City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Water and Light Advisory Board  
701 E Broadway  
Conference Room  
1A/1B  
Wednesday, March 13, 2024  
8:00 AM  
Regular  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Mr. Coffin called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  
Staff: Sarah Talbert, Assistant Director Utilities-Rates and Fiscal Planning, David  
Sorrell, Utilities Director, Erin Keys, Acting Assistant Director-Electric, Todd  
McVicker, Acting Utility Services Manager, Steve Hunt, Assistant Director-Water,  
Ron Wyble, Power Production Superintendent, Earl Kraus, Assistant City Councelor;  
Chris Kisch, Administrative Technician II; Kim Wolfmeier, Administrative Technician  
II.  
Zoom: Chelsea Miller - Treasurer, Manny Teodoro-  
Affordability Metrics Expert  
Public: Jim Windsor, Mike Murphy, Mark Haim, Carolyn Amparan, Dick Parker  
4 - Thomas Jensen, David Switzer, Gregg Coffin and Amanda Jacobs  
1 - Philip Fracica  
Present:  
Absent:  
II. INTRODUCTIONS  
A round robin was done for introductions.  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Ms. Amanda Jacobs made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted with a  
second by Mr. David Switzer. Motion passed unanimously.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
The February 14, 2024 meeting minutes were approved with changes with a  
motion by Mr. David Switzer and a second by Ms. Amanda Jacobs. Motion  
passed unanimously.  
Attachments: Meeting Minutes Draft 02 14 24  
V. FINANCE PAYIT UPDATE (via zoom)  
Auto Payments were said to be about 65 percent of 17,000 customers enrolled in the  
auto payment plan. The original deadline was March 1, 2024, but was expanded until  
the end of March. Utility Customer Service (UCS) reps were worked with.  
Information was also mailed out to customers to notify enrollment, along with  
information on all payment plans. Auto Payments were just one option customers  
have to choose from. Auto Payments will require an email to generate PayComo.  
Customer service in City Hall can fully assist customers. Last continuing date was  
said to April 17, 2024. Mr. Coffin asked about customers on Auto Pay and  
paperless billing; if they would be subject to late payments. He wanted to know if  
there would be fees for services, i.e. credit and debit cards. Mr. Coffin also asked if  
the history of usage would still be available to the customers. Ms. Miller replied it  
was possible that customers would receive a late fee, but there was a grace period  
during the transition. They did send out a stand-alone letter to these customers as  
well. She also stated there would be a pop up on the website to notify the customer of  
no fee for credit and debit cards. Ms. Miller stated customers would be able to get  
their historical usage data on the “My Utility Bill” page, which was separate from  
PayComo.  
VI. RATE AFFORDABILITY (MANNY TEODORO via zoom) 8:30 A.M.  
Mr. Teodoro introduced himself advising he had been working with Rate Affordability  
Metrics and Utilities for the past twenty years. He noted he was a professor at the  
University of Wisconsin at Madison. He had examples from across the country on  
how we could use these metrics. Mr. Teodoro began working in Finance and  
Budgeting in the water sector in 1996. He has worked with Water finance,  
regulations, various policies, and utility rates. Going forward, he said that “water”  
would mean water & sewer. Mr. Coffin stated that the challenge was could people  
afford the metrics, and hoped to hear some methodology to face this challenge. He  
also wondered if Rate Affordability Rate could be applied to other utilities. Mr.  
Teodoro replied, it could be and hoped his presentation would help with that. He  
said affordability was only partly about rates. It was about tradeoffs; what you can’t  
afford because you have to pay for water and sewer. There was a difference if you  
can’t buy a boat, or some other luxury versus healthcare or food. Mr. Teodoro  
stated this was a real issue for low income. He asked what sacrifices should a  
low-income household have to make to pay the water bill. There was no official  
standard of affordability, or EPA authority over utility rates. Mr. Teodor next  
discussed Policy. He said Phoenix was one of the first to implement these measures.  
In 2017 they were under pressure to attain affordability, and they turned to a Citizens  
Water Rate Advisory Committee which was a group similar to this group. They  
agreed upon:  
·
·
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AR20 less than or equal to 10.0%.  
HM less than or equal to 8 hours of pay for water.  
Plans to recalculate at this time.  
