the best way.”
Commissioner Matt McRae on the State of the Watershed report: “We have the best water in the world, and I am so grateful for it. And (I’m) grateful for the work this utility does to protect our water quality and the watershed.”
Chief Operating Officer Karen Kelley summing up the State of the Watershed report: “This is unusual to invest in our source, in this way, for a utility. You can see, year over year, we’re keeping an eye on this, we’re responding appropriately, we’re preventing things, all for the health of our customers. One of the main reasons we need a second (drinking water) source is to deal with outfalls that we have no control over. Because we do not own this watershed and we rely on our partnerships to make sure our water is safe.”
General Manager Lawson during his performance evaluation: “I’m incredibly blessed to work in this organization with the people that I do. That includes the Board and staff. This is a really classy organization. Your leadership is a part of that. I really appreciate the efforts and relationships we have here. There’s a lot more work to come. We’ve got an endless supply of challenges and opportunities and I look forward to working with you.”
NEXT BOARD MEETING
The next EWEB Board of Commissioners meeting is May 2, 2023. You can find agendas, information on how to submit public comment and watch previous board meetings at eweb.org/board