HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-15 RMLD Board of Commissioners Minutesr
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
RMLD Board of Commissioners
Date: 2022-09-15
Time: 7:30 PM
RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
REACTING. MA.
AL
2023 MAR 23 AM 7:38
Building: Reading Municipal Light Building Location: Winfred Spurr Audio Visual Room
Address:
230 Ash Street
Session:
Open Session
Purpose:
General Business
Version:
Draft
Attendees:
Members - Present:
Marlena Bita, Chair; Philip Pacino, Vice Chair; David Talbot, Commissioner;
Robert Coulter, Commissioner.
Members - Not Present:
John Stempeck, Commissioner.
Others Present:
RMLD Staff: Gregory Phipps, Interim General Manager and Director of IRD;
Erica Morse, Executive Assistant; Hamid laffari, Director of E&0.
RMLD Llasons: Karen Herrick, Reading Select Board
Public: Philip B. Padno, 5 Washington Street, Reading, MA.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Philip B. Pacino, Secretary Pro Tem
Topics of Discussion:
Definitions for acronyms used in these minutes:
• BoC: Board of Commissioner
• CAB: Citizens' Advisory Board
• IGM: Interim General Manager
• GM: General Manager
• MEAM: Municipal Electric Association of Massachusetts
• APPA: American Public Power Association
• IOU: Investor owned utility
• NEPPA: Northeast Public Power Association
• ENE: Energy New England
• IRD: Integrated Resources Department
• E&O: Engineering and Operations
• SAIDI: System Average Interruption Duration Index
• SAIFI: System Average Interruption Frequency Index
• CAIDI: Customer Average Interruption Duration Index
All materials presented can be found on the RMLD website in the BoC packet.
https,//www.rmld.com/board-commissioners
Call Meeting to Order
Chair Bita called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM and announced that the meeting would be
held in person, remotely on Zoom, and will be streamed live on RCN and YouTube.
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Opening Remarks and Introductions
Chair Bite read the RMLD BoC Code of Conduct and asked all remote attendees to identify
themselves.
The recording of this meeting can be viewed here:
httos l/weiw voutube comAvalch7v=hA1 UaYVECNw
Vice Chair Pacino served as Secretary at the meeting.
Public Comment
There were no comments from the CAB or RMLD Liaisons.
Philip B. Pacino made a public comment as a Reading resident and ratepayer. Mr. Pacino
disagrees with the IGM decision to remove the Director of Business and Finance. It is not a
decision he fells the IGM should have made at this point.
Report on the CAB Meetlno
There was no report on the CAB meeting.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
Click here to view the approved meeting minutes on the RMLD website.
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Coulter, that the RMLD Board
of Commissioners approve the minutes of the February 16, 2022, and April 8, 2022
meetings on the recommendation of the Interim General Manager.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (4 In favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was absent from the
meeting.
IGM Report
Gregory Phipps provided an IGM update.
Click here to view to the IGM presentation.
Click here to view the Business Newsweek article on energy bills.
IGM said the following:
RMLD's 13 new hires bring energy, new skills, and new perspectives. Promotions and moves
within the organization have allowed individuals to feel that there is a career path for them
where they can thrive.
The salary survey is expected to Include RMLD roles except for line worker positions. The
line worker positions align with the MEAM and APPA surveys, which are regionally relevant
and more specific.
Question: Chair Bita asked a question relative to the salary survey.
IGM Response: The survey is regional (Greater Boston) with a focus on the North Shore.
The company conducting the survey is nationally based and experienced.
The internal organization is excited with positive feedback and energy. Small changes are
being implemented that contribute to this. The IGM cited the example of waiving doctors
note requirement for the use of stand-up desks.
The flex time program functions through coordination with the supervisor, manager, or
director of each group. Individuals can choose to work five eight-hour days; four ten-hour
days; or four nine -hour days and one-half day on Friday. This is another contribution toward
more positive moral.
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Question: Commissioner Coulter asked a question relative to flex time and negotiations
IGM Response: The program is a pilot, which gives RMLD flexibility in terms of putting the
program into the union agreements.
Question: Chair Bita asked a question relative to the hours employees are choosing to work.
IGM response: Some individuals started out with four ten-hour days and later adjusted to
five eight hour days.
RMLD is an in-person organization where Interactions between and across departments are
crucial. The flex -time pilot has been successful by providing Individuals with flexibility while
remaining engaged and productive. Coordination with management is necessary for the flex
time pilot to continue to be successful.
Question: Commissioner Coulter and Commissioner Pacino asked questions relative to
individuals coming to the customer service window.
IGM response: Many customers come to pay their bills in person; hence there is the added
benefit of allowing for the personal connection between staff and their customers.
Question: Chair Bita asked if the Individuals who work the customer service window ever
crass -sell time of use?
IGM response: No, but it is an Idea worth investigating.
RMLD had three summer Interns; an electrical engineering student from Merrimack College;
a data analytics student from Endicott College, and an environmental sciences student from
Colby College. Each student had different roles and projects.
The goals of the summer internship program are to help create a positive reputation of
RMLD within the host schools, the Interns lean and provide tangible value to the RMLD. The
program promoted learning on both sides and was a great help to the RMLD.
On a more general note, there is a broader set of people and experience coming to the
RMLD team; diversity of career experience is valuable to RMLD.
The Business Week article brought forward by Chair Bita discusses what is currently going
on In Europe. The war in Ukraine has cost of energy implications in the Northeast. The way
the RMLD's contracts are structured reduces the impact of these implications, unlike IOUs.
RMLD has not received a lot of customer feedback relative to being able to pay their bills.
RMLD bills are not significantly high, and paying bills is not a problem for customers
currently. However, the Department will keep an eye on this issue.
Comment: Commissioner Coulter made a comment relative to high energy bills In Europe
causing customer revolts. This is an implication of increased energy costs and the decision
to go green suddenly.
Follow Up Question: Commissioner Coulter asked If the Intention is to pull back, so this does
not happen at RMLD. It may be necessary to wait and see how the market plays out.
Comment: Vice Chair Pacino noted that in England there is a movement by customers to
stop paying their bills.
IGM Response: RMLD remains sensitive to the situation. Being an MLP allows the
Department to enter Into longer term contracts, and the portfolio continues to be modified,
adapting to market change.
From a regulatory perspective, IOUs are limited to six month rolling contracts, which are
subject to market prices and the current forward price curve. This Is why IOU customers in
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New England are facing significant bill increases. Market price this time of year is usually
$30-$40 per MWh; current costs are over $100 per MWh.
Unlike coal, natural gas, and oil; electricity does not travel long distances. This is putting
significant pressure on New England. RMLD Is working as a consortium between MMWEC
and ENE to encourage ISO NE and governors to allow some stockpiling of oil fuel. This Is
because there will be less natural gas coming into New England due to higher prices in
Europe.
This Is a very complicated piece and has implications on resiliency, reliability, and cost.
Things the RMLD Is moving toward, such as within territory generation is in anticipation of
the regional networking being less reliable and more expensive over time.
Comment: Commissioner Talbot said that the escalating costs have to do with the cost of
natural gas, which is driving the rate shock in Europe.
RMLD is supporting the Town of Reading in the economic development of Ash Street. The
implication of a different development Is the consideration of where the RMLD would go.
There Is a benefit to the community and to the RMLD to layout and execute a plan over the
next five years where the Department is integrated into one building.
Comment: Vice Chair Pacino said that there are three outside towns in this district and
RMLD is owned by the rate payers.
IGM response: There is a Super Regional MLP strategy which would allow contiguous MLPs
to work together to be more reliable, resilient, and lower cost.
2022 NEPPA Conference Report
The IGM reported on the 2022 NEPPA conference.
Click here to view to the 2022 NEPPA conference presentation.
IGM said the following:
The IGM, Chair Elta, Vice Chair Paclno, Commissioner Talbot, and Commissioner Coulter
attended the conference.
RMLD's vision and direction is consistent with many of the presentations.
Digitization is a key piece that the RMLD is already working on. Data is becoming critical to
how the RMLD is managed and operated, as well as, how it serves customers.
The conference theme of decentralized generation aligns with RMLD's Initiative to Implement
more within territory generation.
Another conference theme was customer communication across all NEPPA presentations.
This ties Into the RMLD's aggressive external communications plan.
Commercial fusion energy is 10-15 years down the road. Commonwealth Fusion Is planning
on 75 MWh systems. They could fit in with RMLD's goal of within territory generation.
The industry agrees that storage is a critical piece of the solution to support the intermitted
nature of renewables. The RMLD is continuing to pursue storage, such as the battery at
Fordham Road. The challenge with lithium ion is that it is geared towards peak shaving
verses time shifting.
The Farm Energy battery emphasizes time shift storage, where you can generate in the
aftemoon and discharge in the evening or next week. This technology is very compatible
with intermediate renewable resources such as solar, and a 10% premium on RMLD's
Gaye 14
existing energy costs Is doable. The IGM is looking Into participating in a pilot program with
Form.
The extension of the investment tax credit allows MLPs to participate in Investment tax
credits as direct cash grants. MLPs have access to millions of dollars that were previously
unavailable. This is part of the reason the RMLD finance team was restructured to include
individuals with finance and grant experience, in addition to accounting experience. These
legislative updates are extremely significant.
Even though most EV charging occurs at home, there is a role for public charging within
RMLD's territory.
There are consistent themes of storage, taking action, customer coordination,
decarbonization, digitization, and decentralization. Each of these themes reflect what the
RMLD is pushing on.
Question: Karen Herrick, Reading Select Board, asked if the RMLD needs assistance from
the rate payer communities relative to legislative updates and proactive/active advocacy.
IGM Response: Yes, particularly In relation to some of the things the RMLD is about to do
with within territory generation. The IGM cited the example of a 79 -acre landfill in
Wilmington that's linked to a superfund site just starting remediation. There is a lot of
history associated with the landfill; various individuals have tried to utilize the land.
