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04-30-2014 HUCM MINUTES Regular Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission Wednesday, April 30, 2014 Call to order— 3:00 p.m. President Hanson called the meeting to order. Members present: President Anthony Hanson; Vice President Monty Morrow; Commissioner Dwight Bordson; Commissioner Donna Luhring; Attorney Marc Sebora; Interim General Manager John Webster. Members Absent: Secretary Mark Girard 1. Approve Minutes of: a. March 26, 2014 Regular Meeting b. April 7, 2014 Special Meeting c. April 11, 2014 Special Meeting The minutes of the March 26, 2014 regular meeting, April 7, 2014 and April 11, 2014 special meetings were reviewed. A motion was made by Commissioner Luhring, seconded by Commissioner Bordson to approve the minutes. Motion was unanimously carried. 2. Ratify Payment of Bills for March 2014 The March 2014 payables were discussed. After discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Bordson, seconded by Vice President Morrow to ratify the payment of bills in the amount of $4,387,507.16 (detailed listing in payables book). Motion was unanimously carried. 3. Approve Financial Statements/Budget Year to Date Jared Martig presented the March 2014 financial statements/budget year-to-date. After discussion, a motion was made by Vice President Morrow, seconded by Commissioner Bordson to approve the financial statements/budget year-to-date. Motion was unanimously carried. 4. Consideration of General Manager Employment Agreement President Hanson reported Commissioner Bordson has been negotiating the employment agreement for HUC's new general manager. Commissioner Bordson discussed some of the areas included on the latest copy of the agreement were the salary within the targeted range, intellectual property and non-compete verbiage, transition of vacation hours, and a 12-month probationary period. Commissioner Bordson expressed thanks to City of Hutchinson Human Resource Director, Brenda Ewing and Attorney Sebora for assisting in the negotiating process. After discussion, the Board decided to schedule a special meeting to discuss further negotiations. 1 5. Review Policies and Requirements Booklet Interim GM Webster presented the policies and requirements booklet, sections: • Natural Gas Service Requirements and Charges • Temporary Service • Locating Customer's Underground Utilities There were no recommended changes to the policies and requirements booklet. 6. Approve Changes to Exempt and Non-Exempt Handbooks Jan Sifferath presented changes to the exempt and non-exempt handbooks, sections: • Training and Education Assistance • Workplace Accommodation Changes to the Training and Education Assistance section were for clean-up purposes. There were no recommended changes to the Workplace Accommodation section. After discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Luhring, seconded by Vice President Morrow to approve the changes to the exempt and non-exempt handbooks. Motion was unanimously carried. (Changes attached.) 7. Approve Parallel Generation Policy — Greater than 40 kW Interim GM Webster presented changes to the Parallel Generation Policy — Greater than 40 kW. Changes were made by Attorney Sebora regarding insurance and the rest of the changes were to provide clarity. After discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Bordson, seconded by Commissioner Luhring to approve the Parallel Generation Policy — Greater than 40 kW. (Policy attached.) 8. Approve Requisition #5830 for 13.8kV Circuit Breaker Replacement Dan Lang presented requisition #5830 for 13.8kV circuit breaker replacement, explaining this was a continuation of a plan put in place to replace two breakers per year for a total of 12 breakers in all. After this replacement, a total of seven will be replaced to date. After discussion, a motion was made by Vice President Morrow, seconded by Commissioner Luhring to approve requisition #5830 for 13.8kV circuit breaker replacement for $43,119.06 from Utilities Plus Energy Services. Motion was unanimously carried. (Requisition attached.) 9. Approve Requisition #5842 for Hutchinson Substation Transformer Repair Dave Hunstad presented requisition #5842 for Hutchinson substation transformer repair. After discussion, a motion was made by Vice President Morrow, seconded by Commissioner Bordson to approve requisition #5842 for Hutchinson substation transformer repair for $38,250.00 from Waukesha. Motion was unanimously carried. (Requisition attached.) 2 10. Discuss Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Award Dave Hunstad presented the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Award and explained HUC's scoring summary. President Hanson congratulated HUC staff and commented receiving this award is outstanding and HUC should be proud. (Award Letter attached.) 