Energy Efficiency

If you, or someone you know are in the market for a new TV check out The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's (NEEA) website for which TVs use the least energy and where to find them in your state: http://energyefficientelectronics.org/

As you may know, televisions are the fastest-growing consumer of residential power in the Northwest - there are more of them, they are on more hours, they have more devices attached to them - and those screens just keep getting bigger!

(And if it's not a TV you are in the market for - the site also lists the top ten most energy efficient refrigerators, dish washers and several other appliances and electronics.)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 13

76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session

Enrolled

Sponsored by Senators EDWARDS, PROZANSKI, Representatives BARNHART, HOLVEY, HOYLE, NATHANSON

   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board, Oregon’s largest consumer-owned utility, will celebrate its 100th year of operations on March 11, 2011; and
   Whereas in 1908 Eugene voters approved $300,000 in bonds to purchase and reform the local private water utility following a typhoid fever epidemic; and
   Whereas the Walterville Hydroelectric Plant on the McKenzie River was constructed in 1911 to power pumps and ensure adequate water pressure, leading to the sale of surplus power to Eugene and the subsequent acquisition of the local private electric utility; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board has invested in clean, affordable and reliable electricity through projects such as Leaburg Dam, the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project, the Federal Columbia River Power System, and the Foote Creek, Stateline, Klondike and Harvest Wind Farms; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board made an early commitment to energy conservation in 1976, having weatherized over 42,000 homes since then and annually investing five percent of retail revenues in conservation programs; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board has saved its customers almost 500 million kilowatt hours of power usage through its robust conservation efforts; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board has earned several local, regional and national awards for best-tasting and cleanest water from the McKenzie River; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board adopted a “Customer Care” program in 1986 to provide a wide range of assistance to low-income customers having difficulty paying their utility bills, helping on average 4,000 customers annually; and
   Whereas the Eugene Water & Electric Board in 2009 and 2010 invested more than $10 million back into the community to help customers affected by the economic downturn pay their utility bills; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

   That we, the members of the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly, in legislative session assembled, recognize, honor and celebrate on behalf of all Oregonians the 100 years of dedicated service of the Eugene Water & Electric Board to the customers to whom it provides safe, clean and reliable water and electricity; and be it further
   Resolved, That a copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Eugene Water & Electric Board of Commissioners.

Adopted by Senate March 14, 2011
Robert Taylor, Secretary of Senate

Peter Courtney, President of Senate

Adopted by House May 5, 2011
Bruce Hanna, Speaker of House
Arnie Roblan, Speaker of House

No Radioactivity Detected in Eugene's Water Supply

Question: Is there any radioactivity in Eugene's water resulting from the meltdown of the three nuclear reactors in Japan?

Answer: The Oregon Health Division collected water samples on behalf of EWEB, Springfield Utility Board and two other local water suppliers on Thursday, March 24. They collected samples from the river at Leaburg, in the raw water coming into EWEB's water treatment plant, in the finished water stream at the output of the plant, and in a sample taken from a location within the distribution system. The results were all "non-detect." They measured for Iodine 131 and 129, Cesium 137 and Strontium 90.

Here’s another good one that was valid in April of this year:

"The estimated biological effect from the trace amounts of radiation (iodine 131 and cesium 137) currently detected in Oregon from the events in Japan is less than .00016 millirems. To put this into perspective, a person would need to be exposed to this level all day, everyday for more than 100 years, to equal the exposure from one chest X-ray."

Another comparison is a cross-country flight which exposes a person to 5 millirems. A person would have to be exposed to the reading in April every day for 85 years to get an equivalent exposure.