RMLD is uniquely positioned to tum the landfill Into something of value and positive for the
community by putting in a solar array, and possibly storage. The Department is working on
this at the encouragement of the Wilmington Town Manager and Wilmington CAB
representative. RMLD has already held several meetings including some with the local
environmental groups.
In addition, the Department is trying to fit the project in the Investment Inflation Reduction
Act. The project is estimated to cost $20 million and is worth doing from a rate payer
perspective because the net net (solar and within -territory generation) is in the range of
less than $20 per MWh.
RMLD has been pushing air source heat pumps as a part of electrification, in support of the
Massachusetts decarbonization goal. The messaging is going to be modified to reflect that
air source heat pumps are an energy efficiency play. The best thing individuals can do Is use
less energy to begin with.
There Is a regulatory compliance piece as well as an efficiency piece. Frequent
communications and joint projects on municipal buildings with each community will be
extremely important moving forward. The massive Inflation Reduction Act is an accelerant
to do more within territory assets on municipal buildings. Bringing different types of people
Into the RMLD organization will allow RMLD to pursue this strategy.
Comment: Herrick said that Reading Is In close contact on energy initiatives with their
delegates.
Comment: Vice Chair Pacino made a comment relative to a company In Watertown trying to
create wireless EV charging.
IGM response: This vehicle to grid technology exists, the question at hand is the viability of
commercialization. RMLD Is talking with Spark Charge, who made an announcement today
relative to mobile battery chargers.
The Northfield hydro facility installed bi-dlrectional EV chargers, (wired vehicle to grid)
which the RMLD will further explore. The Department Is thinking differently around how to
use storage assets that both RMLD and customers are investing in.
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Question: Vice Chair Pacino asked a question regarding the IGM's EV
IGM Response: The car has 36,000 miles. The wipers and cabin air filter were replaced
once. The gas bill is 20% of what It was with his gas vehicle when gas was — $3.50 a
gallon. Part of the motivation to switch to an EV was economic and the other part was to
learn. The goal is to understand how to make It easier for customers who adopt EVs.
Question: Vice Chair Pacino asked a question relative to NEPPA's President Hyland's
personal experience with EVs.
IGM Response: Hyland's experience Is primarily with EV charging. RMLD is currently
adopting a charging network and will pull on the lessons and experiences presented.
Customers are going to decide In terms of how fast they're going to move to EVs. Selling
an internal combustion light duty vehicle in Massachusetts will be prohibited by 2035.
Policy Review
The IGM presented the policy review.
Click here to view Policy 15: Sexual Harassment review memo.
Click here to view Policy 16: Violence in the Workplace review memo.
Click here to view the finalized RMLD policies.
Question: Vice Chair Pacino asked a question relative to Section IV: C: Board of
Commissioners.
IGM response: The section states If there are allegations of sexual harassment
involving the GM then the BoC Chair must be notified, as the GM reports to the
Chair.
Modification: Vice Chair Paclno suggested the following modification: "Any
investigation will be conducted in accordance with Section V.C. in this policy."
The modification was accepted as part of the main motion.
Comment: Vice Chair Pacino noted that in RMLD's history Section IV: C has
come into play once.
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Coulter, that the RMLD
Board of Commissioners approve Policy 15: Sexual Harassment (Revision 4), as presented,
on the recommendation of the Interim General Manager.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (4 In favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was
absent from the meeting.
Question: Commissioner Coulter asked a question clarifying pre-employment
WIMORtsWrise: RMLD performs a background check and criminal history check.
From a legal perspective there are things that can and cannot be asked during
an interview.
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Talbot, that the
RMLD Board of Commissioners approve Policy 16: Violence in the Workplace
(Revision 3) as presented, on the recommendation of the Interim General
Manager.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (4 in favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was
absent from the meeting.
Gregory Phipps presented the IRD report
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Click bAm to view to the IRD presentation
The IGM said the following:
In reference to the chart on page 78; dollars per MWh represent energy only.
Certificate retirement, transmission, and capacity are the other costs that
comprise power supply.
Additional wind projects will be part of RMLD's portfolio. Timing depends on
how fast offshore wind Is built. The IGM cited the example of the Vineyard Wind
Project.
RMLD pursued nuclear In December 2022. The nuclear portion of the portfolio is
transitioning from 15% to — 30%. There are three nuclear reactors in New
England; Seabrook is two-thirds of the portfolio and Millstone is one-third.
RMLD aims to keep the portfolio balanced in terms of geography and physical
separation.
The State of Connecticut keeps all Millstone certificates until 2029.
The TFA model assumptions are ideal in a stable market not a volatile one. The
RMLD will continue to monitor the model assumptions, but it is not economically
beneficial to enter high priced hedging contracts at this time.
RMLD did a load following program with NextEra in 2018 and the net results
were marginal. A new load following program would allow for RMLD to be 100%
hedged with NextEra but at a significant premium, hence, we will reevaluate
again as market conditions merit.
The IGM presented a new PPA for a hydro facility called First Light Falls Village.
RMLD is trying to mitigate risk by geographically spreading out hydro facilities.
The portfolio Includes some plants on the Housatonic and some on the
Connecticut River (different watersheds). The financial owners of First light are
Canadian pensions funds.
Question: Commissioner Talbot asked a question on terminology.
IGM clarification: The term is environmental due diligence.
The word "justice" was removed and accepted as part of the main motion.
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Chair Bita, move that the RMLD
Board of Commissioners, on the recommendation of the Citizens' Advisory
Board, vote to accept the Interim General Manager's recommendation to
execute a contract with First Light Power for energy, Including associated
certificates, from an existing hydro facility in Connecticut, contingent on
appropriate environmental due diligence.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (41n favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was
absent from the meeting.
There is upward pressure on the budget due to the nature of the power supply
portfolio and transition to non -carbon.
The annual budgeted power supply was anticipated to be — $64M -$65M in
2022; actual costs will be higher. Fifteen percent of the portfolio (in kwk) is
open market.
The costs that are increasing are pass through costs to the customer with no
markup. Since January the RMLD has been communicating that costs are
anticipated to Increase by 12% from 2021 -2022. It was noted that August is
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typically the highest bill month due to usage etc.
E&O Report
Hamid Jaffari presented the E&O report.
Click hill to view to the E&O presentation.
Jaffari said the following:
The outage management system allows the Department to locate, manage, and restore
outages quickly.
RMLD completed a system planning study and technology roadmap in 2015. These tools
map out a system automation plan for the next twenty years.
Each reliability maintenance program is reviewed annually to identify successes and areas of
improvement.
Reliability Indices indicate the health status of the system. RMLD's SAIDI and SAIFI are
below the national and regional average (based on 2021 numbers).
Jaffari expects that 2023 numbers will rise, and the curve will increase slightly due to
increased tree falls. However, RMLD's numbers will likely remain relatively low.
The system Indices relate to global Issues such as a substation or feeder out. CAIDI relates
to all customers within the system, such as animal contact causing a transformer to blow.
Although the outage statistics (local outages) seem high, the RMLD is doing well overall.
The data shows that trees are the common denominator of outage causes and cited the
example of branches creating a path for animals to get to the energized part of the system.
The increase In outages caused by equipment was due to the slowdown of the aged
transformer replacement program.
Clarification: "as of January 2022" should read "January 2020" on the slide titled RMLD
Strategy Moving Forward.
Question: Chair Bita asked a question relative to tree trimming and personal property.
Jaffari response: if a tree on private property is growing into energized equipment, then
RMLD will prune the tree growth back. Trees on the sidewalks are considered Town trees.
Question: Commissioner Coulter asked a question relative to RMLD's Maintenance schedule.
IGM response: An increase in the tree maintenance cycle is included in the 2023 budget.
Tree trimming is currently on a three-year cycle. Ensuring the main lines are clear is
priority.
RMLD Procurement Requests for Board Approval
Hamid Jaffari presented the procurement requests for approval.
Click here to view to the RFQ 2022-33 Eight (8) Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
materials.
Click here to view to the IFB 2022-39 Substation Transformer Testing and Repairs.
Jaffari said the following:
RMLD is purchasing eight electric vehicle charging stations with the intention of putting two
EV charging stations In each service town.
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Question; Commissioner Talbot asked a question relative to the second bid response
Jaffari response: VERDEK, LLC's bid was thrown out because they took exceptions, offered
an alternative brand/model, and did not sign the quote form.
Comment: Vice Chair Pacino said the bid analysis is usually included In the packet.
Comments: Commissioner Talbot said that the budgeted amount was $501K and asked If
RMLD could go back out to get more bids. Commissioner Coulter noted that he feels this
would be a waste of time.
The IGM noted there is no over budget issue; RMLD has a total of $700K in the budget for
level 2 chargers.
RMLD has 40 ChargePoint level 2 chargers and from a maintenance perspective, the
Department needs to remain consistent. The Department is focusing on this equipment as
well as the chargers located at in Wilmington (EVSE pole mount).
Clarification: Commissioner Talbot confirmed that the ChargePoint Level 2 chargers are the
ones at the Reading Library.
Question: Chair Bita asked a question about site location.
IGM response: Three are going to Lynnfield and five are going to North Reading. Interest in
EV Chargers has Increased from previous years.
Question: Chair Bits asked if people are anxious to get them because it drives business.
IGM response: All locations are town owned; four are school related and two are Town hall.
Question: Vice Chair Pacino asked If RMLD is working with Peabody on the Lynnfield
locations.
IGM response: The sites are within RMLD territory, there Is no coordination with the two
RMLD EV projects.
Question: Herrick asked a question relative to DC fast chargers.
IGM response: The delay is due to changes in the grant requirements, supply chain issues,
and the state procurement process. The installation is expected to be completed Ql 2023.
The IGM said the Department Is working on designing the network to accommodate DC
Chargers, and this ties In to the super regional MLP concept.
