Public Utility Commission

City of Farmington Water/Wastewater AGENDA ……for the regular meeting of the Public Utility Commission of the City of Farmington, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 West Arrington, Farmington, New Mexico. I. GENERAL A. Roll Call B. Convening of Meeting by Mr. Tory N. Larsen, Chair 1. Minutes of March 13, 2024 Regular Meeting submitted for approval II. BUSINESS 2. O&M Water/Wastewater report – Benedikte Webb 3. CIP Water/Wastewater Report – Mark Hathcock 4. Electric Utility Report – Sheree Wilson 5. Director’s Report – Hank Adair III. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR Citizens who wish to address the Commission shall sign in prior to the start of the meeting. IV. ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting will be held May 8, 2024 The City of Farmington will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities who wish to attend a public meeting. If you need to request that an accommodation be made, please notify the Electric Administration office (505-599-1160) at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION The regular meeting of the CITY OF FARMINGTON BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONERS was held Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m., in the Executive Conference Room, City Hall, 800 Municipal Dr., Farmington, New Mexico in full conformity with the laws and ordinances of the Municipality. Upon roll call, the following were found to be present, constituting a quorum: Commission members present: Tory N. Larsen Connie Dinning Patricio Sanchez Nathan Thompson Linda Corwin John Buffington Diane Schmidt Stewart Logan Commission members absent: George Sharpe Drew Degner Council Liaison: Janis Jakino constituting all members of said Advisory Commission. Also present were: Electric Engineering John Armenta Electric Field Operations Luke Lugenbeel Electric Business Operations Sheree Wilson Customer Service Nicki Parks Community Works Mark Hathcock Community Works Benedikte Webb Administrative Services Nalinee Jose Administrative Services Jim Cox PUC Secretary Amy McKinley The meeting was convened by the Chair. The Chair called for a motion to approve the Minutes of the February 14, 2024 Regular meeting. Commissioner Corwin offered a motion to approve the Minutes and Commissioner Schmidt provided a second. By voice vote the motioned passed. BUSINESS Electric Utility Report Ms. Sheree Wilson provided a PowerPoint presentation to detail FEUS financial information for January and February 2024. Ms. Wilson noted Customer Consumption Year to Date was 3% under budget compared to the same time last year. Responding to a question posed by chair Larsen, Ms. Wilson stated Commercial was down approximately 2% and Residential was down 1%, but the majority of the decrease comes from the Industrial category. The Utility Cash Balance as of February demonstrated an increase of approximately $29 million. Increase Cash about $29 million Regarding Revenue, Total Revenue Year to Date for FY2024 is 7% below budget. The PCA Billing is down 28%, due to the changes in the PCA. Regarding the PCA, FEUS recouped $590 thousand through February 2024. Ms. Wilson reiterated the PCA was reduced to $0.012/kWh in January, 2024. Total Generation Cost per mWh for January 2024 was $59.26 per mWh. Water/Wastewater O&M Report Utilizing a PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Benedikte Webb, Water/Wastewater Operations Manager/Environment Administrator provided information regarding water/wastewater operations activities for February 2024. The reported data indicated water production for February 2024 was 230 million gallons. Farmington Lake levels are very near capacity at 99.6%. Four new residential meters were installed inside city limits in February. There were no service line or main line breaks in February. Regarding Wastewater treatment, effluent flow for February was 4.08 MGD. The report noted the Effluent BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) was 8.39 mg/L; effluent TSS (Total Suspended Solids) was 12.39 mg/L; Effluent TDS Net Increase was 368.44mg/L; Effluent e.Coli continued to be very low at 1.64 MPN/100ml. Ms. Webb provided information detailing the Bulk water users who receive water from Farmington. Responding to a question posed by Commissioner Logan regarding number of days water supply can be stored at Farmington Lake, Ms. Webb stated at 100% capacity Farmington Lake can provide six months of water at high usage. CIP Water/Wastewater Report Mr. Mark Hathcock, Water/Wastewater CIP Administrator, provided an update regarding capital projects planned and under way throughout the city. For Renewal and Replacement projects, work continues on the 2019 Polyline Replacement project. 1,538 polylines have been replaced and as of March 6, the project is approximately 61% complete. Work continues on the Valve Rehabilitation Project. As of March 6, TRC has replaced, adjusted or repaired 165 valves/valve boxes. The original project detailed 120 valves. As the project continued the number of valves/valve boxes has increased to a count of 166. This contract was extended to April 8, 2024. Regarding the federally funded Water Treatment Plant #1 project, the project went out for bid on January 17. The initial bid opening date was scheduled for February 27. Because of minimal response the bid opening was extended a couple of times to March 14th. Regarding the Feasibility Study for the Farmington Lake Dam Raising, a kick off meeting with the contractor AECOM will take place on March 20. Upcoming New Projects include the upgrade of approximately 1,600 feet of 6” cast iron water line to 8” PVC on Randolph Street between Murray Drive and S. Miller Street is set to start March 18 and there is a similar upgrade of 6” cast iron to 8” PVC on S. Butler Avenue between Murray Drive & Willow Street. The 16” PVC transmission line replacement on 30th Street (Marquette to Hutton) is scheduled to begin May 28, 2024 with some work being performed during Spring break. The Main/30th/Gila Loop project, which will reduce pressure zones by combining them, is set to go out to bid this month. Director’s Report In Mr. Adair’s absence, Ms. Nicki Parks, Customer Care Manager offered a review of the Director’s Report. She confirmed 852 AMI meters were installed in February. Regarding Generation, the utility’s new generation project was highlighted in the Power Engineering Magazine. Regarding Solar, Ms. Parks reported the utility has 399 solar customers; 96 grandfathered residential, 13 grandfathered commercial, 3 commercial on the new rate, and 287 residential on the new rate. Commissioner Thompson commented that he heard about a contract signed by Los Alamos for solar energy at a cost of approximately $39/MW for 20 years and he asked that Mr. Adair provide information regarding this. Customer Service Update Ms. Nicki Parks, Customer Care Manager, provided statistical information regarding the activities of the Customer Service division. Her report noted prior to the Covid pandemic, Customer Service handled 54,832 phone calls and 17% of those calls were voicemail call backs. In 2023, the percentage of call backs had increased to 81%. Ms. Parks stated the Customer Service management team is working diligently to reduce the number of call backs. Ms. Parks encourages the use of the various no contact options for bill payment (Web, IVR, mail, night drop, wire transfers, etc.) as these payment methods save time for the customer as well as the utility and allow customer service associates to assist those customers who may have non- payment utility issues such as connects, disconnects, meter re-reads, water leaks, etc. Ms. Parks stated when the new kiosk located at 850 North Municipal Drive is put into service, the drop box at this same location will be discontinued. She said a second kiosk located in the MOC lobby is also being considered. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 3:58 p.m. Approved this 10th day of April, 2024. ________________________________ Tory N. Larsen, Chair