2018-06-11 Meeting regarding Tacoma PowerMeeting regarding Tacoma Power
June 11, 2018
4:02 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Stamper, Ross Petersen, Laura Berg, Erik Martin, Arny
Davis, Becky Butler, Steve Walton, Dianne Dorey (by phone)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Ross Petersen discussed the major differences
between Pend Oreille’s interactions with Seattle
City Light and Lewis County’s interactions with
Tacoma Power:
• Pend Oreille was able to renegotiate
during relicensing
• Pend Oreille was able to partner with
school districts and small towns in its
efforts
Laura Berg discussed Pend Oreille’s negotiation
process, including the schools’ involvement.
Laura said she thinks Pend Oreille used the
Seattle CPI because Seattle City Light was based
in Seattle. She noted that Tacoma Power is
headquartered in Tacoma and provides services
to the Tacoma area.
Commissioner Stamper discussed moving the
payment baseline up.
Laura suggested comparing the Portland and
Seattle CPIs for past years, and the group
discussed the possibility of having a forensic
accountant review past payments.
Laura asked if Tacoma Power has a placeholder
for a third turbine in its FERC license.
Laura noted that Pend Oreille reviewed impact
payments, wind farm payments, and Seattle City
Light’s wholesale and open market deals during its negotiation efforts. She said the county didn’t review
property tax differences.
TO-DO LIST / RECAP
Rieva: Email Mossyrock, Morton and White
Pass superintendents for amounts Tacoma
Power pays annually.
BOCC: Discuss Tacoma Power with PUD’s
general manager during already scheduled
meeting.
Ross: Review increases to Tacoma Power
ratepayers as well as Tacoma Power easements
and mitigation.
Erik: Review the FERC license – including any
potential drawdown verbiage and anything
discussing a third turbine – and review
mitigation, taxes and lost opportunity of land
value. Consider Tacoma Power role in the
Cowlitz River Flood Control Zone District.
Becky: Compare the CPIs for Portland and
Seattle.
Dianne: Review tax shift to citizens (dating back
to 2002) caused by private lands becoming
public land.
Laura: Provide copy of Pend Oreille’s previous
agreement.
The group discussed basing the payments off of production or possibly receiving power in exchange for
cash.
Laura suggested looking at Tacoma Power’s increases to the ratepayers.
Arny Davis left at 4:41 p.m.
Laura suggested contacting the general manager at the PUD.
Dianne said Tacoma Power has granted easements on many of its lands. Ross said he would look into
those.
Laura discussed state legislation that helped Pend Oreille renegotiate with Seattle City Light. She said
the statute sets precedent and could prove beneficial to Lewis County.
Meeting adjourned at 5:11 p.m.