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Chair Blta, that RFQ 2022-33 for eight (8)
Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) be awarded to: Voltrek, LLC, In the
amount of $74,460.00, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 3013, § 22 as the lowest responsible vendor,
on the recommendation of the Interim General Manager.
Motion Carried: 3:1:1 (3 in favor; 1 absent; 1 abstained) Vice Chair Pacino abstained from
the vote due to ownership of ChargePoint publicly traded stock. Commissioner Stempeck
was absent from the meeting.
laffari said the following:
The Department went out to bid previously and intended to award the bid to Waukesha.
During the contracting process minor exceptions became major. As a result, RMLD rejected
all bids and went out to bid again.
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Since the previous bid, one of Station Five's transformers began to demonstrate problems
Investigating and fixing the issue will require additional cost in terms of time and material
If repairs are required, funds will be needed to ensure the transformer remains functional
for another three to four years.
In addition to any repairs needed, the company will fllter and take moisture out of the oil.
The current bid reflects a lump sum of six transformers.
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Chair Bita, to authorize the Interim General
Manager to award the contract for IFB 2022-39, Substation Transformer Testing and
Repairs, to the lowest responsible and eligible bidder pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30, § 39M,
provided that the total price does not exceed $610,000.
Motion Carried: 4:1 (3 in favor; 1 absent). Commissioner Stempeck was absent from the
meeting.
Commissioner Talbot and Commissioner Coulter provided a General Manager Search
Committee update.
The General Manager Search Committee consist of two BoC members and one CAB
member.
Commissioner Coulter noted that GM Search Committee vetting process began with 50
applications. The pool was cut down to 15 applicants. Of those 15, five were chosen for the
Interview process. The interviews are in process and scheduled to end next week.
Following the interviews, the GM Search Committee will provide a recommendation to the
BoC to continue looking at applicants or to move forward with finalists.
Question: Chair Blta asked a question relative to an end date.
Commissioner Talbot response; It depends on the outcomes of the interviews already
scheduled.
Commissioner Talbot noted that the approved GM Search Committee minutes are available
on the RMLD website. The committee does not feel there is a lack of awareness of the
opening, which was advertised on APPA, NEPPA, and other platforms. The open position is
being widely discussed in the industry.
Commissioner Talbot said that the Committee interviewed three recruiting consultants. Two
operate on a model where they would take a third of the GM salary and the third would cost
$15K. The Committee voted that, if need be, they will recommend Bernie Lynch as a
recruiting consultant. However, the Committee feels there is no current need to bring in a
consultant.
IGM Training and Travel
Chair Blta noted that there is an employee education budget in place that far exceeds the
stipend amount.
The motion was made and voted prior to a discussion being held. Commissioner Talbot
moved to reconsider the motion for discussion.
Vice Chair Pacino noted that the proposed stipend is open ended and has never been done
before. This Is something that is okay during a storm. In the past this has been part of a
contract.
Pag 1 10
Chair Bita said that this is an unusual circumstance, because the IGM Is performing two
jobs. The Intention of the stipend Is to alleviate some time required by those roles.
Chair Bita noted that the IGM has not requested anything and is working long hours. This
would be an act of good faith.
Commissioner Talbot said that the stipend was proposed by Commissioner Stempeck.
Vice Chair Pacino said that he has no problem If some restrictions are implemented.
Discussion ensued on potential restrictions on the motion.
Commissioner Talbot and Commissioner Coulter expressed support for the original motion
The BOC agreed to move forward with the original motion vote.
Vice Chair Pacino, made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Talbot, move
that the Board of Commissioners approve travel related expenses not to exceed
$600 a week and to be allocated from the existing budget, for Gregory Phipps
as Interim General Manager and Director of Integrated Resources to cover a
local hotel If he determines it is necessary to stay local for business purposes.
Motion Carried: 3:1:1 (3 in favor; 1 abstained; 1 absent) Commissioner
Stempeck was absent from the meeting. Vice Chair Pacino voted to abstain.
ENE Strategic Meeting
The IGM stated that the October meeting will Include RMLD's suggestions of
strategic Initiatives for RMLD BOC input.
Vice Chair Pacino, made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Talbot, that the
Board approve Greg Phipps's travel to, and attendance at, the ENE Strategic
Retreat to take place in Waterbury, Vermont on October 24"'- 25' , 2022.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (4 in favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was
absent from the meeting.
Future BOC meeting dates are as follows:
• October 13, 2022, 6:00 PM
• October 20' 2022 6:00 PM
• November 16, 2022, 7:30 PM
• December 14, 2022, 7:30 PM
• January 19, 2023, 7:30 PM
• February 15, 2023, 7:30 PM
• March 16, 2023, 7:30 PM
The next Joint Economic Development Meeting is tentatively scheduled for
November. The IGM said that all parties want to keep moving the ball forward.
The meeting was collectively pushed out by the Town and RMLD to secure
additional information and provide a more valuable update.
Executive Session
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Talbot, that the
Board of Commissioners go into Executive Session pursuant to Massachusetts
G.L. c.164 section 47D, to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for
negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining
sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel and to discuss trade
secrets or confidential, competitively -sensitive or other proprietary information
Pepe 1 11
provided: in the course of activities conducted by a governmental body as an
energy supplier under a license granted by the department of public utilities
pursuant to MA G.L.c. 164, § 1F and return to regular session, for the sole
purpose of adjournment. Note: Roll call vote required.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (4 in favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was
absent from the meeting.
Adiournment
Vice Chair Pacino made a motion, seconded by Chair Bita, move that the RMLD
Board of Commissioners adjourn Regular Session.
Motion Carried: 4:0:1 (4 in favor; 1 absent) Commissioner Stempeck was
absent from the meeting. Roll Call: Chair Bita, Aye; Vice Chair Pacino, Aye;
Commissioner Talbot, Aye; Commissioner Coulter, Aye.
Regular Session adjourned at 10:24 PM.
A true copy of the RMLD Board of Commissioners minutes
As approved by a majority the Commission.
�uCdBfhL%HO Feb 21, 2023
Philip B. Pacino, Secretary Pro Tem
RMLD Board of Commissioners
Page 1 12
Talent Acquisition and Talent Management
Salary Survey
Outline E Flex Time Pilot
Summer Intern Outcomes
RMLD Customer Payment History
Joint Economic Development
Talent Acquisition and Development
6 moves/promotions, 13 new hires (1 July and 30 Sep 1022)
July (4 promotions, 2 hires)
• Promotions—Asst Geneml Foreman, 3 X Leader Lineman
• Hires—Facilities Maintenance Worker, Technology Support& Systems Analyst
August (1 move, 5 hires)
• Move—Customer Billing Specialist
• Hires -2X Substation Technicians, 3 X Apprentice Lineman
September (1 move, 6 hires)
• Move— GIS Specialist (new position)
• Hires— 2 X Apprentice Lineman, Facilities Manager, Director of IT,
Director of Finance & Accounting, Assistant Director of IRD
10 openings in process of being filled
Promotions/moves and new hires energizing entire team, enabling
more accomplishments, adding new skills and perspective
Team Management / Leadership
External salary survey
• Kickoff with NFP project manager on 1 Sep 2022; complete by year-end
• Salary benchmarks for non -line operations positions (11-123 forecast)
• MEAM survey for line operations positions
Employee survey
• Nameless, simple, soon
• Free platforms could be adapted, but survey O,ualtrics is best option
• Carefully refine questions(allow for comments)
• Conduct in November
Flex time program
• Very positive employee feedback of summer pilot
• Extended through Dec 2022
• Customer front window open 4 days (7:30 to 5:30, Monday — Thursday)
• Adding Flextime for line ops, grid asset, engineering teams
Summer Intern Program — Great Success
Summer program purpose
• Introduce RMLD and industry to potential
future employees
• Create positive reputation at host schools
• Complete internal projects
Summer 2022 project highlights
• ASHP load impact
• EV load impact
• Hydrogen as afternate generation
• Solar PV site research
• Mobile app benchmarking
• PCE vs CPI indexing analysis
3 summer Interns and RMLD analpt at Catat Turner Polls hydro
Great success for Summer Interns and
RMLD (learning, value add, recruiting)
RMLD Payment Aging
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RMLO offers 35%prompt payment
discount (excludes purchase power
Payment History,
which is a pass through)
WILD offer LIHEPP Wo 200 customers
t9g;at
(financial bill pay assistance)
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Joint Economic Development
Proactive support of economic development
of Ash Street Campus
Follow-up meetings with Town of Reading
and Ash Street Campus owners
RMLD to host on-site neighborhood focused
meeting 6 Oct 2022, 7:00 — 9:00 pm (Town
of Reading is event organizer)
Businessweek
+ Equality
A `Tsunami of Shutoffs': 20 Million US
Homes Are Behind on Energy Bills
Surging electricity prices spur worst -ever crisis in late utility
payments.
About 1 in 6 American households are behind on their utility bills, the highest number on record, according to the
National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Photographer Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
By Will Wade and Mark Chediak
..................
August 23, 2022 at 6:30 PM EDT Updated on August 23, 2022 at 8.05 PMEDT
Adrienne Nice woke up early on the morning of July 25 to news she'd been dreading. The power
company, Xcel Ener Inc., had shut off the electricity to the small Minneapolis apartment she shares
BoC Packet Page 13 of 110
with her teenage son, just as a heat wave was bearing down on the city.
Nice had been struggling financially ever since the pandemic hit, racking up more than $3,000 in past -
due utility bills. The warnings she'd gotten on her monthly statement–"FINAL NOTICE" scrawled in
big, bold letters–had prepared her to some degree, but it was still jarring to find the fridge dark and
the air conditioner silent. With temperatures set to reach 95F (35C) in the coming days, she needed
the power back on, and fast.