11. Discuss Electric Industrial Rate Changes President Hanson explained this is to follow up on discussions held at the April 11 workshop regarding electric industrial rates. Commissioner Bordson abstained from discussion due to conflict of interest. Discussion held regarding the next steps needed to bring a rate change recommendation to the City Council. Vice President Morrow mentioned to keep in mind the timeframe as HUC's 2015 budgeting time nears. The Board decided a workshop will be scheduled in the next 30 days to include City Council, Hutchinson Utilities Commissioners and staff members. Attorney Sebora mentioned per the City Charter, if the Commission is requesting a change in rates, the request needs to be presented to City Council for their review and approval. City Council has 30 days to make their decision after presented with a formal letter or resolution requesting the rate change. 12. Updates: a. Compensation Subcommittee (Commissioner Luhring & Secretary Girard) Commissioner Luhring received a list of companies for a compensation study and is in the process of contacting them for information. Commissioner Luhring will report back at the May regular commission meeting recommending one or two companies for the study. b. Joint Meeting Date with City (Commissioner Bordson) Commissioner Bordson reported a date will be set in late May, September or October. 13. Communication from the City Administrator City Administrator Carter was absent. 14. Division Reports Business — Jan Sifferath • Sent the benchmarked sick leave accrual to Commissioner Bordson. • Discussed a need to develop a policy for consistency in recognizing retiring HUC employees. Jan will to research ideas and report to Board. Electric — Dave Hunstad • During this construction season, the goal is to do better in communicating to customers where HUC will be working. Electric — Dan Lang • Next week, will resume commissioning of unit 1 controls project. 3 Electric — Randy Blake • New mechanic started this Monday. • Combustion inspection on unit 8 turbine earlier this spring. Reliable Turbine Services are repairing items needing to be addressed. • Working with Wartsila on some warranty issues on unit 5. • Center tower gear box is being moved to Plant 1. Finance — Jared Martig • Requested feedback on the 5-year plan he presented at the workshop. Natural Gas — John Webster Nothing to report 15. Legal Update Nothing to report. Unfinished Business • Discuss Separate Business Unit for Wholesale Business o Jared Martig working on separating out the generation from the rest of the electrical. New Business None There being no further business, a motion was made by Commissioner Luhring, seconded by Vice President Morrow to adjourn the meeting at 4:05 p.m. Motion was unanimously carried. Mar Girard, Secretary ATTEST: V/W Y'V Anthony Ha son, Pr sident 4 EXEMPT Training and Education Assistance The Commission HUC encourages its employees to seek individual and career development through job-related training and education. The Commission HUC provides financial assistance for successful completion of qualifying programs and courses. Tuition, registration fees and other course-related fees would be reimbursed after successful completion of a course. To apply for education assistance, employees must submit a request to their Director, Manager, or Supervisor no later than five working days prior to registration. The Director, Manager or Supervisor and the General Manager must approve the course, seminar, or program. Only courses that are job-related and provide potential for career advancement with HUC are eligible for reimbursement. The following criteria must be met: • The maximum amount of reimbursement will be $6,000 per calendar year. If coursework or tuition exceeds this amount, then the Director or General Manager will approach the Commission to request a waiver. To request a waiver, the coursework must be directly related to the employee's position within the company, or if the degree the employee is seeking is beneficial to the company; in other words, it would be difficult to hire someone who already has that degree. • Reimbursement is contingent on receiving a "pass" or minimum grade of"C". • Employee must study on their own time. Use of HUC computers is allowed in accordance with the IT policy. • An employee must remain employed at HUC for twenty-four (24) calendar months after completion of a course, or must repay HUC all reimbursements received for the course. NON-EXEMPT Training and Education Assistance The Commission HUC encourages its employees to seek individual and career development through job-related training and education. The Commission HUC provides financial assistance for successful completion of qualifying programs and courses. Tuition, registration fees and other course-related fees would be reimbursed after successful completion of a course. To apply for education assistance, employees must submit a request to their Director, Manager, or Supervisor no later than five working days prior to registration. The Director, Manager or Supervisor and the General Manager must approve the course, seminar, or program. Only courses that are job-related and