City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

Water and Light Advisory Board

701 E Broadway

Conference Room

1A/1B

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

8:00 AM

Regular

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Coffin called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.

Staff: Sarah Talbert, Assistant Utility Director; David Sorrell, Utilities Director;

Shawn Carrico, Engineering Supervisor; Erin Keys, Acting Utility Director - Electric;

Brandon Renaud, Energy Services Manager; Todd McVicker, Utility Service

Supervisor; Matt Nestor, Public Information Specialist; Ron Wyble, Electric

Production Superintendent; Ben Edes, Energy Service Supervisor; Chris Kisch, Sr.

Administrative Support Assistant

Public: Mike Murphy, Jim Windsor, Mark Haim

3 - Thomas Jensen, David Switzer and Gregg Coffin

Present:

Absent:

2 - Philip Fracica and Amanda Jacobs

II. INTRODUCTIONS

A round robin was done for introductions.

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mr. Tom Jensen made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted with a

second by Mr. David Switzer. Motion passed unanimously.

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The September 13, 2023 meeting minutes were approved with changes with a

motion by Mr. David Switzer and a second by Mr. Tom Jensen. Motion passed

unanimously.

Attachments: Meeting Minutes Draft 09 13 23

V. FINANCIAL REPORT as available

a) Monthly Financial Report

Ms. Talbert stated the report was through the month of August, next month the Water

and Light Advisory Board (WLAB) would receive the quarterly report. Beginning

with the electric side of the utility, the Month to Month report showed Operating

Revenues were down slightly. This was due to MISO Revenues being down.

Operating Expenses were also down slightly. Ms. Talbert noted the WLAB would

begin seeing this increase due to the Fiscal Year (FY) salaries and wages increase.

The Year to Date report showed Operating Revenues down slightly. Ms. Talbert

noted residential sales were down slightly and felt this was due to some energy

efficiencies in homes. Operating expenses were down considerably from last August

but was more than August, 2021. Next, the water utility side report showed the

Month to Month Operating Revenues down slightly while Operating Expenses were

up considerably. This was noted to be due to treatment chemicals and more sludge

hauling. The Year to Date report showed Operating Revenues up slightly as well as

Operating Expenses. Ms. Talbert advised this August had the highest water usage

compared to the last 10 years.

Attachments: Electric Statements-August 2023

Water Statements-August 2023

Summary Change in Billed usage for Water and Electric

VI. DIRECTOR'S REPORTS

a) Community Solar Update

Ms. Talbert stated staff had presented this to the WLAB a few months ago. Staff had

provided the information to the Legal department. The Legal department noted there

were two concerns; the first being a subsidy, and the second being a small group of

customers being subsidized that others did not have access to. Mr. Renaud stated

staff had made revisions based on guidance from the Legal department. Mr. Renaud

advised the program worked, and staff was still moving forward with presenting this

to Council without the subsidy. Mr. Coffin asked about the timeline on presenting this

to Council. Mr. Sorrell advised this would be introduced to Council at their next

meeting. Mr. Jensen requested a memo from the Legal department addressing their

concerns with this. He would like to have it within the week if possible.

b) Council Item Update

Ms. Talbert noted at the September 5, 2023 Council meeting, there was a Public

Hearing and Council Bill B215-23 authorizing the issuance of Water and Electric

System Revenue Bonds was introduced with the first read. At the September 18,

2023 Council meeting, Council Bill B215-23 authorizing the issuance of Water and

Electric System Revenue Bonds was approved. At the October 5, 2023 Council

meeting there were two special public comments, three Council Bills; Council Bill

B240-23 authorizing the construction of one new 69 kV station at Perche Creek.

This was introduced with the first read. Council Bill 241-23 authorizing construction

of the 161 kV bus reconfiguration at Perche Creek, and Council Bill 242-23

authorizing the addition of two 161 kV station class transformers and switchgears at

the Bolstad substation. These were both introduced for the first read. There was one

report, Report 59-23 for Wellfield Security Expansion. Mr. Sorrell advised this was

due to the recent vandalism to several wells. The outstanding items for Council was

the Community Solar Program Ordinance. This would be introduced on October 16,

2023. The Energy Authority (TEA) evaluation 100 percent renewable energy by

2030, this was said to be tentatively set for October 20, 2023.

Attachments: Council Item Updates - September 2023

VII. CHAIRMAN'S REPORTS

a) Finalize Public Input Meeting Agenda

Mr. Coffin noted the need to finalize the agenda for this meeting. He said the agenda

provided was similar to the agenda from last year. Mr. Renaud would have a

presentation on the City’s Community Solar. Mr. Switzer would share the goals for

the Rate Affordability Metrics. Mr. Jensen would provide information on how the

utility could benefit from IRA as well as individuals while Mr. Renaud would explain

the efficiency programs available through the City. Mr. Coffin stated if there would be

any presentations, those would need to be submitted to staff by the morning of

October 25, 2023.

Attachments: WLAB 2023 Public Meeting Agenda

b) FY2024 WLAB Goals

Mr. Coffin said this was a first draft only. He had five goals listed;

· Continue to provide guidance and for expanding the utility’s renewable energy

portfolio to achieve the community’s renewable energy ordinance goals.

· Seek solutions to further improve the utility’s successful demand side

management (DSM) and efficiency programs for the community.

· Continue to improve WLAB communication with the community and Council.

· Develop a set of utility rate metrics to evaluate rate affordability and

encourage their use, then to evaluate future utility rate changes.

· Support the utility staff on the implementation of recommendations from

Integrated Electric Resource Master Plan (IERMP) for distribution and

transmission system improvements and expansions.