The Nice household is one of some 20 million across the country–about 1 in 6 American homes–that
have fallen behind on their utility bills. It is, according to the National Enema Assistance Directors
Association (Neada), the worst crisis the group has ever documented. Underpinning those numbers is
—..............—
a blistering surge in electricity prices, propelled by the soaring cost of natural gas.
Total US Overdue Utility Balance
$18b
Dec Dec Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
2019 2020 2021 2022
Source: National Energy Assistance Directors Association
The power bill crisis is even more acute in Europe, where the spike in natural gas prices has been far
greater in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Policymakers there have sprung into action,
throwing billions of euros in aid at struggling families to help them pay bills. There's been no
meaningful talk of doing anything on a similar scale in the US, where the hand -wringing has been
dedicated, as always, to the gyrations of gasoline prices at the pump.
Utility shutoffs can have deadly consequences, though, a risk that's becoming more palpable as
summer heat shatters records. Already gut -punched by soaring prices for just about everything, more
and more people are facing a choice among food, housing, and keeping the power on. "I expect a
tsunami of shutoffs," says Jean Su, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, which tracks
utility disconnections across the US.
BoC Packet Page 14 of 110
Germany put a levy of $296 on households to pay for natural gas and asked citizens, municipalities, and industrial
consumers to save energy. Photographer. KrlszUan Bocsi/Bloornberg
Nice, 45, is a housecleaner. Her work dried up almost overnight when Covid-19 swept through
Minnesota in early 2020. Things are picking up again, but inflation is eating into the money she makes.
Just filling up her old Saturn sedan to drive from house to house now costs about $50 a week.
She found it impossible to set aside enough money for utilities, especially as her power bill effectively
doubled over the past year. A friend who used to live in the apartment along with her two Idds moved
out in mid -2021. But though Nice's household is using less electricity, she's still getting charged about
the same amount per month—$244, on average. "I just don't understand how electricity can be so
high," she says.
Household Electricity Prices
Year -over -year change
eoC Packet Page 15 of 110
UK Euro area Japan Us
•fid
-20
2020 2021 2022
Sourm: Consumer price index data compiled by official statistics agencies
California's PG&E Corp. has seen a more than 40% jump since February 2020 in the number of
residential customers behind on payments. For New Jersey's Public Service Enterprise Group, the total
is up more than 30% for customers at least 90 days late—and that's just since March.
The average price consumers pay for electricity surged 15% in july from a year earlier, the biggest 12 -
month increase since 2006. Regulation of electricity rates makes it bard for providers to immediately
pass on higher fuel costs, so the recent hikes may be just the start.
The US is waking up to a problem that's plagued other parts of the world since last year. In Germany,
the government slapped a levy of $296 on households to pay for natural gas as Russia squeezes energy
flows to Europe after the invasion of Ukraine. In the UK, government support for energy bills doubled,
to $482 for every household starting in October, but prices are rlsso fast that the support might not
.............
be enough. More than 100,000 people have signed a pledge from campaign group Don't Pay UK to
cancel their direct -debit energy payments beginning in October.
BOC Packet Page 16 of 110
Demonstrators gathered outside the Glasgow headquarters of ScottishPower in August to protest the rise in energy prices
and the cost of Irving. Photographer. Jeremy Sutton-HibberVAlamy
In Japan and Thailand, electricity bills are surging as the countries grapple with expensive fuel costs
that have been made worse by their slumping currencies. Pakistan and Bangladesh, falling short in
the global competition for costly fuel, have suffered from rolling blackouts and increasing power bills.
in the earlier days of the pandemic, some states and utilities halted power disconnections, shielding
customers like Nice who'd fallen on hard times. But those measures wound down just as inflation
gathered steam. US households owe about $16 billion in late energy bills, double the pre -pandemic
total, according to Neada. The average balance owed has climbed 97% since 2019, to $792. "The bills
just aren't affordable," says Mark Wolfe, Neada's executive director. "People on the bottom, they can't
pay this:'
For investor-owned US utilities, the financial repercussions of accumulating debt from unpaid
customer bills are typically limited. That's because state regulators often allow utilities to recover their
losses by adding a charge for customers who are paying their bills, or taxpayers help pick up the tab.
6oC Packet Page 17 of 110
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Bloomberg.
In Nice's case, her power was out for only three days; the nonprofit citizens Utility Board of Minnesota
helped her negotiate a payment plan with Xcel. Her experience is common: Utilities shut off
customers only as a last resort, according to Xcel. About 80% of Us utility customers who experience a
shutoff will have service restored in a few days, Wolfe says. The remaining 20%, though, may be close
to eviction or on the verge of homelessness.
�Eneryr
eoC Pao,et Page 18 of 110
A nonprofit helped Adrienne Nice negotiate a payment plan with Xcel Energy, so her power was shut off for only three
days. Photographer. Ken WolterlAlamy
While the US government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or Liheap, helps low-
income households pay energy bills, it doesn't come close to the scale of subsidies offered by some
countries in Europe and Asia.
Calls for states and the federal government to offer more assistance are starting to grow. A bipartisan
group of almost 60 US representatives and senators asked in early August for additional emergency
funding beyond the $4 billion set aside for Liheap for fiscal year 2023. California just passed a budget
that will offer $1.4 billion to help residents pay past -due utility bills.
Energy CCTrp. agreed in July to a moratorium on shutoffs in New Orleans through October, after the
City Council asked the company to voluntarily halt disconnections during the summer heat. But
moratoriums are just a stopgap measure, says Wolfe, who anticipates a surge in disconnections across
the US. `Inflation is hitting people pretty hard," he says. "Utilities are not set up to deal with the
number of people who can't pay their bills:'
US Heat -Related Fatalities
400
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hotter summers are heightening the risk that, for some people, losing power will prove fatal.
According to Indiana University's Energy Justice Lab, 41 states have some sort of protection against
utility shutoffs during the winter, whereas only 19 have laws or regulations preventing disconnections
in sweltering weather. On average there were 188 heat -related deaths a year in the US from 2017
..........................................................
through 2021, up from an average of 81 in the five years before that.
BoC Packet Page 19 of 110
Historically, states and regulators have focused on protecting customers during the cold winter
months, but that will need to be reexamined with climate change expected to create longer and more
persistent heat waves, says David Konisky, co-director of the Energy Justice Lab. Rising
temperatures are already boosting demand for electricity and raising utility bills.
Shutoffs after people fall behind on bills "will likely become worse in the coming years and decades,"
he says. "It's higher prices. It's heat waves and increasing needs for energy." —With Ben Holland, Shoko
Oda, Stephen Stapcxynski, and Rachel Morison
Read next. Wall Street Says a Recession Is Coming. Consumers,Say lt's Already Here
(Adds contextfor electricity -price data in ninth paragraph)
Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Info (Cafdomia) Trademarks Pnvacy Policy
02022 Bloomberg L.P. All Rights Reamed
Careers Made in NYC Advertise Ad Choices Help
BOC Packet Page 20 01110
Summary Notes
NEPPA 2022 Annual Conference
Presented to the
Board of Commissioners and
Citizens' Advisory Board
15 September 2022
Kelly -Detwiler - Keynote
Joe Cutatone — Clean Energy Goes Mainstream
Benjamin Byboth —Commercial Fusion
Outline ® Ted Wiley— Form Energy Storage
Elizabeth Whitney—Legislative
Barry Rush - Regional Energy Challenges
Mike Hyland — EV Chargers
Peter Kelly -Detwiler Keynote
geypolntt
Key Themes —decorbonhation, dgitindon, decentralization
New England States mandating decarbonization (use and source)
Use— heating and transportation will dramatically increase electric load
Source—renewables are intermittent and distributed
Intermittent renewables causing supply volatility and price volatility
Storage dampens intermittency and will take marry forms (" home/EV)
Data increasingly critical to manage, predict, enable distributed control ----
ImpllcotlonsJorFMLD
a) Model load increase and update distribution networktosupport bi-directional and variable load
b) Define and build digitization program (MDM/AMI, mobile app, Dir Enterprise Data are just a start)
c) Build within territory generation and storage landfill W,, accelerate solar, continue storage)
d) Build new rate programs to enable customers to change energy use profiles; add customer control w/ Al
""
Joe Cutatone - Clean Energy
Goes Mainstream."
Key Points
Rapid transition to clean energy happening now
nln xrosvr.x.wy
New competencies are required (storage, grid management ...)
Prioritize resiliency (aka reliability in this presentation)
Work regionally
Make sure your customers know what you are doing
w
�'• � al~
Conned on values (climate, affordability, reliability)
Implidaionsfor gMLD
a) Take action now (generation, storage,...)
b) Learn new expertise (train team, recruit new hires with up-to-date expertise and inquisitiveness)
c) Explore super-regional MLPconsortium
d) Advierateexternalcommunicxtions
Nep'4zp=1
Ben Byboth —Commercial
Fusion Energy
Key palms
Solar, wind not prim competitive above 50% mix
Wily fusion 18 disruptive ..,.