provide potential for career advancement with HUC are eligible for reimbursement. The following criteria must be met: • The maximum amount of reimbursement will be $6,000 per calendar year. If coursework or tuition exceeds this amount, then the Director or General Manager will approach the Commission to request a waiver. To request a waiver, the coursework must be directly related to the employee's position within the company, or if the degree the employee is seeking is beneficial to the company; in other words, it would be difficult to hire someone who already has that degree. • Reimbursement is contingent on receiving a "pass" or minimum grade of"C". • Employee must study on their own time. Use of HUC computers is allowed in accordance with the IT policy. • An employee must remain employed at HUC for twenty-four (24) calendar months after completion of a course, or must repay HUC all reimbursements received for the course. Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) — Net Energy Billing 1. Effective In All territories served by Hutchinson Utilities Commission (HUC). 2. Availability Available few to single-phase and three-phase customers where a part or all of the electrical requirements of the customer are supplied by the customer's generating facilities, where such facilities have a total generating capability of greater than 40 kW and less than or equal to 100 KW, where such facilities are connected in parallel with the utility. Customers not desiring to sell energy under The energy rate indicated below is the minimum for electrical energy. Customers with generating facilities greater than 100 kW can negotiate a buy back rate. Should HUC be unwilling to pay the minimum rate for electrical energy, the HUC shall agree to transport such electrical energy to another utility that will is willing to pay a different rate. The utility HUC shall recover actual costs of such transportation from the generating customer. The budget payment plan will not be available to customers with parallel generation 3. Rate Customers shall receive monthly payments for all electricity delivered to the-utility HUC and shall be billed invoiced by the utility HUC for metering and associated billing expenses specified in the latest rates of the wholesale supplier unless the latest rates of the wholesale supplier do not properly reflect avoided costs. In such event, the Commission, upon request, may determine appropriate rates. utgty HUC shall have on file a copy of the latest customer-owned generation system rates for its wholesale supplier. 4. Minimum Charge The monthly minimum charge paid by the customer shall be the customer charge. 5. Power Factor The customer shall operate on a net power factor of not less than 94 percent. A power factor penalty will apply if the power factor drops below 94 percent. 1 Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) - Net Energy Billing 6. Negotiated Rates back rate. Customers with generation systems greater than 40 kW 100 kW have the right to negotiate a buy-back rate. The buy-back rate cannot may not be greater than the full, avoided cost. The following are the required procedure procedural guidelines: a. The-utility HUC must respond to the customer-owned generating system within 30 days of the initial written receipt of the customer-owned generating system proposal and within 30 days of receipt of a subsequent customer-owned generating system proposal, b. The y's HUC's rejection of the customer-owned generating system proposal must be accompanied by a counter-offer relating to the specific subject matter of the customer-owned generating system proposal, and c. If the-utility HUC is unable to respond to the customer-owned generating system proposal within 30 days it shall inform the customer-owned generating system of: 1) Specific information needed required to evaluate the customer- owned generating system proposal. 2) The precise difficulty encountered in evaluating the customer- owned generating system proposal. 3) The estimated date that it HUC will respond to the customer-owned generating system proposal. d. The Commission may become involved in the utility negotiations upon showing by either utility HUC or the customer-owned generating system that a reasonable conclusion cannot be reached under the above guidelines. The Commission may provide a waiver to the guidelines and order new negotiation requirements se such that a reasonable conclusion san may be reached. e. A copy of all negotiated buy-back rates shall be given provided to the Commission. These rates shall not be effective in effect until; approved by the Commission. 2 Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) — Net Energy Billing 7. Charges for Energy Supplied by the HUC Energy supplied by the utility HUC to the customer shall be billed invoiced in accordance with the standard applicable rate schedules of the utility. 