HomeMy WebLinkAboutBPMC May 8, 2014Da das 2
ALASKA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT AUTHORITY
BOARD MEETING gtd
BPMC 05/8/14
Roll call from top to bottom ending with Chair
Golden Valley Electric Association
Homer Electric Association
Matanuska Electric Association
‘City of Seward
Municipal Light & Power
Chugach Electric Association
Roll call from top to bottom ending with Chair
Golden Valley Electric Association
Homer Electric Association
Matanuska Electric Association
City of Seward
Alaska Energy Authority
Municipal Light & Power
Chugach Electric Association
Next Meeting: xxxx xXxxx Xx, XXXX
Bradley Lake Project Management Committee
ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
Regular Meeting
Bradley Lake Project Management Committee
Notice is hereby given that the Bradley Lake Project Management Committee will hold a regular meeting on Thursday, Me
8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. For additional information contact Teri Webster.
This meeting will be conducted by electronic media pursuant to AS 44.62.310 at the following location:
Alaska Energy Authority Board Conference Room, 813 West Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, Alaska; a
teleconference line has been set up for those unable to attend in person. Dial 1-800-315-6338, Enter Code 3074#.
The public is invited to attend. The State of Alaska (AEA) complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act «
1990. Disabled persons requiring special modifications to participate should contact AEA staff at (907) 771-3074 to mak
arrangements.
Attachments, History, Details
Attachments Details
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Revision History Category:
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Events/Deadlines:
Commerce, Community and
Economic Development
Public Notices
Advisory Committee Meetinc
Statewide
5/5/2014
5/9/2014
o?
ATTENDANCE —- BPMC REGULAR MEETING, May 8, 2014 @ 10:00 am
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ALTERNATE
Brad Evans, Chairman CEA Burke Wick
— Brad Janorschke, Vice Chairman HEA Harvey Ambrose
"| Sara Fisher-Goad, Secretary/Treasurer AEA Bryan Carey
i. Corey Borgeson GVEA Lynn Thompson
oe Jim Trent MLP Richard Miller
oa John Foutz SEW Jeff Estes
P Evan Joe Griffith MEA Gary Kuhn
eh David lease _~ Kirk Gibson, McDowell Rackner &
v en “Row Wo\FF Gibson PC
— Brian Bjorkquist, Dept of Law
| AIDEA | AEA | AIDEAand AEAStaff | AIDEA | AEA | AIDEAandAEAStaff | AIDEA | AEA | —_AIDEA and AEA Staff
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Bradley Lake Project Management Committee
Thursday, May 8, 2014 @ 10:00 A.M.
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Bradley Lake BPMC Meeting
May 8th, 2014
Operators Report
Unit Statistics:
Generation Unit 1 (MWhrs) Unit 2 (MWhrs) Total (MWhrs)
April 2014 21,674 10,535 32,209
Hydraulics Avg. Lake Level (ft) Usage (ac ft) Fishwater (ac ft)
April 2014 1,132 32,267 2,909 Lake Level — May 6 - 1,126.5’
Incidents and CEA callout:
April 21 — CEA dispatcher notified the Bradley Operator that CEA SCADA was
down. Operator standby. The system was restored in a few minutes.
April 25 — CEA alarm, Domestic/Sanitary Water Tank Level High. Bradley
Operator found a tank flush valve had failed. Replaced valve with warehouse
stock.
Inspections:
Dam Inspections:
May 2 — Access road to the dam was opened using plant snow removal
equipment. Full inspection of all Dam Facilities allowed. No major items noted.
One minor item - One level switch in the Fishwater Portal drain sump has failed.
Manually pumped down sump and repair order issued to plant operators.
Maintenance and Operation Activities:
Accusonic flow meter repaired. New main circuit board and software installed
under warranty by vendor.
Brush and tree removal started on area between powerhouse and barge dock.
April 28 — May 7 - Transmission line row clearing on Diamond Ridge and
Soldotna structures from plant towards Bradley River. Crew of four from East
Road Services.
May 5 — IRIS POWER on site to complete commissioning of partial discharge
monitors on both Bradley Lake Generators. Initial analysis indicates some minor
insulation breakdown on Unit #2 phase A. Using this initial sampling, additional
analysis will take place to trend generator data over time.
Bradley Lake Operator Report Page 1
Plant Tour:
April 25 — James Trent (ML&P General Manager) and Dan Chay (HEA Board)
toured the Bradley Lake facility. They were accompanied by Brad Janorschke and
Harvey Ambrose. The tour went well.