More than renewables required to achieve Net 1Pro
Commonwealth Fusion Systems founded 2018,MIT spin-off
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Raised $2 billion; strong team; diverse investor set
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p,oinw„�
Building facility in Devens, MA
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NTS magnets are the game changingtechnology
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Commemialixation in early 2030's
•— ,_.
hnplicallonslorgmiLD
a) Monitor progress of Fusion Systems
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b) Consider some room for fusion in longer term power supply portfolio 11
Ted Wiley- Form Energy
Storage
Key Poi
Storage needed for intermittent generation sourcessonmipem..omy.ss
Renewable lull periods can last over 24 hours
Significant imaging into storage ($367M into Form Energy) Q
0
0
Form targeting 100-hour duration storage system
0
Q
Q
0
Form targeting($AWh) at 10% of lithium ion cost
_�
Form's reversible rust tech safe, scalable, and reliable
-0 0
0
0
Pilot projects by 2024; commercial scale by 2026
implicamonsjor RMLD
a) Explore role as local pilot site
b) Stay abreast ofcommercial development
r.
c) Include Flexibility Into near-term storage contracts(energy services agreements)
6 awn.x[rr.�wt�..w�Mnaa:�.ew'M �^~Mv�ro�+aKMMnnaxEew.wrmrvvnnw
ryEpp'Z°z=
Elizabeth Whitney— Legislative Update
6eypolms
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — implementation clarifying
• Reliability hardening, EVs
Inflation Reduction Act significant for MLPs
2022
Extensions of Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit
EGISLATIVE
• Direct pay ro MLPs (ad. "this is significant") UPDATE
EV tax credits (with new strings(
New grant and loan programs (environmental and climate)
Implications farilli
a) Immediately pursue grants for w/in territory generation projects (ITC, PTC, environmental, climate, and ...)
b) Pursue IIJA cybersecuritygrents as submission qualifications clarify
c) Incorporate EVtax credits into updated EV incentives
d) Explore super- regional MLP transmission plan for resiliency ofcontiguous MLPs in North Shore
> r"..arcrexwrmrzwrwxa..zmwxwmi..uw°,. orzmn.wanK.
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p4zp=Z
Barney Rush — Regional Energy Challenges
Key Points
Regional and national threats: threats from climate change, growth authoritarianism (Tacouevllle, Russia, China)
Dearbanization is a massive and global issue, but it remains a regional job (avoid cynicism)
Decarbonization will take time resolve (be realistic)
Fossil fuel generation is a component of the transition to intermittent non-carbon generation (150-NE four pillars)
Economic market forces (money) enable the transition ("get prices right")
Russia invasion of Ukraine directly affects local energy prices (sword)
China has long head start in resources for renewable energy (sword)
Civil, transparent, tolerant, and fad based discussions are foundation of short—teMl and long-term solutions
Imp6[atfens jim RMID
a) Take action, i vest now, making decisions In contendof reliable, low-cost, non-carbon mission
b) Be realistic regarding costs and time to transition and time to realize benefits(long-view)
c) Increase customer engagement and education
a sem.�,[vunvvmwfq�uva�esrxpwaefvmxgmiusawrtsvw<�r,w[nn
NFpp
AzpZz
Mike Hyland — Public EV Chargers
Key Pefnts
EV early on adoption curve but accelerating SMECO Deployment In Practice
Majority charging is and will be at home
Location, location, location (customer value, install costs, ...) -
Think total cost of ownership (ongoing maintenance, cellular, ...)
Communicate (EV community (social media), cellular carriers,
Many rate options to consider "ay
The utility is expected to be the expert— "become the expert"
ImplirotlonsJor RMLD
Finalize charging solutions for the 3,ODO mobil dwellings corn RMLD(apartments, condos)
b) Consider items tailored to use case (EV only, EV w/ home, EV w/ solar/battery,...)
[a)
c) Refine A3/ EV l rate to accommodate forthcoming "duck curve"
d) Brand RMLD owned chargers; be active In EV community (especially social media)
e) Train internal team on EV; learn for others; be the expert; EV on RM LD website(w/links)
9 taco.cera.ml..wmrt•�;+�+^•wa+•tie��»«w-w..u„m.r..r.i...rawsmwe
Thank You
10
10
Facing our Region's Challenges:
Reflections of an ISO - New England Board Member
By
Barney Rush
Northeast Public Power Association
Stowe VT.
August 16, 2022
Boo Packet Page 31 of 110
Introduction
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today. I've now served nine years on the
board of the ISO -New England, and three as chair of the Markets Committee. Naturally, one
accumulates many thoughts over that span of time, and you have offered me a forum where I can
share some of them with you. Thank you. Let me also add that my comments today are my own
personal thoughts, and I am not speaking as a representative of the ISO, it's management or my
fellow directors.
First let me honor your profession, of serving in the public power sector. Many of you may be
familiar with the multi volume biography of Lyndon Johnson, written (and still being written!)
by Robert Caro. In the first volume, Caro uses a chapter to describe what the Texas hill country
was like before electricity: the harsh and exhausting rigor of daily life. Men rising at 3 am to
milk their cows by hand; women yoking themselves up, to carry heavy pails of water up the hill
to the home, then wash the heavy clothes by slapping them with paddles and ironing with hot
coals in sheds that became furnaces in the heat. All this at a time, in the 1930's, when urban
America had had electricity for over two decades.
President Roosevelt had a vision that all Americans, regardless of income, regardless of how
rural thew life, deserved the comfort and the freedom from toil that electricity provided. And so,
the New Deal created the Rural Electrification Administration, to bring electricity to those who
were not being served by utilities. The young congressman, Lyndon Johnson, lobbied hard to
bring the funds to his district that allowed the wires to be strong. The lights went on across the
Texas hill country in 1938. And that year, so reports Caro, parents across his district named their
new-born sons, "Lyndon." Serving the public, with low cost and reliable power: that is the
heritage and core values of your profession.
Also, I would like to honor the ISO New England management team, led by Gordon and Vamsi.
I acknowledge that my own early background in viewing management was not very elevating: I
worked at Lehman Brothers in the 1980's, where if one asked "How many Lehman Brothers
partners does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" the right answer was "Nine: One to screw in the
lightbulb and eight to push the ladder over." But kidding aside, in my professional life, 1 have
never worked with management as collegial or thoughtful; as determined to £rad workable
solutions to the problems that must be faced; or as respectful and mindful of the views of others.
It has been a privilege to work with them, and with my colleagues on the Board.
We as a nation face two existential crises: threats from climate change, and the growth of
authoritarianism. Perhaps discussing these two together will surprise you. But New England
must grapple with the impacts of both, and I would like to explore these two grave threats, and
their intersection, on our power system and our customers.
Climate Change:
The threats posed by climate change are well known to all of us. To note just one increasing risk
from within our industry: I recall a NEPOOL sector meeting in 2017, during which I asked the
BOC Packet Page 32 01110
Transmission sector what keeps them up at night. The answer: increasingly severe storms, and
the consequent investment needed to upgrade distribution lines and maintain reliability. Of
course, the concerns 1 heard expressed are only one facet of the overall problem, which includes
severe heat, rising sea levels and drastic changes to the survival of plants and animals around the
globe.
I've traveled my own journey on the imperative of dealing with climate change: from
recognizing it as an issue, to taking it seriously, to regarding it as a matter of urgency.
But urgency must not obscure realism.
First, realism in respect of geography: The only solution is a world-wide solution. I recall
listening to a government official of Rhode Island, a few years ago, stating that the people of his
state really cared about climate change because of the looming danger of sea level rise in
Narragansett Bay. I thought to myself: What possible difference can Rhode Island make — on its
own - to the height of water in Narragansett Bay? And that meanwhile, the Indian solar
company that I chaired, Azure Power, probably had greater scope for helping, due to its efforts to
decarbonize a rapidly growing major country still dependent on large thermal coal plants.
Recognizing the need for climate change to be addressed on a global basis can breed cynicism:
Why bother about our small piece of the planet, when it amounts to so little of the total that must
be transformed?
Yet clearly, decarbonizing New England remains our job. All regions of our country must do
their part, not only to clean our national economy, but to demonstrate by example. No one
should doubt how difficult it is for large emerging markets to decarbonize; yet we also know that
whatever influence we may have on the policies of other nations, that influence is nil without the
solid evidence of our own commitment.
Secondly, we must be realistic in terms of time. I have no doubt that all of you know how
daunting the challenge is. Most of the New England states have had policies in place for a decade
to incent more renewable energy. Yet after this time, only about 10% of the power on our grid,
along with roof top solar, comes from these sources. And looking ahead, construction of New
England's off -shore wind projects — as major an effort as that is — is only one of many
requirements: finding land for on -shore wind and solar, the years ahead to develop technologies,
such as modular nuclear reactors and long duration storage, and construction of thousands of
miles of additional transmission lines. The Future Grid Reliability Study, just released by the
ISO two weeks ago, puts these challenges into stark relief: New England currently has 5.6
Gigawatts of wind, solar and storage capacity. The deep decarbonization scenario will require
between 73 and 90 gigawatts of such capacity — IS times as much as we have today.
To meet the vast increase in the demand for storage, the world must rapidly scale up production
of such essential inputs as cobalt and rare earth elements. The recent study on storage from MIT
highlights this challenge: production of these elements will have to increase at sustained
compounded annual growth rates that are two to four times what has been achieved in single
years in the past.
BOC Packet Page 33 of 110
We would all wish to find ways to speed up the transition. But we should also be aware that the
faster the transition, the more it must rely on technology that is commercial today, especially
wind and solar. It takes time to nurture new technologies, such as small modular reactors which I
hope will have great success. There is a limit to compressing the schedule of R & D, certification
and testing. Some of my colleagues on the ISO board have stated this point succinctly: "9
women cannot make a baby in a month."
Such sobering thoughts do not dampen my optimism that we can substantially decarbonize our
economy. But by when? By 2030, as some politicians have proclaimed? Clearly impossible. By
2050? That seems plausible and would be a stupendous achievement.
If the timeline I offer seems a low bar to some, let me note the danger of proclaiming targets that
are patently unrealistic. For when such targets are not met, public officials lose credibility and
hence the confidence of the citizens they lead, when, in fact, it is vital that officials retain the
confidence of the public for a transition that is so challenging and costly.
We must also recognize that while pursuing this goal, reliability must be maintained, even as we
greatly increase the amount of electricity we generate AND do so with an increasing scale of
intermittent resources. I want to be clew about the following: We do not cite the importance of
maintaining reliability as a counterweight to the need to decarbonize. To the contrary,
maintaining reliability is the handmaiden of decarbonization; for if the public were ever to
believe that we must choose between reliable supply of what our lives depend upon, and a
further decrement in carbon emissions, the public's support for the transition will plummet.