8. Maintenance Rate A customer-owned generation facility may be billed lower demand charges for energy purchased during scheduled maintenance provided written approval is obtained in advance from the utility HUC. Demand charges other than "Distribution Demand" shall be prorated if in the event maintenance is scheduled such that the utility HUC does not incur additional capacity costs. Said probation proration shall be demand charge times the number of authorized days of scheduled maintenance divided by the number of days in the billing period. 9. Contract Required A contract is required between the utility HUC and the customer-owned generation facility. The contract shall specify safety, system protection, and power quality rules that generators must comply with. Contracts with customer owned generation facilities selling energy under the standard (non negotiated) rate have no specific term or length. Contracts with customer-owned generation facilities selling energy under a negotiated rate shall contain performance requirements and be of sufficient length to ensure the- ti-lity HUC avoids the costs for which the customer-owned generation facility has been paid. 6. ( Customer Obligation a. Metering Facilities The customer shall furnish, install and wire the necessary service entrance equipment, meter sockets, meter enclosure cabinets, or meter connection cabinets that may be required by HUC to properly meter usage and sales to HUC b. Interconnection Costs The owner of the generating facility shall be required to pay all interconnection costs, incurred by HUC. The owner shall pay said costs prior to the final service connection to the Utility's electrical system 3 Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) — Net Energy Billing c. Insurance Hold Harmless and Government Approval The customer shall keep in force a policy of liability insurance, of at least $1 million, against personal or property damage to the utility's Hutchinson Utilities Commission's system, equipment and personnel arising from the installation, interconnection, and operation of the customer's generating facility. The customer shall provide proof of insurance to HUC on an annual basis with said policy specifically naming HUC as an insured. The customer shall indemnify and hold HUC harmless from all claims of damage whatsoever. The customer is responsible for obtaining all governmental permits and approvals. d. Interconnection and Operational (Safety and Power Quality) Requirements Electric Service to a customer-owned electric generation installation may be disconnected for failure to comply with the following requirements. 1) Interconnection of a generating facility with the HUC system shall not be permitted until application has been made to and approval received from HUC. The Utility may withhold approval only for good reason such as failure to comply with applicable HUC or governmental rules or laws. HUC shall require a contract specifying reasonable technical connection and operating aspects for the parallel generating facility. 2) HUC may require that for each generating facility there is provided, between the generator/s and the utility system, a lockable load- break disconnect switch. For installations interconnected at greater than 600 volts, a fused cutout switch may be substituted, where practicable. The switches shall be accessible to HUC for the purpose of isolating the parallel generating facility from the HUC system when necessary. 3) HUC shall require a separate distribution transformer, where necessary, for a customer having a generating facility for reasons of public and employee safety or where the potential exists for the generating facility causing problems with the service of other customers. 4 Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) — Net Energy Billing 4) HUC shall require that each generating facility have a system for automatically isolating the generator from HUC's system upon loss of the HUC supply, unless HUC desires that the local generation be continued to supply isolated load. 5) HUC shall require that the customer discontinue parallel generation operations when it so requests and HUC may isolate the generating installation from its system at times. During such times, HUC shall not be liable for revenue lost by the customer. Parallel generation may be disconnected: a) When considered necessary to facilitate maintenance or repair of HUC's facilities. b) When considered necessary during system emergencies. c) When considered necessary during such times as the generating facility is operating in a hazardous manner, or is operating such that it adversely affects service to other customers or to nearby communication systems or circuits. 6) The owner of the generating facility shall be required to make the equipment available and permit entry upon the property by electric and communication utility personnel at reasonable times for the purpose of testing isolation and protective equipment, evaluating the quality of power delivered to HUC's system and testing to determine whether the local generating facility is the source of any electric service or communication systems problems. 