Projects:
Governor PLC Replacement -
Factory Acceptance Testing occurred April 21-25 at the Emerson facility in
Pittsburgh. The Emerson control logic and system testing was conducted by
James Cote (EPS), Bob Day (HEA), Alan Owens (BLPP), Paul Parsons (BLPP). Two
conference calls were conducted during the testing with Bryan Carey (AEA),
representatives of the Bradley Project Utility participants, and Dave Burlingame
(EPS). The factory testing demonstrated the ability of the Emerson hardware and
software. The general consensus is that the Factory Testing was successful and
the remainder of the testing will need to be conducted on site during
commissioning and tuning of the control system.
May 5-8 - A wiring technician from PCI-Skanska (Emerson’s installation engineer)
was on site conducting pre-outage wiring check-out and drawing verification.
The bulk of the review is being conducted to remove the gauges and switches
that were made obsolete during the 2006 VA-Tech governor control installation.
Governor wiring contract — On April 4" an Invitation to Bid (lump sum) was
issued to six wiring contractors regarding the Emerson Governor PLC
replacement. (NAES, Liberty Electric, Samson Electric, Kachemak Electric, EPC, and
Alcan Electric). City Electric had already indicated they were not interested. No
bids were returned. Four of the companies replied that they did not have time or
manpower to bid on the project. Two contractors were still interested. The
contact was re-bid as a T&M project to NAES and Kachemak Electric on May 6".
The next phase is to compile a commissioning test plan utilizing the Emerson
commissioning requirements and the 2006 governor installation as a base. Input
from the Bradley Participants has been requested and will be incorporated into
the final test plan.
Penstock Dresser Coupling Inspection and Painting -
This project is scheduled for the week of June 9". Extreme Access Inc. will be on
site to conduct the inspection. The contractor will clean and inspect the
couplings then apply a rust inhibitor and paint supplied by Sherwin Williams of
Anchorage.
Turbine Nozzle/Needle Valve Repair —The spare Nozzle at Bradley was pressure
tested and stroked the week of April 28"" - May 2". Allindications are that the
spare nozzle is fully functional and could be installed following discussion with
the O&D committee on May 9th. Parts availability and lead times are being
processed by Voith Hydro. Contract negotiations with NAES and railbelt system
requirements are being factored to determine the best time to mobilize and
conduct the spare nozzle installation and/or repair of the nozzle on unit #2.
Bradley Lake Operator Report Page 2
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BRADLEY LAKE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
Thursday, May 8, 2014
10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.
Alaska Energy Authority’s Aspen Room
813 West Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, AK
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL (for Committee members)
PUBLIC ROLL CALL (for all others present)
AGENDA APPROVAL
Muncckes PUBLIC COMMENT Discuss . Level of detail APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETING MINUTES - March 21, 2014
NEW BUSINESS
A. Report from counsel — Dispute resolution procedures & options under the bylaws
B. Resolving the dispute between Utilities — Resolution 14-11
OPERATORS REPORT
COMMITTEE REPORTS no report A. O&D — Evaluation of operator report of compliance to reliability standards dow put on ney}
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS- Comprencasion bud yet
MEMBERS COMMENTS rp eens, plant
NEXT MEETING DATE
ADJOURNMENT
To participate by teleconference, dial 1-800-315-6338 and use code 3074#.
"\ nde Hen Dandous YW Minutes
Bradley Lake BPMC Meeting
May 8, 2014
Operators Report
Unit Statistics:
Generation Unit 1 (MWhrs) Unit 2 (MWhrs) Total (MWhrs)
April 2014 21,674 10,535 32,209
Hydraulics Avg. Lake Level (ft) Usage (ac ft) Fishwater (ac ft)
April 2014 1,132 32,267 2,909 Lake Level —- May 6 - 1,126.5’
Incidents and CEA callout:
April 21 — CEA dispatcher notified the Bradley Operator that CEA SCADA was
down. Operator standby. The system was restored in a few minutes.
April 25 — CEA alarm, Domestic/Sanitary Water Tank Level High. Bradley
Operator found a tank flush valve had failed. Replaced valve with warehouse
stock.
Inspections:
Dam Inspections:
May 2 - Access road to the dam was opened using plant snow removal
equipment. Full inspection of all Dam Facilities allowed. No major items noted.
One minor item - One level switch in the Fishwater Portal drain sump has failed.
Manually pumped down sump and repair order issued to plant operators.
