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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-24 RMLD Board of Commissioners Minutes ;ticGtlVEe ?OUlN CLERK Town of Reading F ' ` I' W . Meeting Minutes � 221 FEB -2 PN 2� 22 Itssrd -Committee -Commission-Council: RMLD Board of Commissioners Date: 2019-04-24 Time: 07:30 PM Building: Reading Municipal Light Building Location: Winfred Spurr Audio Visual Room Address: 230 Ash Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Business Version: Final Attendees: Members- Present: David Hennessy, Chair; David Talbot, Vice Chair; John Stempeck, Commissioner; Thomas O'Rourke, Commissioner; Philip B. Pacino, Commissioner Members- Not Present: Others Present: RMLD Staff: Hamid Jaffari, Director of Engineering and Operations; William Salton, Assistant Director of Integrated Resources; Tracy Schultz, Executive Assistant Citizens'Advisory Board: George Hooper Town of Reading: Karen Herrick, Finance Committee. Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Thomas O'Rourke, Secretary Pro Tem Topics of Discussion: Call Meeting to Order Chair Hennessy called the meeting to order and read RMLD's Code of Conduct Chair Hennessy announced that the meeting is being videotaped at the RMLD office at 230 Ash Street, for distribution to the community television stations in North Reading. LynnReld,and Wilmington. Public Comment Chair Hennessy welcomed Mr. Hooper and asked Mr. O'Rourke to serve as Board Secretary. There was no public comment. Reorganization of the TIMID Board of Commissioners Chair Hennessy made a motion, seconded by Mr. O'Rourke, that Mr. Stempeck serve as Vice Chair. Motion Carried:5:0:0. Chair Hennessy made a motion,seconded by Mr.Stempeck,that Mr.Talbot serve as Chair. Motion Carried:5:0:0. Mr. O'Rourke asked about reforming the Policy Committee. Mr. Stempeck stated that he thought the current system, with Ms. O'Brien taking over, was working well. The other commissioners agreed.Mr.Pacino stated that he is on the Town of Reading Audit Committee so Page I r Reorganization of the RMLD Board of Commissioners he should be on the RMLD Audit committee.There is no need for vote: Chair Talbot appoints. II was decided Mr. O'Rourke would be the other Audit Committee member. It was decided that the General Manager Committee should consist of Chair Talbot, Vice Chair Stempeck, and Mr. Hennessy. Chair Talbot expressed his interest in forming a committee on renewable energy. It was decided to discuss the Idea with Ms.O'Brien.Mr.O'Rourke asked about the payment to the Town. Mr. Stempeck suggested having Ms. O'Brien report on progress being made. The discussion was tabled pending Ms. O'Brien's return. Mr. Pacino mentioned that the twenty-year agreement is coming up for renewal. Approval of Board Minutes Mr.Pacino made a motion,seconded by Mr. Hennessy,that the Board approve the meeting minutes of February 13.2019,on the recommendation of the General Manger. Mellon Canted:5:0:0. Repot of the CRbenf'Advisory Board Meeting on April 18,2019 Mr.Hooper stated that Mr.Jaffah gave a presentation. Integrated Resources Division-Mr.Seldon a. Power Supply Report-February 2019 Mr.Seldon began by discussing the total purchase power expenses for the month of February. Gang forward, the figures may need to be adjusted because the budget line doesn't take the deferred fuel account into account. The overall number is closer to budget when that is taken out of consideration. Mr. Seldon suggested deferring to Ms. Markiewicz on how to present the numbers and then discussed budgeted energy costs versus actual and stated RMLD is$250,000 over budget. RMLD is on-budget for capacity costs. Transmission costs are also in line but can fluctuate based on the weather.Mr.Seldon then discussed where the actual kWh purchased for the month of February came from via resource. In February RMLD sold back to the spot market. Chair Talbot asked about the nuclear percentage. Mr. Seldon confirmed it's around ten to fifteen percent. Chair Talbot then asked about non-nuclear renewables. Mr. Seldon replied that it contains wind and hydro and he believes it is close to fifteen percent. Mr. Seldon then addressed RMLD's progress on its electrification program and stated that the Integrated Resources Division had met with representatives from Volta earler today regarding charging stations for commercial customers at no cost. Mr. Seldon explained that they integrate marketing and charging stations: their specialty are strip molls and areas with high turnover of vehicles.Chair Talbot asked how it relates to ChargePoint.Mr.Seldon replied that Volta owns its own charging stations. Volta makes an arrangement with the property owner or the utility: they put in the infrastructure and become a customer of RMLD. They offset the cost of electricity by advertising on the chargers. Mr.Seldon stated that RMLD has recently brought a consultant on board to aid in implementing Its electrification program and that Mr. Underhill wants any additional kWh that are due to electrification to be carbon-neutral. Mr. Seldon returned to discussing Volta and explained the ads on the charging stations are soundless and scroll every eight seconds. Mr. Pacino asked what is in it for the business where the charging stations are Installed.Mr.Seldon replied that they get lease money far the parking space,advertising on the kiasks,and Volta pays for the electricity:the charge is free for drivers. Is. Energy New England Mr. Pacino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hennessy, that pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Operating Agreement of the Energy New England, LLC, the Reading Municipal Light Department Board of Commissioners hereby appoint Coleen O'Brien as a Class B Director of the Energy New England, LLC Board of Directors for a term of three years,as recommended by the General Manager. Motion Cabled:5:0:0. Engineering and Opemtlons Report-Mr.JaRod Mr. Jaffori reviewed major construction projects that are underway or recently completed. including getaway improvements at Station 4, 5W5 Andover access road upgrade in Wilmington,and the Station 3 battery storage project.Mr.Talbot added that the battery is the Page 12 Engineering and Operations Report-MT,Jallarl biggest in the state and RMLD received the largest amount of grant money of any other municipal utility. Mr.Jaffari explained that the battery stores energy and releases it during peak usage times. It will be dispatched by Next Era.The capacity is five-megawatt hours.There is also a gas generation unit next to the battery storage. That will also be used to shred the peak. Mr. Jaffari then discussed area upgrade projects, including the McDonald Road conversion in Wilmington. Underground facilitates upgrades and maintenance programs were reviewed. Lynnfield has 26 poles awaiting transfer, Reading has 30 transfers and 7 pull poles, North Reading has 3 transfers and 13 pull poles, and Wilmington has 17 transfers and 1 pull pole. Reliability indices are below national and regional averages. Causes of outages are well below the 5-year average. There was a storm on April 3, a transformer failure on April 8, and a motor vehicle accident on April 14.There was discussion about changing the graph format. General Discuss" Meeting dates were discussed.It was decided to have an additional meeting on May 7. Adjournment At 8:35 p.m., Mr. Pacino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hennessy, that the Board go into Executive Session to consider the purchase of real estate and return to Regular Session for the sole purpose of adjournment. A true copy of the RMLD Board of Commissioners minutes as approved by a majority of the Commission. Thomas O'Rourke,Secretary Pro Tem RMLD Board of Commissioners Page 13