Mr. Coffin expected this to take some time, the WLAB would need to seek public

input and then finalize it. Mr. Jensen wanted to encourage working with staff on

subsidies available for projects. His hope was for the City applying for subsidies to

be considered routine. With this he suggested a report with a column showing the

projected costs for projects and another showing the subsidies available for those

projects. Mr. Coffin said this would be reviewed again. He wanted to keep it on the

calendar, suggesting to finalize in December.

Attachments: WLAB FY24 Goals Draft

c) WLAB Annual Report

Mr. Coffin noted he had put together some items for the WLAB Annual report to

Council. The WLAB reviewed the items listed. Mr. Jensen noted when he was

chair, he had asked the previous chair for past reports and was told it was not worth

it. After receiving those, there had been a lot of time spent on graphics with a bare

bones summary. Mr. Jensen felt what Mr. Coffin had presented was a great

beginning. He said this showed the WLAB was working on things and with many

calling for our removal, this showed the WLAB did more than just meet monthly. Mr.

Coffin noted with the change of officers in the middle of the FY, his question was who

should present the report. He suggested both the past and present chairs work on the

report together. Mr. Coffin ended noting his desire to complete this by the end of the

year with the WLAB agreeing. It was noted this would be brought back in

November.

Attachments: FY23 WLAB Annual Report

d) Rolling Calendar

The Annual Report to Council, FY2024 WLAB Goals, and Follow up on Public

Input meeting was added to the November agenda. Mr. Jensen requested the memo

from Legal on Community Solar be added if they were not able to get one this week.

Finalize WLAB Annual report and Finalize FY2024 WLAB Goals was added to the

December agenda.

Attachments: WL Rolling Agenda October

VIII. PUBLIC EMAIL COMMENTS

Mr. Coffin noted there were two emails with concerns with the rate increase. He

asked if this was something that should be discussed at the Rate Affordability Metrics

meeting. Mr. Switzer noted the Rate Affordability Metrics meeting should be focused

on the metrics not re-evaluating the decision. He felt there was some confusion with

the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) with electric subsidizing water. He said that was

not the case and that maybe should be what was communicated to the sender. Mr.

Coffin stated he felt it may come up at the meeting. Mr. Switzer agreed, saying it

could come up but it did not necessarily need to be addressed at the meeting. At the

end, the WLAB agreed to include these at the Rate Affordability Metrics meeting on

October 26, 2023.

Attachments: WLABPublic Electric rate hike

WLABPublic Regressive utility rate structure is unjust for low income

households

IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF

Mr. Windsor stated during the March, 2023 pre-Council session, the Utility Director

stated that Option A (the south transmission line) was the best “electrically” for the

utility. He did not explain that statement and none of the City Council asked what he

meant. The City Council chose to look at a second interconnect with Ameren which

was the least politically disruptive, but more expensive that Option A. Seven months

after that presentation no update has been provided to City Council on the viability of

that option; however, the utility recorded a new historic system peak 12 MW’s higher

than the prior highest system peak at a temperature seven degrees lower than the

previous record peak. As a ratepayer, and on behalf of other electric utility

ratepayers, I am asking the WLAB to request staff update citizens on the status of any

negotiations with Ameren. In addition, ratepayers deserve to know what will not be

addressed “electrically’ by choosing the least politically disruptive option. Mr.

Windsor ended with other items of concern:

What system work had been added and would be required in the future

because Option A had not been built 10 years after a prior City Council

approved the route after extensive public input.

How many millions of dollar will ratepayers, particularly low-income

ratepayers, be burdened with because the least politically disruptive option

was selected instead of the original optimal solution,

What the status was of Purchased Power Adjustment that started October 1.

Should addressing rental property standards be on the WLAB list of goals.

With the recent rate change for high usage (above 1800,) summer residential

customers provided a reduction in cost.

Mr. Haim noted he had seen the two emails then asked if the WLAB would be getting

back to the individuals. Mr. Coffin noted the WLAB did not always respond back

unless there were specific questions. He noted these appeared to be more comments,

not questions. Mr. Haim suggested the WLAB take the communication seriously.

Mr. Coffin assured Mr. Haim the WLAB took all their tasks serious. Mr. Haim

stated the WLAB needed to speak up. Mr. Coffin agreed the sound was difficult

noting there were plans for improvement.

The WLAB discussed getting back with the individuals with the email comments and

inviting them to either or both meetings on October 25 or October 26. Mr. Swtizer

advised it was impossible to find times that work for everyone, he definitely

understood the frustrations but this was the reality. Mr. Jensen agreed, it was totally

impossible to accommodate everyone. Mr. Coffin ended saying the public was

always welcome to attend meetings and make comments. He noted there was always

the email site also for those who could not attend.

Mr. Coffin stated he had noticed the additional WLAB meetings were not on the City

calendar asking if these were going to be added. Ms. Talbert noted they would be.

She noted an email verification would be sent out for the TEA meeting.

Ms. Talbert advised October 27, 223 would be Mr. Renaud’s last day with the City.

Mr. Renaud stated an opportunity had come up for him and he would begin

employment with Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) on November 6, 2023.

This was his last official WLAB meeting.

X. NEXT MEETING DATE

November 8, 2023

XI. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m. on a motion by Mr. David Switzzer with a

second by Mr. Tom Jensen. Motion passed unanimously.

To Submit questions or concerns to the Water & LIght Advisory Board, please email

wlabpublic@como.gov.

All Media inquiries should be submitted to Matt Nestor at Matthew.Nestor@como.gov or Brandon

Renaud at Brandon.Renaud@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.