Maintenance and Operation Activities:
Accusonic flow meter repaired. New main circuit board and software installed
under warranty by vendor.
Brush and tree removal started on area between powerhouse and barge dock.
April 28 — May 7 - Transmission line row clearing on Diamond Ridge and
Soldotna structures from plant towards Bradley River. Crew of four from East
Road Services.
May 5 — IRIS POWER on site to complete commissioning of partial discharge
monitors on both Bradley Lake Generators. Initial analysis indicates some minor
insulation breakdown on Unit #2 phase A. Using this initial sampling, additional
analysis will take place to trend generator data over time.
Bradley Lake Operator Report Page 1
Plant Tour:
April 25 — James Trent (ML&P General Manager) and Dan Chay (HEA Board)
toured the Bradley Lake facility. They were accompanied by Brad Janorschke and
Harvey Ambrose. The tour went well.
Projects:
Governor PLC Replacement -
Factory Acceptance Testing occurred April 21-25 at the Emerson facility in
Pittsburgh. The Emerson control logic and system testing was conducted by
James Cote (EPS), Bob Day (HEA), Alan Owens (BLPP), Paul Parsons (BLPP). Two
conference calls were conducted during the testing with Bryan Carey (AEA),
representatives of the Bradley Project Utility participants, and Dave Burlingame
(EPS). The factory testing demonstrated the ability of the Emerson hardware and
software. The general consensus is that the Factory Testing was successful and
the remainder of the testing will need to be conducted on site during
commissioning and tuning of the control system.
May 5-8 — A wiring technician from PCI-Skanska (Emerson’s installation engineer)
was on site conducting pre-outage wiring check-out and drawing verification.
The bulk of the review is being conducted to remove the gauges and switches
that were made obsolete during the 2006 VA-Tech governor control installation.
Governor wiring contract — On April 4" an Invitation to Bid (lump sum) was
issued to six wiring contractors regarding the Emerson Governor PLC
replacement. (NAES, Liberty Electric, Samson Electric, Kachemak Electric, EPC, and
Alcan Electric). City Electric had already indicated they were not interested. No
bids were returned. Four of the companies replied that they did not have time or
manpower to bid on the project. Two contractors were still interested. The
contact was re-bid as a T&M project to NAES and Kachemak Electric on May 6”.
The next phase is to compile a commissioning test plan utilizing the Emerson
commissioning requirements and the 2006 governor installation as a base. Input
from the Bradley Participants has been requested and will be incorporated into
the final test plan.
Penstock Dresser Coupling Inspection and Painting -
This project is scheduled for the week of June 9"". Extreme Access Inc. will be on
site to conduct the inspection. The contractor will clean and inspect the
couplings then apply a rust inhibitor and paint supplied by Sherwin Williams of
Anchorage.
Turbine Nozzle/Needle Valve Repair —The spare Nozzle at Bradley was pressure tested and stroked the week of April 28" — May 2". All indications are that the
spare nozzle is fully functional and could be installed following discussion with
the O&D committee on May 9th. Parts availability and lead times are being
processed by Voith Hydro. Contract negotiations with NAES and railbelt system
requirements are being factored to determine the best time to mobilize and
conduct the spare nozzle installation and/or repair of the nozzle on unit #2.
Bradley Lake Operator Report Page 2
BRADLEY LAKE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
Alaska Energy Authority, Anchorage, Alaska
March 21, 2014
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Evans called the regular meeting of the Bradley Lake Project Management Committee
(BPMC) to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. COMMITTEE MEMBERS ROLL CALL
Bradley Evans Chugach Electric Association ('
Joe Griffith Matanuska Electric Associ
Dan Kendall Anchorage Municipal Li
Brad Janorschke Homer Electric Associ
Cory Borgeson Golden Valley Electric
Sara Fisher-Goad Alaska Energy Authority (
30
Bryan Carey, Kelli Vee jorkquist (Department of
Law); Brian Hickey, ert Day, Alan Owens (HEA); Jim
Brooks (MEA); Richard.
Alaska (RCA); Matt Cl
Depositions); _
& e Smith (Regulatory Commission of
rk cay Miranda Studstill (Accu-Type
cKay-Highers (CEA); and Ron Woolf
AGENDA COI NTS/MOTION FOR APPROVAL
The agenda was approved as ‘amended.
6. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETING MINUTES - December 12 & 23, 2013
MOTION: Mr. Griffith made a motion to approve prior meeting minutes of December 12
& 23, 2013. Motion seconded by Mr. Kendall. The motion passed unanimously.