7) The power output of the generating facility shall be maintained such that the frequency and voltage are compatible with normal HUC service and do not cause that HUC service to fall outside the prescribed limits of Commission rules and other standard limitations. 8) The generating facility shall be operated so that variations from acceptable voltage levels and other service impairing disturbances do not result in adverse effects on the service or equipment of other customers, and in a manner that does not produce undesirable levels of harmonics in the HUC power supply. The customer agrees to disconnect the generating facility from HUC's distribution system or reimburse HUC for the cost of necessary system modifications if operation of the generating facility causes radio, television, internet, 5 Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) — Net Energy Billing or electrical service interference to other customers, or interference with the operation of HUC's electrical system. 9) The owner of the generating facility shall be responsible for providing protection for the owner's equipment and for adhering to all applicable national, state and local codes. 10) Customer agrees to locate the generating facility so as to not interfere with HUC's distribution system. Customer agrees that the installation shall be in compliance with all applicable electric codes and the generating facility shall be operated only after the installation has been inspected and approved by appropriate authorities. Customer agrees to obtain all required permits, abide by all building and zoning requirements and applicable inspections. 11) The customer agrees to reimburse HUC for any addition, modification, or replacement of distribution components made necessary by the customer's installation. 12) Customer agrees to effectively install grounding and provide surge arrestor protection to prevent lightning damage to HUC's distribution system. 7.11. Utility Obligation a. Metering Facilities HUC shall own and install an appropriate meter in order to record all flows of energy necessary to bill in accordance with the charges and credits of the rate schedule. b. Notice to Communication Firms HUC shall notify telephone utility and cable television firms in the area when it knows that a customer-owned generating facility is to be interconnected with its system. This notification shall be as early as practicable to permit coordinated analysis and testing in advance of interconnection. 8.12. Right to Appeal The owner of the generating facility interconnected, or proposed to be interconnected, with HUC's system may appeal to the Commission should any requirement of HUC's service rules or the required contract be considered to be 6 Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (Greater than 40 KW) — Net Energy Billing excessive or unreasonable. Such appeal shall be reviewed and the customer notified of the Commission's determination. 7 Contract for Parallel Generation Facilities (40 kW or L ess Greater than 40 kW) This contract is entered into , by Hutchinson Utilities Commission (hereafter called "Utility") and (hereafter called "Customer") RECITALS The Customer has installed electric generating facilities, consisting of rated at kilowatts of electricity, on property located at The Customer is prepared to generate electricity in parallel with the Utility. The Customer meets the requirements of the Utility's rules on parallel generation and any technical standards for interconnection the Utility has established that are authorized by those rules. The Utility is obligated under Federal and Minnesota law to interconnect with the Customer and to purchase electricity offered for sale by the Customer. AGREEMENTS The Customer and the Utility agree: 1. The Utility shall sell electricity to the Customer under the rate schedule in force for the class of customer to which the Customer belongs. 2. Payment per KWH for energy delivered to the Utility, in excess of energy used by the Customer. $ see #3, Rate, Hutchinson Utilities Commission Parallel Generation (410 kW or Leal Greater than 40 kW) — Net Energy Billing policy. 3. The rates for sale and purchase of electricity may change over the time this contract is in force, due to actions of the Utility. The Customer and the Utility agree that sales and purchases shall be made under the rates in effect each month during the time this contract is in force. 4. The Customer must operate its electric generating facilities within any rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the Utility, which provide reasonable technical connection and operating specifications for the customer (Hutchinson 1 Utility Commission's rules and regulations applicable to parallel generation are attached). 5. The Customer will operate its electric generating facilities so that they conform to the national, state, and local electric and safety codes, and will be responsible for the costs of conformance. 