Celebrating a Century of Service

EWEB is commemorating a significant milestone in 2011: The 100th anniversary of the utility's creation. Since the very first meeting of the Eugene Water Board on March 11, 1911 (the utility's name was changed in 1949), EWEB's vision has been to serve its citizen-owners with reliable electricity and healthy, clean water. Today, EWEB is the largest public utility in Oregon, providing nearly 200,000 people and businesses with electricity and water. http://www.eweb.org/centennial

EWEB Offering Green Energy Grants

The Eugene Water & Electric Board has $100,000 to award for a renewable energy project and is inviting schools, governments and nonprofit groups to apply for the funds. For more information, or to apply, visit http://www.eweb.org/greenpower/grants

EWEB to Begin Enhanced Monitoring for Chromium in Water

Following the release of a study that found hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) in tap water in 31 of 35 U.S. cities tested, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recommending that all drinking water providers begin enhanced monitoring for chromium-6.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board has been monitoring for total chromium since the early 1980s, and has never detected the metal in the raw water drawn from the McKenzie River, nor has the utility detected chromium in its finished water or in the distribution system.

The utility's sampling threshold for chromium has been set to detect the metal at 10 parts per billion (0.01mg/L), while the EPA's maximum contaminant level for chromium has been set at 100 parts per billion (0.1 mg/L). EWEB will comply with the EPA recommendation and monitor for chromium at the enhanced level of 0.05 parts per billion (0.05 ug/L).

EWEB will begin the enhanced monitoring for chromium starting next week. After the initial samples are taken, EWEB will continue to take samples every quarter. The utility will collect samples of water at its Hayden Bridge intake, at the treatment plant, and from various locations in the distribution system. These samples will be sent a laboratory in California with specialized equipment capable of detecting minute levels of chromium.

Hexavalent chromium is not a regulated contaminant, but the EPA's recommendation are in response to emerging scientific evidence that chromium-6 can pose health concerns if consumed over a long period of time. Although chromium occurs naturally, it is used in manufacturing processes including stainless steel products, treated wood, pulp mills and leather products.

EWEB will continue to support research by the EPA and other government and scientific organizations to provide guidance to water utilities regarding contaminant monitoring. The EPA expects to complete its risk assessment on chromium-6 later this year.

Eugene Water & Electric Board Statement of Legacy

MISSION STATEMENT: To be an outstanding provider of energy and water products that meet customer needs and benefit the citizens of Eugene.

We meet our customers' needs by:

• Providing reliable and high quality utility products
• Providing services in a responsible manner
• Providing rates and fees that are reasonable and stable

The Organization:

• Uses an integrated planning process based on vision, strategic direction, critical success factors and results management
• Uses innovation and creativity to develop solutions to complex and challenging issues
• Is flexible, adaptive, and learns from prior experiences
• Is financially stable
• Supports excellence in the workforce by providing competitive wage, benefits and development opportunities.

EWEB meets the community's needs by:

• Dealing effectively with tension between social, economic and environmental factors
• Demonstrating concern and responsiveness to social issues involving the provision of energy and water services
• Supporting a sound economy through fiscally prudent rates
• Demonstrating sensitivity and responsiveness to environmental concerns, recognizing the importance of a healthy ecosystem to its operations

Friends, Supporters, and to the Citizens of Eugene

Thank you for re-electing me to serve on the EWEB Board for a second term. Many of you know I am dedicated to providing the community with clean water and reliable electric power at the lowest possible price.

I have returned to help the board create a vision of strategic direction and policy oversight which will help set the direction for EWEB's second 100 years of operation.

I value public utilities, and I'm dedicated to upholding the environmental stewardship and social equity values embraced by the citizens of Eugene.

Many of you have said you support upgrading the grid to accommodate distributed generation and electric vehicles. I support this effort and I actively promote appropriate technology, such as smart metering, which will help the community become informed consumers of electricity and water products.

I am socially progressive and fiscally conservative. Therefore, I insist upon sound financial management and cost controls which ensure that EWEB's expenditures benefit our local economy.

"All the wisdom in EWEB isn't found within the board of commissioners, or even with the staff, it's found in the minds and vision of her customers. This is why dialog with the citizens of Eugene is so vitally important."

Governing a public utility is not easy. I'm going to need your help and advice. Periodically I will be posting EWEB related issues to this blog for constructive comment and criticism.

Please also feel free to call me or send me e-mail.

Best Regards,

John Simpson, Commissioner At-Large
Eugene Water & Electric Board
541-357-7532
john.simpson@eweb.org