Ie NEW BUSINESS
A. FY15 Budget approval
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page | of 7
MOTION: Mr. Griffith made a motion to approve FY15 Budget. Motion seconded by Mr.
Borgeson.
Mr. Woolf gave a short summary of the budget changes and reported the Budget Subcommittee
reviewed the 2015 BPMC proposed budget on March 6, 2014. Approval of the budget was
recommended with the caveat for an operator's explanation to the BPMC of two Renewal &
Contingency (R&C) budgeted items of the governor and the fish water screen debris removal.
Mr. Woolf noted Schedule A shows all revenues were down from FY2014, and all expenses
were down from FY2014 except for operations, which increased $801,832.
Chair Evans requested an explanation for the 20% increase in@petations. Mr. Day explained
HEA is only in charge of about 40% of the operation and
on Schedule B HEA's increase in operations and maintena > Was 8%. Mr. Day noted most of
the increases came in larger items that were embedded f pies. “wane $30,000 for loader
tires, expenses related to guidance studies, expenses ‘felated to facility, summer maintenance
work, and the $301,000 Static Var Compensator(SVC ) repair project. »
Chair Evans asked if the $301,000 SVC repair e se is party of the total perations increase of
$801,832. Mr. Miller stated the $301,000 SVC repair expense is part of the ‘Operations i increase
of $801,832. Chair Evans asked if all 6f,the project work had been reviewed by the Operations
& Dispatch (O&D) Committee. Mr.’ D y noted this budget was approved by the O&D
Committee. Mr. Brooks concurred and noted the.O&D Committee reviewed this budget
thoroughly and unanimously agreed to its; approval.
Mr. Day commented a lot of the items with Whe increase were not ‘under the control of HEA.
Chair Evans stated he did not mean to infer that! nd only wanted clarification as to what
expenses were included. pe
Mr. J anorschke directed the Ratemtice" s attention to the bottom of Schedule A-1 listing three
i amounts that are not included in the 2015 proposed budget. These are
recommendations from HEA based oithe approved reliability standards. Mr. Janorschke noted
these items were in front of h O&D Committee, but the O&D Committee was awaiting
direction from the BPMC. ChairEvans stated he does not believe the BPMC will resolve that
issue and the O&D ommittee ‘should determine whether or not those line items are necessary
because of the reliability standards. Chair Evans commented new people may be needed on the
O&D Committee who can answer this question. He noted the budget needs to be approved
before the end of March tol ‘the bond covenants. Mr. Janorschke advised these three line
items are not included in t 15 proposed budget.
Mr. Janorschke asked a number of questions regarding the management operator audit listed
under Schedule B Bradley Lake Audit Fees; 1. Will this audit be going out for bid? 2. Who is
managing the audit? 3. Will the audit include operation and dispatch?
Chair Evans asked if the scope was provided with this budget item. Mr. Carey stated AEA has
not developed a scope for the audit and it will be developed in conjunction with all of the
utilities.
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page 2 of 7
Mr Janorschke requested a scope of work is provided for all future budgeted line items.
Ms. Fisher-Goad believes this line item is related to the audit with respect to the resolution that
was passed on an analysis of the operations before the 2018 automatic renewal and the intention
was to develop an appropriate scope of work in conjunction with the BPMC.
Mr. Janorschke requested the $100,000 be removed from the budget until the scope of work is
defined and brought before the BPMC. Ms. Fisher-Goad asked if the request is to remove the
operator audit outside of the FY15 budget. Mr. Janorschke agreed and stated the budget can be
amended at the appropriate time.
Chair Evans asked if Mr. Janorschke requests to remove allof the projects included in the budget
that the scope is not fully defined. He suggested Mr. Janorschke consider more flexibility
regarding this matter. Mr. Janorschke noted he understands the need for flexibility and he raised
the question about the audit because he does not believe any of the Committee members had any
discussions regarding the expectation of the scope
Mr. Borgeson believes the Committee has discussed, this audityeven though the scope of work has
not been defined. Mr. Borgeson noted he did not realize thiga audit was includedhi in the current
budget and was going to request it be added to the budget{to oO ay. Mr. Borgeson believes Mr.