In 2019, Mr. Teodoro said Austin Water in Austin, Texas delivered a report that  
included the metrics of AR20 less than or equal to 5 percent. Even as rates raised  
they made sure they stayed at 5 percent. In Taunton Valley, they built measures of  
affordability into a 1.6 Billion dollar supply project. Next discussed were the Pillars  
of Affordability. Mr. Teodoro explained the Pillars of Affordability; noting these were  
a Statement of Strategic Challenge. He said there were five pillars:  
1. Quality: To insure affordability, water and sewer systems have to be  
maintained and modern.  
2. Efficiency: If money can be saved on labor and utilities, that cost can pass  
savings on to customers.  
3. Rate Design:  
Uniform rate (neutral) /Volume  
4. Income-Qualified Assistance:  
Common Programs:  
Discounts (Including income based rates  
Lifeline Rates  
Emergency Relief  
Debt Forgiveness  
Common Problems:  
Administrative Cost  
Administrative Burden  
Low Participation  
Poor Subsidizing Poor  
5. Manage Shutoffs: Shutoffs represent failure for both the customer and the  
utility. Options could be payment plans, extending the due date, and forgiving  
late fees. The debt could be shifted to county tax, and resolve the shut offs.  
Mr. Coffin asked if this would cause a change to the base fee and how that would  
factor in with affordability rates. Mr. Teodoro replied there could be a fixed charge  
by building an affordable allowance, which could include the first 3000 gallons. It was  
noted higher fixed charges were not good for affordability. Mr. Coffin questioned  
whether Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI) could help with affordability. Mr.  
Teodoro stated that he was not aware of any issues and felt it could only be a good  
thing. AMI could help find issues before they can became costly on bills. Mr.  
Switzer asked about rates compared to other utilities. Mr. Teodoro cautioned about  
benchmark affordability. He said we need to look at our own community. Mr. Coffin  
stated this would be a multi-step process and suggested more data be compiled for  
the next meeting. Ms. Talbert requested Mr. Teodoro to forward a copy of his  
presentation for reference.  
VII. FINANCIAL REPORTS as available  
a) Monthly Financial Reports  
Ms. Talbert provided an overview of the Monthly Financial Reports. She explained  
expenses on the electric side were up due to January’s salaries and wage increases  
along with materials, supplies, and Power Purchase. Rates were also higher due to  
the week of cold weather in January. She noted operating revenues for electric was  
currently at 31.40 percent and operating expenses were currently at 27.84 percent.  
On the water side, overall revenues were up due to the base fee increase that took  
effect November 1, 2023. Expenses were up, again, this was due to salaries and  
wages increases. Water operating revenues were currently at 29.45 percent and  
operating expenses were currently at 25.98 percent.  
Attachments: Electric Statements-January 2024  
Water Statements-January 2024  
Summary Change in Billed usage for Water and Electric  
VIII. DIRECTOR'S REPORTS  
a) Annual NERC Compliance Report  
Mr. Jeff Liesmann, NERC O&P Compliance Officer, explained the Annual NERC  
Compliance Report. He explained NERC had the authority to create regulations for  
safe and reliable generation transmission, and distribution of electric energy in North  
America. To allow for a more efficient and streamlined operation, NERC delegated  
compliance verification tasks to nine Regional Reliability Organizations (RROs).  
Since June 2007, Columbia Water and Light Department (CWLD) had undergone  
several audits to ensure compliance outline in the NERC Standards. He noted since  
the last advisory board update CWLD O&P did not have any open items. CWLD  
had completed all 2023 NERC required annual System Operator training. There was  
one new standard effecting City of Columbia for 2022; NERC Standard PRC-002-4  
with an implementation date of April 1, 2024.  
Ms. Smith discussed the CIP Compliance and Monitoring Program. She noted since  
the last Advisory Board Update: CWLD had no open items at this time, as well as no  
open enforcement actions. The SERC audit for 2022 was completed successfully  
without any concerns. CIP Requirements subject to future enforcements.  
CIP-003-9-Security Management Controls, which will go into effect April 1, 2026.  
She advised NERC had begun forming a drafting committee to work on a NEW CIP  
Standard 015 - Internal Network Monitoring. She explained this standard would  
address network traffic that happened within the Electronic Access Perimeter of the  
Control Centers.  