6. The Customer is responsible for the actual, reasonable costs of interconnection which are estimated to be $ . The customer shall pay the Utility in this manner: . 7. The Customer shall provide the Utility reasonable access to its property and electric generating facilities in the event the configurations of those facilities do not permit disconnection or testing from the Utility's side of the interconnection. If the Utility enters the Customer's property, the Utility shall remain responsible for its personnel. 8. The Utility may discontinue providing electricity to the Customer during a system emergency. The Utility shall not discriminate against the Customer when it discontinues providing electricity or when it resumes providing electricity. 9. The Utility may discontinue purchasing electricity from the Customer when necessary for the Utility to construct, install, maintain, replace, remove, investigate, or inspect equipment or facilities within its electrical system. The Utility shall notify the Customer prior to discontinuing the purchase of electricity in this manner: . 10. The customer shall keep in force a policy of liability insurance, of at least $300,000 00 $1 million, against personal or property damage to the Utility's Hutchinson Utilities Commission's system, equipment and personnel arising from the installation, interconnection, and operation of customer's generating facility and shall provide annual proof of the insurance to the Utility with said policy specifically naming the Utility Hutchinson Utilities Commission as an insured. The customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utility from all claims whatsoever arising from customer's generating system. 11. This contract becomes effective when signed by the Customer and the Utility. This contract will remain in force until either the Customer or the Utility provides written notice to the other that the contract is canceled. This contract shall be canceled 30 days after notice is given. 12. This contract does not serve as an approval of the Customer's generating system for planning, zoning or permit purposes. The Customer shall have the responsibility to obtain proper approval and permits from the City of Hutchinson or other governmental entities pertaining to the construction and operation of the Customer's generating system. 2 13. This contract contains all the agreements made between the Customer and the Utility. The Customer and the Utility are not responsible for any agreements other than those stated in this contract. THE CUSTOMER AND THE UTILITY HAVE READ THIS CONTRACT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS. AS EVIDENCE OF THEIR AGREEMENT, THEY HAVE EACH SIGNED THIS CONTRACT BELOW ON THE DATE WRITTEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CONTRACT. 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O MO Hutchinson Utilities Commission For information: Tobias Sellier,APPA, 202/467-2927 Dave Hunstad,Hutchinson Utilities Commission, 320/234-0508 225 Michigan Street SE HUTCHINSON UTILITIES COMMISSION RECEIVES NATIONAL Hutchinson, Minnesota RECOGNITION FOR RELIABLE ELECTRIC OPERATIONS 55350-1905 WASHINGTON,D.C.,April 7, 2014—Hutchinson Utilities Commission is one of 184 of the nation's more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn the Reliable Public Power Provider(RP3®)1 designation from the American Public Power Association for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.Brent McKinney, manager, electric transmission and distribution at City Utilities of Springfield,Mo., and chair of APPA's RP3 Review Panel,presented the designees on April 7 during the association's annual Engineering&Operations Technical Conference held in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma. The RP3 designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety,workforce development and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility- wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.The RP3 designation now lasts for three years(up from two), so the 94 utilities that earned the designation this year join the 90 that received it last year. "RP3 utilities are providing a high level of service to communities all over the country," said McKinney,"These 94 designees stand out as models of safe,reliable and forward- thinking utility operations." "We're honored to receive the RP3 designation,"said Dave Hunstad, Electric Manager of Hutchinson Utilities Commission."Our utility staff puts in a lot of hard work to serve this community. RP3 represents a much appreciated recognition of this hard work." Anthony Hanson President This is the ninth year that RP3 recognition has been offered. APPA is the national Monty Morrow organization representing more than 2,000 not-for-profit,community-and state-owned Vice President electric utilities.It is located in Washington,D.C. Mark Girard Secretary 1 RP3®is a registered service mark of APPA. Donna Luhring Commissioner Dwight Bordson Commissioner John Webster Interim General Manager Tel 320-587-4746 Fax 320-587-4721