Janorschke has invited this review ina way that would al viate fears about how the plant is
being operated. Mr. Borgeson suggested the audit include financial review and provide the
necessary due diligence and scrutiny. Mr. Borgeson: commented this audit line item is a
commitment to performing thejaudit and the scope still needs to be defined. He remembers the
Committee discussingyy is i f 1
Mr. Janorschke stated en is,fine with the audit and does not mean to sound defensive since no
scope of work has been provided _ Janorschke wants to ensure the scope is encompassing
and looksat all aspects. of the = Mr. danorschke believes HEA is doing an outstanding job
and welcomes the audit. og
Mr. Borgeson, offered GVEA take the lead role in this auditing procedure, if it is the will of the
Committee, providing a roadmapyand proposal for the audit. He believes this will be a good and
healthy process.
Mr. Borgeson noted he has additional questions regarding the budget. He asked if the $100,000
audit is the cause of the administrative cost increase of $101,000 reflected on Item F in the
summary. Ms. Fisher-Goad agreed. Mr. Borgeson asked why has the HEA annual operation and
maintenance Item A in the summary, HEA annual operation and maintenance, increased so much
from FY2013 actual to FY2105 budget.
Mr. Owens reported he provided a breakdown of 2014 versus 2015 budgets for the Budget
Subcommittee. There was a 6.5% increase in labor changes, of which 4% were contractual
increases in the union budget. Contractual issues decreased 19%. Two issues the O&D
Committee recommended were added. Mr. Owens advised $175,000 of the $800,000 of
operating increase are requests from the O&D Committee, Dispatch Committee or HEA. The
remainder includes the SVC upgrades and additions that AEA has included in the budget.
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page 3 of 7
Chair Evans commented he understood Mr. Borgeson's question was regarding the million
dollars and not the $800,000. Mr. Owens stated there are no actual operating increases from
2014 to 2015. There was 2.5% increase in labor, 0% in maintenance, 0% in equipment and
machinery, with the exception of the $30,000 for loader tires, 0% in control and dispatch, with
the exception of a one-time addition recommended by the O&D Committee.
Chair Evans commented it is difficult to analyze everything that is included in the rolled up
FERC accounts from the budget table. Chair Evans recommended the Budget Committee
reinvent this process and review the tables determining a more intuitively obvious way to present
the information to the Committee. After that clarity is provided, the information can then be
rolled into the FERC accounting requirements. Mr. Owens noted the O&D Committee and the
Budget Subcommittee are provided much more detailed information regarding each project that
the BPMC does not see. Mr. Owens agreed with Chair Eve ans.
Ms. Fisher-Goad stated the FY2013 actual is lowerfhian FY2013 budget. She noted for this year,
there is a lot of money budgeted for the overhead line maintenance, but there does not seem to be
a lot of line maintenance activity occurring an ed if it is being pushed) off to next year. Mr.
Owens noted the work was budgeted for 2013, but was not required and moved to 2014. The
overhead line maintenance will begin in mid-May 2014. Ms. Fisher-Goad believes that helps
answer Mr. Borgeson's question of low actuals versus hig requested budget and agreed a
primer budget is a good idea. .
Mr. Borgeson commented that explanationjanswered)part of his question. He stated he is still
unsure why the actual varianéebetween 2013, budget and)2013 actual, was over $800,000. Mr.
Borgeson noted he sees deferred Work in his review of the codes. Mr. Borgeson requested HEA
provide the Committee a three-minute overview of what is involved in their operation of this
plant, including how many full-time equivalents. and management structure. He believes this
would be helpful to the Cx ommittee.
Mr. Day gave a short Rs iev “describing HI Bradley Lake plant operations and structure.
There are five operators and)Mr. Owens, who is the Plant Superintendent. Mr. Day provides
about 50% ofjhis time to Bradley Lake aetivities and his supervisor, Harvey Ambrose, provides
part of his timeito Bradley Lake activities. Mr. Owens noted there is money budgeted for
engineering time and accounting time.
Mr. Borgeson asked if there was delineation of fully burdened labor and direct labor costs. Mr.
Janorschke asked if the Budget Subcommittee receives a breakdown of the operators’ time and
hours allocated. Mr. Day noted he does not have the specifics of what is included in the
breakdown provided to the Budget Subcommittee.
Chair Evans believes the difficulty the Committee is having is not seeing the breakdown of direct
and indirect costs and not having an explanation of why the amounts are larger or smaller
compared to other years.
Mr. Owens advised HEA presents a comprehensive budget spreadsheet to the Budget
Subcommittee and the O&D, which does not carry forward to the BPMC. Chair Evans
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page 4 of 7
commented that is the problem and it takes time to build up the BPMC's understanding so these
kinds of questions are addressed.