Attachments: 2024 Water and Light Advisory Board NERC Compliance Report  
b) Introduce FY 2025 Water and Electric CIP  
Ms. Talbert advised this was an introduction only with more detail at the April  
meeting. She noted the breakout was done by Fiscal year, (FY). She asked the  
board to review the information for further discussion at the April meeting. Mr. Coffin  
requested the new projects be highlighted.  
Attachments: Electric - Proposed FY 2025 CIP  
Electric - FY 2025 CIP Projects with changes between FY 2024  
budget and FY 2025 budget  
Water - Proposed FY 2025 CIP  
Water - FY 2025 CIP Projects with changes between FY 2024 budget  
and FY 2025 budget  
Water and Electric CIP balances 12-31-23  
c) Introduce Proposed Energy Efficiency (EE) Program Revisions.  
Ms. Talbert advised this too was an introduction only as well with more information  
coming at the April meeting. She asked the board to review the information to provide  
feedback as staff planned to present the information to Council for their feedback as  
well.  
Attachments: 2024 USD Program Revamp WLAB Summary  
d) Council Item Updates  
Ms. Talbert noted at the February 5, 2024 Council meeting there were two bills and  
one resolution presented. At the February 19, 2024 Council meeting there were two  
scheduled public comments presented. One Council Bill was approved, two Council  
Bills introduced, and one Resolution approved. At the March 1, 2024 Council  
meeting, two Council Bills, and two Resolutions were approved.  
Attachments: Council Item Updates - February 2024  
IX. CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS  
a) Review Renewable Ordinance  
Mr. Coffin advised the board needed to do their due diligence to present the proper  
recommendations regarding the renewable energy plan. He asked the board to  
review the information for further discussion. Next, the board discussed the  
renewable energy ordinance recommendations. Mr. Coffin advised this was a draft  
only. After a brief discussion, Mr. Switzer felt the need to find a way to prevent rate  
increases. Mr. Coffin noted this could be a long discussion and felt the board needed  
to allow more time on the agenda to continue.  
Attachments: 2023 Renewable Energy Plan FINAL  
City Renewable Energy Ordinance  
Staff Challenges & Recommendation with Renewable Ordinance  
WLAB - Renewable Ordinance Review  
WLAB Renewable Ordinance Recommendations  
b) Rolling Calendar  
Added to the Rolling calendar for April was the discussion regarding the proposed EE  
programs as well as the Water Rate Affordability Financial Metrics.  
Attachments: WL Rolling Agenda March  
X. PUBLIC EMAIL COMMENTS  
The board noted the information from MISO, submitted by Mr. Windsor. Mr. Coffin  
agreed there were challenges. The next information was submitted by Ms. Amparan.  
Mr. Coffin asked if she would be able to provide a presentation. Ms. Amapran  
replied she could. Ms. Talbert requested any information that required uploading to  
be submitted beforehand.  
Attachments:  
WLABPublic - MISO Warns of Immediate and Serious Challenges  
Regarding Reliability - Windsor 2-26-24 #2  
WLABPublic - MISO Warns of Immediate and Serious Challenges  
Regarding Reliability - Windsor 2-26-24  
WLABPublic_ - NEW Sierra Club Input on Renewable Energy  
Ordinance - Amparan 2-13-14  
XI. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Mr. Parker noted everyone was thinking in linear projections. He said the climate  
issue was increasing at a super high rate. He said from 2000 to 2024, the  
temperature increased 0.545 percent which was up over half what it was from the  
1900s. He stated we were exceeding greenhouse gases.  
XII. NEXT MEETING DATE  
April 17, 2024  
XIII. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m. on a motion by Mr. Tom Jensen with a  
second by Mr. David Switzer. Motion passed unanimously.  
To submit questions or comments to the Water & Light Advisory Board, please email  
wlabpublic@como.gov.  
All media inquires should be submitted to Matt Nestor at Matthew.Nestor@como.gov.  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in  
advance of the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: Due to cybersecurity concerns, flash drives and other media devices  
are no longer permitted for delivering files or presentation materials. A speaker who desires to  
display a presentation must upload the presentation, in advance, to the city network using an  
upload portal. To upload your files and learn more, visit CoMo.gov/upload. (Effective Jan. 1,  
2023)