Further, we will jeopardize the people's interest in decarbonizing two other sectors —
transportation and home heating — that now emit more carbon than the power sector. In sum: a
means of securing and ensuring adequate energy reserves, especially for the winter— including
the maintenance of and investment in, fossil fuel infrastructure — is important to maintain the
public's support of economy wide decarbonization.
Therefore, let us focus on incenting zero carbon resources and the means to store power from
them, and thereby reduce the use of fossil plants; but not criticize the presence and need of these
fossil plants themselves. Gordon van Welie's statement regarding the "four pillars" of a
successful transition — growth in zero carbon resources, maintenance of adequate balancing
plants, need for energy adequacy and construction of more transmission — is an important
addition to this conversation.
Markets
To encourage this transformation, 1 remain a strong advocate of markets — and hold a healthy
regard for market forces. Think of what market forces have already achieved: I remember, when
I was a power industry executive in the 1990's, that we believed that the natural gas prices of
$10 mm btu's was a given. But then came the massive growth in fracking that led to the price
collapse, and this, in tum, propelled the massive switch from coal to gas fired generation around
BoC Packet Page M of 110
the country — cutting carbon emissions/kwh in half at every new plant that replaced an old coal
station.
We had come to believe that the era of low gas prices would endure, with resulting low marginal
prices in our energy market. We have therefore been grappling with the issue of how key
regional assets, such as our nuclear power plants, would remain profitable and serve our needs.
But suddenly, we now face a dramatic increase in natural gas prices. A war induced blip? I will
discuss that further below, but we should recognize that perhaps the low prices we enjoyed were
the result of BOTH plentiful supply of fracked gas AND the constraint on exporting LNG,
suppressing demand. That demand constraint has now been relaxed, and I expect that sustained
world-wide demand for LNG will induce the construction of more export terminals, and hence
provide steady uplift to domestic pipeline gas prices.
No doubt this price increase will induce more gas production, but we may still have a new
general equilibrium that leaves prices well above the levels of this past decade. And this factor
alone will provide a powerful incentive for renewables and other non-fossil sources of power.
To put this in perspective, economists have long thought that a reasonable price on carbon, if one
were to be established, would be approximately $40/ton. This would cause power prices to
increase approximately 1.5 cents/kWh, if a modem combined cycle plant were setting the
marginal price. Yet the increase in natural gas prices over the past 12 months — from $3 to
$8/mm btu's, raises energy prices by over three cents/kWh — double the impact of the oft cited
carbon price figure.
In sum, we may be moving from an era of cheap gas — which incented a wave of investment in
gas fired generation that drove national carbon emissions down — to an era of more expensive gas
that will incent further investment in zero carbon resources across the country, and thereby
propel another steep decline in carbon intensity.
This is not to suggest that subsidies, incentives and market design do not matter: these
instruments of policy and tariff matter a great deal. Just that we should remain both humble and
nimble in our work and remain aware of the larger forces at play.
Regarding state policies, I respect the efforts by the States to kick start the offshore wind
development. I don't believe that that there is any other means, within this decade, for the region
to make such a material reduction in carbon emissions. And as much as I believe in markets,
there are times when the "infant industry" justification for subsidizing a new sector makes sense.
Given the risks, it's hard to imagine developers investing the vast sums required to develop
offshore wind, without a fair measure of revenue assurance if they generate the power they
expect to.
However, the grand goal for using markets is to allow us to retire the use of PPA's that
ultimately become -an inefficient and costly means to decarbonize the power industry. And we
must care about cost. Consumers in New England want three things from their power: They
want it reliable, cheap and clean. This is a tall order. And if there is consensus in the region for
power that is reliable and clean, the challenge of controlling cost is great.
BOC Packet Page 35 of 110
Why is that so, given the low operating costs of renewable energy, and the opportunity to move
away from generation which now requires expensive natural gas? First, New England does not
enjoy the natural advantage of the great plains states for onshore wind, or the southwest for solar.
These technologies cannot be built to the same scale here or be as productive. Also: the
consumer will have to pay for assets that have low -capacity factors and hence high costs per
kWh. Utility scale wind and solar plants will require radial transmission lines that will likely
have substantial excess capacity due to the intermittency of the supply they carry. Further, as I
set out above, a substantial fleet of
conventional generation facilities will still be needed, even if, due to renewable energy and
batteries, their hours of operation steadily decline. These units must be well maintained, with
stored fuel, and profitable to their owners.
How then do we use markets to achieve the desired transformation which, while not low cost,
will at least be at the lowest cost possible? The program set out by the ISO is our effort to
address that question. And put simply, these further reforms represent our continued effort to
"get prices right."
First: Capacity accreditation. Generation must be paid for the capacity a unit truly provides — not
more, not less. The ISO's determination to assess without favor all forms of generation — fossil
and zero carbon alike — is a major project that will no doubt be controversial when accreditation
values are recommended. But so be it. We must send the signals to developers to provide the
types of generation — and storage — that will truly add to system reliability; and not make
capacity payments to units that do not.
Second: Ancillary markets. This project is vital to co -optimize reserves and procure more
efficiently the synchronized or fast start capacity that the ISO operators believe is needed the
next day. And in its second phase, this project will provide additional incentive for generators to
have fuel on hand when the system could be constrained — including constraints caused by lulls
in renewable generation.
Third: the Pathways work, which in essence is an effort to find market means to provide an
added tilt in favor of zero or low carbon generation. We appear to be moving towards a
consensus that the option to be studied further is the "Hybrid:" a moderate price point for Net
Carbon Pricing and a Forward Clean Energy Market for new resources. The conversation on
these market-oriented policies continues, but let me offer some observations:
• Let's not think of choosing a pathway —with the prices shown for 2040 — 2050, as an
"ultimate" answer - THE policy that will "do the job" of achieving zero carbon over the
next 30 years. Instead, let's focus on the near term: What steps can be taken now or
soon, with some initial price point — that promote decarbonization?
• Second, we should take note of a significant finding in the Pathways report: that the
payments consumers make through an NCP program flow overwhelmingly to zero
carbon resources. Therefore, the incidence of this program is actually quite similar to the
FCEM structure or any other program which benefits zero carbon generation.
BOC Packet Page 36 of 110
• Third, Net Carbon Pricing will provide material benefit to the two large nuclear plants
that are so essential to meeting both our decarbonization goals and providing reliable
base load power. Putting the point just made and this one together has yielded the
thought that we might well change the name of Net Carbon Pricing to emphasize these
results. I'll offer one: CERI -the Clean Energy Reliability Incentive.
• I want to emphasize a key premise of the Pathways project: that New England will
develop its zero -carbon economy more efficiently if choices are made through auctions
that are pan -technology and pan -regional, rather than a series of one-off solicitations by
a particular state for a particular technology. Let the market participants speak, allowing
them the full scope for their ideas, choices and ingenuity.
• Finally — and by no means least - advancing these structures requires extensive
discussions with the states, as both the price points for CERI (if you'll allow me to use
that term), and the size and scope of a FCEM — can only be determined by the states.
And now, with energy market prices as high as they are, there will need to be discussion
of the timing of when Pathways policies might be put in place.
Market Frictions
I have set out the broader trends in market prices and discussed the continuing programs that the
ISO wishes to pursue to "get prices right" - and incent clean energy and enhance reliability. As
hard as will be to launch these programs, my greatest concern is not our ability to do so; but
rather, the frictions that may not allow supply to respond to the carefully considered price signals
we send.
Let's consider some examples:
• A gas only generator receives the price signal that the unit will be given a low -capacity
accreditation value, due to lack of reliable supply of gas in the wintertime. How can the
owner respond? Will the community and authorities permit the owner to build a distillate
oil tank?
• The great disadvantage of wind and solar is the vast amount of land for utility scale
projects: A solar project requires about 6 to 7 acres per MW, with only a 20% capacity
factor. The amount of additional solar capacity envisioned in the Future Grid Reliability
Study would require over 100,000 acres of land just for solar, between now and 2040.
How much local opposition will there be for the land required for sizable armys?
• Large scale expansion of renewable energy and accessing hydro power from Canada
require significant additional transmission lines. Easy to permit and build? Hardly. We
need look no further than the successful effort to stop Northern Pass in New Hampshire
and the successful effort so far to stop the NECEC project in a remote part of Maine.
BoC Pa&et Page 37 of 110
Those who oppose such projects are no doubt sincere. Yet clearly, we will not make the progress
needed to decarbonize, if significant projects are successfully stopped by local opponents saying,
"Yes, I take climate change very seriously, but not this project, not here." And we will not have
the reliability we need if fuel storage projects are successfully stopped by local opponents saying
"Yes, I understand we need to keep the grid reliable, but not with any fossil fuel." Local fervor
can become collective hypocrisy: We will proclaim the urgency of decarbonization and the need
to maintain reliability, but not construct the infrastructure and plants we need to achieve our
goals. This, in my view, is a most urgent public discussion that we must have.
An upcoming focal point of this discussion could well be the Everett LNG terminal. Will New
England allow this vital facility to close and leave the entire region dependent solely upon the St.
John facility in New Brunswick?
Authoritarianism
Had 1 given this talk a year ago, I may well have ended it with the points just made. But the
world has experienced an upheaval in the past 6 months that compels comment. I therefore
would now like to discuss what I believe is another existential crisis — very different from
climate change — butjust w ominous: The renewed rise of Authoritarianism.
The contest between democracy and autocracy has long been noted. Let me quote from Alexis de
Tocqueville, in his magisterial account, "Democracy in America," written in 1835.
"There are at the present time two great nations in the world. I allude to the Russians and the
Americans. Both of them have grown up unnoticed; and while the attention of mankind was
directed elsewhere, they have suddenly placed themselves in the front rank of nations, and the
world learned their existence and their greatness at almost the same time.
The American struggles against the obstacles that nature opposes to him; the adversaries of the
Russian are men. The former combats the wilderness....; the latter, civilization with all its arms.