Mr. Borgeson asked for HEA's labor, accounting and engineering, how much is Mr. Janorschke's
salary cost allocated to those as part of this project. He asked the same question with respect to
HEA's Board of Directors, insurance, office building and maintenance. Mr. Day stated he is not
sure he can answer that because he sees the monthly bills and has not seen any time specifically
from any of the categories Mr. Borgeson mentioned. Mr. Day stated HEA operates on a direct
cost basis and if somebody works on a Bradley activity, then that cost accrues to the Bradley
budget. There is no overhead applied to any of the HEA bills. Mr. Borgeson appreciated the
clear answer and suggested there is no cost allocation methodology manual because there are no
costs allocated. The costs are just direct.
Mr. Janorschke requested the BPMC members communicate theifexpectations to their Budget
Subcommittee representatives. Chair Evans believes part of the problem i is new people are
involved and they do not have the experience to’get the answers.
Mr. Miller commented he believes this budget presentation is similar to whathas been provided
for the last 10 years. Mr. Owens stated the Budget Subcommittee received a full breakdown of
HEA's categories, explanations and anany detailed documents and believes that information
needs to be relayed to the BPMC.
Mr. Borgeson commented he recognizes there will bemore cost, expense and time spent in order
to provide the detail BPMC is'requesting and appreciates)HEA has provided the detailed
information to the Budget Subcommittee. Mr) Borgeson requested reviewing the cost of
changing how the budget is presented to the BP! ‘
Mr. Kendall noted Line F of ScheduleéByshows FY2014 YTD is $2.06 million and FY2104
budget is $4.8 million. He asked if there are’projects or maintenance that are not going forward.
Mr. Owens stated there are severalprojects still ifyprocess, including $250,000 for fire protection
upgrade and $800,000 for the Emerson, project. Mr. Day noted the FERC administrative fees,
FERC 928, has a year-to-date of zero, but,the budget is $200,000. He commented there are
many activities that occur at Bradley i in the spring and summer because winter tends to be the
time for planning and contract negotiations.
Mr. Kendall asked if there are currently any projects that are anticipated to be deferred until next
year. Mr. Owens believes all the projects should be caught up this year and does not anticipate
any project deferrals.
A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Mr. Griffith made a motion instructing the Budget Committee to conduct a
review of the 2015 budget including the calculations and make up of the projected expenses
and analysis of the costs to include how they are created and what process is used for
approval, and to make recommendations on how this information is presented in a more
efficient process. Motion seconded by Mr. Borgeson. The motion passed unanimously.
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page 5 of 7
B. Update on Unit #2 response and Operators Report
Mr. Day advised the BPMC received an operators report as part of their packet. Mr. Day noted
there is a chart from the new DCS appended to the back of the operators report.
Chair Evans asked if this chart reflects an event in the system or was this the unloading. Mr.
Owens advised this chart reflects after an event. Mr. Day explained the chart and noted it was
included to show when the governor is working, it works well.
Mr. Day noted there is a full report attached in the packet regarding a potential oil spill incident
where HEA thought they had spilled 150 gallons of hydraulic@il in the Kachemak Bay last
week. There was no spill but discovered a leak and all of the ol was captured in the dirty water
sump. Mr. Day described the involved hardware.
Mr. Janorschke asked what kind of metal is used for the bushings. Mr. Day stated the bushings
are brass. ,
Mr. Kendall asked what is the service life of this hardware. Mr. Day stated hedoes not know
and has been unable to determine the service life. Théyplant/went into service inl991. One
needle was rebuilt in 2002 and anotheriin. 2003, which is about 11 to 12 years of life.
Mr. Kendall asked if HEA has considered rebuilding one a year.as part of a systematic annual
maintenance because it sounds like a 12-year rotations, Mr. Day noted they will consider that
option, but he believes itwwould,be more cost effective to rebuild six needles one year and six
needles the next year Because of the size and difficulty in mobilizing and demobilizing. The
O&D Committee has approved the plan to rebuild the existing spare. An outage will be taken
and the leaking needle willbe replaced with the rebuilt needle.
Ms. Fisher“Goad thanked HEA for contacting,AEA regarding the non-environmental event. She
believes this was a good opportunity to review reporting procedures and noted AEA will offer
recommendations to the BPMC for improving those procedures regarding guidance from BPMC
in non-emergency situations.
8. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
A. Update from Dispute Resolution Committee
Mr. Griffith reported most of the members of the Dispute Resolution Committee do not believe
they are at an impasse on the issues. Mr. Griffith suggested he meet again with Mr. Borgeson
and Mr. Janorschke in attempt to resolve the issues or to declare an impasse.
Chair Evans reviewed committee assignments and believes the motion passed was a clear
assignment to the Budget Committee. AEA is to review non-emergency reporting requirements
and make recommendations to the BPMC. The O&D Committee is to meet and determine which
issues they can answer regarding HEA recommendations to the approved reliability standards.
Chair Evans requested the O&D Committee work with the operator, maintainers, and AEA to
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page 6 of 7
look at all of the issues discussed today, including Mr. Day's recommendation on repair, issues
concerning reporting, and the request regarding the plan for drawing the lake down.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business for the committee, the meeting adjourned at 2:26 p.m.
BY:
BradleyEvans,Chair ss” Evans, Chair
Attest:
SaraFisher-Goads—s—S
Alaska Energy Authority, Secretary
BPMC Minutes 3/21/14 Page 7 of 7
BRADLEY LAKE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
prises Thursday, May 8, 2014 maa as Y N 10.
11.
12.
12.
10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.
Alaska Energy Authority’s Aspen Room
813 West Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, AK
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL (for Committee members)
PUBLIC ROLL CALL (for all others present)
AGENDA APPROVAL
PUBLIC COMMENT
APPROVAL OF PRIOR MEETING MINUTES - March 21, 2014
NEW BUSINESS
A. Report from counsel — Dispute resolution procedures & options under the bylaws
B. Resolving the dispute between Utilities — Resolution 14-11
OPERATORS REPORT
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. O&D — Evaluation of operator report of compliance to reliability standards
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
MEMBERS COMMENTS
NEXT MEETING DATE
ADJOURNMENT
To participate by teleconference, dial 1-800-315-6338 and use code 3074#.
McDowell
Rackner &
Gibson PC
@ee0ee
TO: BPMC Members
FROM: Kirk Gibson
DATE: May 5, 2014
RE: Dispute Resolution Procedures - Options Available to the BPMC
This memorandum reviews the source of authority for the Bradley Lake Project Management
Committee (BPMC) and outlines the options that the BPMC has regarding its dispute resolution
procedures.
Authority of the BPMC
The BPMC is established pursuant to Section 13 of the Agreement for the Sale and
Purchase of Power dated December 8, 1987 (Power Sales Agreement). Section 13(b) of the
Power Sales Agreement provides that the Committee will adopt procedural rules governing
the conduct of the BPMC. The procedural rules were to address, among other matters,
dispute resolution, how the BPMC's procedural rules could be modified, and the applicable
voting requirements for approval of matters to be decided by the BPMC to the extent the
voting requirements for those matters were not otherwise specified in the Power Sales
Agreement. The BPMC Bylaws were adopted by the BPMC in December 1993. The BPMC
Bylaws state that the BPMC Bylaws set forth the procedural rules of the BPMC.'
BPMC's Manner of Acting
A vote taken in accordance with the BPMC Bylaws when a quorum is present shall be binding
on the BPMC members. Section 5.10 of the BPMC Bylaws sets forth the procedural rules that
specify the voting requirements that must be met to authorize an act by the BPMC. The BPMC
actions can be taken by any reasonable voting method.
Procedural Rule - Dispute Resolution
Article 12 of the BPMC Bylaws provides that the BPMC shall perform its decision-making
responsibilities consistent with the Power Sales Agreement and any duly adopted
procedural rules. If the BPMC determines that it has the authority to determine a matter,
1 See Article 1 of the BPMC Bylaws.
Phone: 503.595.3922 + Fax: 503.595.3928 - www.mcd-law.com
419 SW 11" Avenue Suite 400 + Portland, Oregon 97205
May 5, 2014
it shall decide the issue on the merits. In deciding any issue, the BPMC must follow the
procedural rules the BPMC adopted in its Bylaws.
In the Bylaws, the BPMC adopted procedural rules addressing arbitration and procedural
rules addressing the manner the BPMC would otherwise act.? Section 5.10.6 of the BPMC
Bylaws provides that the adoption of procedures for dispute resolution must have
unanimous concurrence. Consequently, the BPMC has three choices when deciding to
take action involving a dispute.
The BPMC can: 1) follow the procedural rules governing arbitration procedures;? 2) adopt new
dispute resolution procedures;* or 3) decide the manner pursuant to its established procedural
rules set forth in Section 5.10 of the BPMC Bylaws.