The conquests of the American are therefore gained by the plowshare; those of the Russian by
the sword. The American relies upon personal interest to accomplish his ends and gives free
scope to the unguided strength and common sense of the people. The Russian centers all the
authority of society in a single arm. The principal instrument of the former is freedom, of the
latter, servitude. Their starting point is different, and their courses are not the same; yet each of
them seems marked out by the will of Heaven to sway the destinies of half the globe."
I feel chills when I re -read this passage. I first read it in college, in the early 1970's, at the height
of the cold war, and marveled at de Tocqueville's prescience. 1 reread them in the 1990's, when
we thought we could feel safe that these words had lost their relevance. But now, l read them
again, with horror and foreboding. Who would have believed that today, a major European
power would unleash a brutal assault on a peaceful neighboring country?
But also: while we fervently hope that Ukraine will prevail, and many believe that Russia has
lost its super -power status, we must also contend with the rise of China — not as a nation joining
BoC Packet Page 38 of 110
the ranks of developed market economies organized by the rule of law, but as a highly
centralized autocracy, with state directed enterprises and an omnipresent surveillance of its
people that even George Orwell could not have imagined. And finally, we must be aware of a
creeping rise of authoritarian instincts even within democratic states — such as Hungary — but
also, frighteningly, here in our own nation as well. How does this existential threat affect our
world of providing electric power? In three ways, as I discuss below:
The first is the immediate crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Putin's decision to
sharply curtail the supply of natural gas to Europe. This of course has led to the steep surge of
LNG prices and heighted the risk of New England procuring LNG supplies it may need this
coming winter. At times last winter, we faced pipeline gas and LNG prices of over
$20/MMBtu's, resulting in electric prices of over $1SO/MWH. Europe is now paying
$60/MMBtus for LNG — in the summertime. Could these be the prices that New England
generators will have to pay this coming winter—and perhaps the next, in competition for cargoes
that will otherwise go to Rotterdam?
If faced with such prices for natural gas, the ISO markets will react to clear generators with
lower cost fuels — primarily oil. This could well require state and local authorities to provide
necessary waivers for these plants to produce higher levels of carbon emissions. I expect that as
strongly as New England wants to reduce carbon emissions, residents will want officials to
mitigate such material price increases in any way possible. And a companion point: it will be
vital that every oil and dual fueled unit on our system be well maintained and ready for this
winter. Let me add a coda to this: The additional 1,200 MW's of Canadian hydro discussed
above would also substantially reduce the region's reliance on LNG — mitigating price spikes and
enhancing reliability.
Beyond the impact of the upcoming winter, we can expect that the Ukrainian war will cause a
seismic shift in the perspective and policies of western Europe: Russia will not be trusted for a
generation or more, and governments will be determined to free themselves from being held
hostage to Russian oil and gas. We can therefore expect even greater determination in Europe to
advance towards a zero -carbon economy — driven now by a national security imperative, as well
as climate change. This, of course, is welcome: As I said above, decarbonization is only
successful if undertaken everywhere. But Europe's greater push will also heighten the near and
medium term competition for the inputs to a clean economy and hence, at least initially, could
affect the pace of transition that we wish to undertake in New England. And for sure, there will
be added pressure on all to resolve supply chain bottlenecks.
The second impact of authoritarian government is associated with China. China today
manufactures 70% of the world's solar panels and, as importantly, is the leader in solar R & D.
China mines 90% of the world output of rare earth elements, so vital to decarbonization
technology. With the values and attitudes that the Chinese leadership espouse, with the geo-
political threats that are emerging, can we be comfortable pursuing a fast-track commitment to
decarbonization, based on such a supply chain? Other nations have already begun taking
defensive steps. The Indian solar market is burgeoning with virtually all the panels imported
from China. Therefore, the Indian government — starting three years ago — began to impose what
BOC Packet Page 39 of 110
has become a highly dirigiste industrial policy that requires Indian solar developers to purchase
Item domestic manufacturers.
Such considerations have now come to our shores, as evidenced by the bipartisan "CHIPS" act.
And just last week, Congress passed a major climate change bill, in which tax credits for EV's
are tied to batteries with high percentages of content from the US and other countries deemed
safe; and tax credits are also offered to spur manufacturing of solarpanels in the US. What
more should we do? Must we do, to permit unfettered progress towards decarbonization?
Substantially reducing reliance on China will be costly and time consuming, and is likely to
slow, at least initially, the speed of our transition. But I submit that we cannot allow China to do
to us someday, what Russia is doing now to western Europe.
Finally, we must look at our own nation. How do we combat our own authoritarian instincts?
How do we abate the anger so many feel towards government? How do we reduce the despair
that many feel, at our seeming inability to solve major problems? A full answer would take us
far beyond the limits of this speech. But to consider an important part of the answer, let me
again quote from de Tocqueville:
"The strength of free nations resides in the township. Town institutions are to freedom what
primary schools are to knowledge: they bring it within people's reach and give [people] the
enjoyment and habit of using it for peaceful ends. Without town institutions a nation can
establish a free government but has not the spirit of freedom itself:... In America, not only do
institutions belong to the community but they are kept alive and supported by a community
spirit."
As the mayor of the Town of Chevy Chase in Maryland, I take these words to heart. But let me
enlarge the scope of de Tocqueville's meaning: How do we behave as individuals, working
within the local and regional institutions that we touch every day. Do we strengthen those
institutions or weaken them? Do we advance democracy or abet its retreat?
What is required of all of us, is civility, transparency, tolerance and a commitment to deal with
facts. We must avoid demonizing ones' perceived opponent and thereby torquing the anger of
the public. Instead, we need to explain the issues — and the complexities of these issues — that we
are all working hard to resolve. With understanding, we can find common ground, make
necessary compromises, and forge solutions.
To be sure, one of the major reasons it has been such a privilege to serve on the ISO board, has
been the opportunities to observe the high level of discourse among the stakeholders of our
power system. But passions and, perhaps, Covid induced separation have cracked our comity.
Our community can do better. With dialogue and understanding, we will have a far better chance
of enhancing confidence in our institutions, strengthening our democracy, and building the
broad, deep and enduring support for the policies of decarbonization that our region, our nation,
and our planet require.
10
BOC Packet Page 40 of 110
CQRMLD
RMLD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
POLICY 15: SEXUAL HARASSMENT
In accordance with the Board's periodic policy review, please find attached the review package
for Policy 15: Sexual Harassment (Revision 4).
Included are the following three components:
• Policy 15: Sexual Harassment (Revision 4) Summary and Highlights (This Page).
• Updated Policy 15: Sexual Harassment (Revision 4).
• Policy 15: Sexual Harassment (Revision 4) with red lines.
SUMMARY
Policy 15: Sexual Harassment (Revision 4) was revised to clarify the process for complaints
against the General Manager, as recommended by legal counsel, as well as other procedural
aspects. Various sections were refined for further clarity.
• Human Resources Manager was changed to Human Resources Director throughout.
• Chairman was changed to Chair throughout.
• Section IV: Responsibilities
- Subsection IV: C
• Verbiage was added to clarify the process for complaints against the General
Manager.
• "All investigations will be conducted in accordance with Section V:C'
• "Complainants and witnesses shall not be entitled to address the Board of
Commissioners."
• Section V3: Outside Assistance
- Subsection V1:A
• Verbiage was added to expand the resources for private counseling to include
"equivalent subcontractor, contracted by RMLD"
- Subsection VI:8
• Verbiage was added to clarify the process of a state or federal formal complaint,
which may occur afterfiling a complaint with RMLD.
2022-09-15 Policy 15 - Policy Review Memo
BOC Packet Page 41 of 110
QLD
RMLD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
POLICY 16: VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
In accordance with the Board's periodic policy review, please find attached the review package
for Policy 16: Violence Prevention in The Workplace (Revision 3).
Included are the following three components:
• Policy 16: Violence in the Workplace Summary and Highlights (This Page).
• Updated Policy 16: Violence in the Workplace (Revision 3).
• Policy 16: Violence in the Workplace (Revision 3) with red lines.
SUMMARY
Policy 16: Violence in the Workplace was revised to reflect current laws, guidelines, and best
practices. Various sections were refined, and definitions were revised for further clarity.
• Human Resources Manager was changed to Human Resources Director throughout.
• section II: Definitions
- Subsection II: A
• The definition of "Threat" was revised to clarify that RMLD will use objective and
subjective standards taking into account all facts and circumstances to
determine whether a Threat has occurred.
- Subsection II: C
• Verbiage was added to expand the definition of weapon to include "realistic
looking" fake firearms.
Section IV: Pre -Employment Screening
- Subsection IV: A
• Verbiage was changed from RMLD "should" to RMLD "strives to".
• Verbiage stating, "a history of frequent job changes" was removed from the list
of red flags.
- Subsection IV: B: 1
• Verbiage outlining permissible questions relating to criminal history was
removed per current law and best practice.
2022-09-15 Policy 16 - Policy Review Memo
BOC Packet Page 56 of 110
Integrated Resources Report
Portfolio update
Hydro PPA
2023 preliminary power supply
Presented to the
Board of Commissioners and
Citizens' Advisory Board
15 September 2022
Power Supply Portfolio Update
Power Supply Snapshot
Outline
Hydro Addition to Power Supply (motion)
2023 Power Supply (preuminory view(
Aggressive pursuit of power supply contracts
v.o Nuclear
• Dominion response above FPC, no certaicetes
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market prices
a) upward marget pressure on Wmard price curve and marain remalnsvmatne; man priced winters
b) Good position for 2023 and 2024(85%an 83% hedged, respectively)
c) limited near-term opportunities for lo,cost energy (existing assets selling at open market)
d) Team diligent and creative atuncoverinR options
2 x...:rtewvarx.oMww•nmaoas
3
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CarltraR approyed in W22: Sell MWh perWar
Contracts to be approved. 59,000 Milan per year
i wnsarbpn, lanpbrm, Mnlmlxe markt pdcevolHllMy
d forward price curve remains elevated through 20238 2024
d 11594 hedged In 2023 and g3%hedged In 2024
peMRM pumultH new noncarbon sources lsplar, hydra, nudlear�
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100% of unit output and environmental attributes — minimize admin complexity for both parties
Fixed pricing 2025 through 2030, then indexed through 2040
Volume- `38,000 MWh/yr for WILD (-5.5% RMLD total annual purchases (2025 reference))
Tem, - 15 years (2025— 2040)
Certificates — Cr Class I certificates (renewable and non -carbon)
Pricing - 50% higher than RMLD portfolio average; slightly higher than WILD hydro portfolio
5 ,.z�,.v,.a.on,..„mrso...,.:,zm,em.a,wzwue.ezmzoa hydro motion
Power Supply Preliminary Budget
Continued and diligent management of power supply costs and rotes
2021actualsl 2022 bet 2022estimate 2023 budget 2024 budget
bdjeat
Energy' $ 2],]91,132
5 29,478,149
5 34,585,168 5 36,861,572 5 36,695,119
$ 36,745,747
Ca a $ 16,592,028
$ 16,978,311
$ 16,152,335 $ 13,009,D89 $ 13,306,451
$ 12,788,114
Transmission 1 $ 15,688,571
1 $ 18,457,184
5 16,077,344 $ 19,043,270 $ 20,478,358
$ 21,601,251
Total $ 0,071,7311
$ 64,913,645
$ 66,814,&17 $ 68,913,931 $ 70A79,928
$ 71,135,112
•[ne,pvaon notMduaerertfAvrc,oknvmuel5ldmi{�yeu,) 39 2%
1%
• Ovemll power supply Increase of 3% from 2022 to 2023,1-2%in 2024 and 2025
• Energy costs significantly higher than budgeted for 2022, with smaller increase in 2023
• Continued upward pressure on European energy prices, affecting global market
• 85% hedged position protects against major market volatility,
• Summer 2022 most heavily impacted this year, customer bills should remain stable through OctDec
• Cap dty costs trending downward
• Transmission costs increasing: likely accelerating higher to support offshore wind and other renewables
Thank You
from the IRD Team
ON 10 101MIG
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System Reliability Depends on Having a Good:
Maintenance Program
System , Outage Management Strategy
System Planning
Reliability - System Automation Plan
RMLD's System Reliability Remains Strong
SMAI -
RT
GRIDS I �
-a�c'niauDEIYIAND -^"�
Tree Trimming — Approximately on Average 2,726 SpansNear
Inspection of Feeders (ongoing)
v Pole Inspection/Replacement Program (ongoing)
324 of 541 failed poles have been set since program began
316 transfers have been completed since program began
RMLD's % Infrared Scans (Monthly)
Y Primary Metering Upgrades Systemwide (2020.2023)
Maintenance
Programs r Manhole Inspection (Annually)
v Porcelain Cutout Replacement (ongoing)
13.8 kV Conversions (2016.2028)
Aged Transformer Replacement Program (Annually)
➢ UG Subdivisions Upgrades Program (2015.2032)
RMLD Reliability Indices As of August 31, 2022
Minutes SAIDI SAM
Interruptio
70.00 120
60.00 I w
50.00
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20.00
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.NMLD Nannnalavauip I.LD �Wfionalaverage
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fmrJ
Source: APPA eReliability Tracker
Note: APPA eReliability Tracker using IEEE beta threshold method for outages. 4
Outage Statistics As of 8/31/2022
Causes of Outages as of August 2022
ss
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Causes of Outages as of August 2022
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RMLD Outage Causes As of 8/31/2022
Causes of Outages as of August 2022
1
16
22
+Equipment
Tree
■ Wildlife
• Vehicle Accident
s Weather
• Unknown
• Utility Human Error
•Other
• Power Supply
Equipment Failure (32%): %FMRs, Cables, Wires, Cross Arms, etc.
Supply -chain disruptions forced RMLD to slaw dawn the aged transformer re placement program. Inventory transformers are used
for emergencies and potential lea kers. Lead-time for transformers is 51-102 weeks and cable Is 15-52 weeks.
• Tree problems (28%)
• 22 tree -related outages from January -August.
Draught and insect infestation has weakened the tree branches causing them to fa 11 an utility lines and bring down poles and wires.
•
Wildlife (21%):
Trees approaching energized cone creating an easy path for animals.
• Animals find their way under the protective guards making contacts.
RMLD Strategy Moving Forward
• Top Three Outage Causes:
• Equipment Failure/Damages (32%) exceeding 5 years average; Trees (28%); Wildlife (21%)
• Facts:
• RMLD has slowed down its Acted Transformer Replacement Program and URD upgrades due to Supply Chain Disruption
Issues. Inventory of transformers and wires is reserved for only emergencies, storms and potential leakers.
• Tree trimming is reduced due to changes in laws (As of January 1, 2020) requiring tree workers be paid prevailing wages,
which has impacted budget.
• RMLD is using standard wildlife protectors and animal guards available in the industry and being used by all utilities
nationwide to cover energized equipment parts.
• New Outage Reduction Strategy:
• Increase the Tree Trimming/Hazardous Tree Removal Operational Budget.
• Increase inventory for both maintenance and capital projects by purchasing transformers and cable/wire more frequently.
• RMLD is searching for extra protective guards like Gritter Guard Line Guards for added protection.
• Purchase fiberglass crossarms rather than wood making it our standard practice.
Sourm CRITTER GUARD LINE GUARD 1 Ari mal Traps & Supplies (animal[rapsa &uopliesxom)
RMLD Tree Trimming Plan
• Trees help keep the planet and environment cleaner and safer for all. RMLD treating cuts
with respect.
• RMLD's tree trimming priority is trees on main streets (circuits), followed by side streets.
• RMLD conducts annual study to create an Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (IVMP)
for all four communities.
• What are the benefits of IVMP?
Provides a guideline and plan for tree trimming and minimizes the growth of invasive species to:
• Keep trees healthy for our environment.
Improve reliability and reduce outages as a it "costs American economy $7-$10 Billion/Year" (quote from US EPA).
Improve environmental quality and public health.
Provide ecological benefits (i.e., control invasive species and create wildlife habitat)
Reduce utility customers' costs
• VMP strives for better management of vegetation and environment by balancing cost and
reliability.
Reference: https.11w w.epa.govlpesp/benefits-integrated-vegetation-management-ivm-rights-way
Chestnut Street, Lynnfield
Ash Street, Reading
on 8/22/2022
Hillview, North Reading
M
ght
Reading DepartmentDMlT RELIABLE POWER
September 8, 2022
Town of Reading Municipal Light Board
Subject: RFQ2022-33
Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30B, § 22 on July 27, 2022, a Request for Quotes (RFQ) was sent to nine (9) Statewide
Contract VFH102 vendors requesting quotes for'Eight (8) Electric Vehicle Charging Stations'.
The Quotes were submitted via email and opened on August 17, 2022, at 12:00 Noon. Quotes were received from
two (2) companies: VERDEK LLC and Voltrek LLC.
The quotes were reviewed, analyzed, and evaluated by staff and recommended to the Interim General Manager.
Move that RFQ 2022-33 for eight (8) Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) be awarded
to: Voltrel4 LLC, in the amount of $74,460.00', pursuant to M.G.L. c. 3013, § 22 as the lowest
responsible vendor, on the recommendation of the Interim General Manager.
'See attached spreadsheet for quote detail.
The 2022 Capital Budget amount for this item is $50,000.
Sarah Shan s[one- ams
—%,)W
Gregory J. Phipps
File: RFQ 2022-33 Eight (8) Vehicle Charging Slatims(EVSE) Page l ort
BoC Packet Page 9,1 of 110
li 1022-33 EV CNMGING STATIONS QUOTE DETAIL
YEFOEN LLC tadkM eaCepLions: OJ(eri, on ahemmte brand/model, ii RMLO did rwt aeeeat.
Aho, the submitle f ti.I.form was nctWdad,, at reaWred.
Page 2 of 2
BoC Packet Page 95 of 110
LTREK LLC
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Page 2 of 2
BoC Packet Page 95 of 110
RMLD CO) REEL'IABLIE PPOWE�Rrt �
September 9, 2022
Town of Reading Municipal Light Board
Subject: IFB 2022-39 Substation Transformer Testing and Repairs
Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30, § 39M, on September 7, 2022, an invitation for bid (IFB) requesting sealed
bids for Substation Transformer Testing and Repairs was placed as a legal notice in the Middlesex
But Section of the Daily Times Chronicle and was posted on the Cenral Register, COMMBUYS,
and the RMLD website.
An invitation forbid was sent to sixteen (16) companies
Sealed bids are due back on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. and will be publicly opened
and read aloud, in the Town of Reading Municipal Light Department's Audio Visual Spurr Room,
230 Ash Street, Reading, Massachusetts.
The bids will be reviewed, analyzed, and evaluated by staff and the award of the contract will be
recommended to the Interim General Manager based on the statutory standard, which requires RMLD
to award the contract to the lowest responsible and eligible bidder. Under this process, RMLD does
not have discretion over the contract award Accordingly, given that timing is critical for this work,
the below motion would allow RMLD to move forward with the contract award without the need for
additional approvals unless the lowest responsible and eligible bid exceeds $610,000. RMLD will
update the Board on the status of the procurement.
Move to authorize the Interim General Manager to award the contract for IFB 2022-39,
Substation Transformer Testing and Repairs, to the lowest responsible and eligible bidder
pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30, § 39M, provided that the total price does not exceed $610,000.
These services will be paid from the Operating Budget
rgLAa4,
Nick D'Alleva
A h-�
John McDonagh
Flqmid ffari
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Gregory J. Phipps
BOC Packet Page 96 of 110