Any action or failure to act by the BPMC is subject to judicial review in accordance with
Section 12.3 of the BPMC Bylaws.
BPMC's Actions to Date — Next Steps
After the issues concerning performance under the Service Agreement were raised, the BPMC
met and unanimously decided to use a dispute resolution process that utilized discussions and
negotiations, up to and including mediation.® Those discussions and mediation efforts were
unsuccessful. The BPMC has recently deemed the discussions and mediation activities to be at
an impasse.
BPMC's Possible Next Steps
The BPMC has the following options:
1. Adopt (unanimously) another set of dispute resolution procedures;
. Follow the procedural rules governing arbitration procedures; or,
3. | Decide the manner pursuant to its established procedural rules set forth in Section
5.10 of the BPMC Bylaws.
The BPMC could consider additional or a new set of dispute resolution procedures, but it is
doubtful there will be unanimity on the BPMC for following such an approach. The BPMC
could also consider the use of an arbitrator to resolve the issues. If the BPMC chooses to
follow the path of employing arbitration, its arbitration procedures must follow the procedures
set forth in Section 12.4 and 12.5 of the BPMC Bylaws. If the BPMC chooses to move forward
and decide the issues of the dispute that were raised during its deliberations as a committee,
2 See Section 5.10 of the BPMC Bylaws.
3 See Section 12.4 and 12.5 of the BPMC Bylaws.
4 See Section 5.10.6 of the BPMC Bylaws.
5 Section 5.10.6 of the BPMC Bylaws requires that adoption of procedures for dispute resolution require
the unanimous concurrence of all Committee members.
Page 2
May 5, 2014
then the BPMC must follow the applicable voting requirements for approval of matters to be
decided by the BPMC. These voting requirements are outlined in more detail below.®
Special Voting Requirements
There are two basic areas or groupings of issues that are addressed with specific voting
requirements in the BPMC Bylaws. The two areas can be generally characterized by matters
dealing with the Project itself and matters dealing with operational issues.
Project and Power Sales Agreement Related Matters:
In accordance with Section 5.10.5 of the BPMC Bylaws, the BPMC is required to have the
affirmative vote of at least four representatives of the Purchasers whose percentage shares of
Project capacity are greater than 51% plus the affirmative vote of AEA to act on the following
Project-related matters.”
a. Arranging for the operation and maintenance of the Project.
b. Adoption of the budget for Annual Project Costs.
c. Determining the actual Annual Project Costs after the conclusion of the fiscal
year.
d. Determining the appropriate amount of insurance for the Project.
e. Adoption or amendment of procedural rules of the Committee (except for
procedures for dispute resolution which require unanimous agreement).
f. Adoption of maintenance schedules for the Project.
g. The approval (or possible pre-approval) of consultants.
Operational Matters:
In accordance with Section 5.10.4 of the BPMC Bylaws, the BPMC is required to have the
affirmative vote of at least four representatives of the Purchasers whose percentage shares of
Project capacity are greater than 51% to act on the following operational matters.
(i) Adoption of procedures for scheduling, production and dispatch of
Project power.
(ii) Selection among alternative work methods that do not involve AEA
for funding Project Work.
(iii) Establishment of procedures for use of each Purchaser's Water
Allocation, except that AEA's affirmative vote shall be required for any
water allocation decision which affects performance of AEA's obligation
under its FERC license.
6 Reference should be made to the BPMC Bylaws for specific language governing voting requirements.
7 Only a sampling of the voting requirements for certain acting on the matters that potentially could be
related to the issues in dispute are provided in this memo. Careful review of the issue and the voting
requirements set forth in the BPMC Bylaws should be performed for each act of the BPMC.
Page 3
May 5, 2014
Except as noted in (iii) above, the BPMC does not need any action by the Alaska Energy
Authority (AEA) to act upon and/or resolve these operational matters.
Other Matters:
All matters, other than those identified in the BPMC Bylaws as having specific voting
requirements®, are to be decided by the BPMC by simple majority vote.? An example of one
such action is whether the BPMC has authority to act on a matter. The vote on that issue is a
simple majority because there is no specific voting requirement set forth in the BPMC Bylaws.
Acting on Disputes
The BPMC has determined that it has the appropriate authority to resolve the disputes that have
arisen generally under the Bradley Lake Agreements and specifically the Agreement for the
Wheeling of Electric Power and for Related Services (Services Agreement). It appears that most
of the issues that have been discussed by the BPMC Dispute Resolution Committee pertain to
the parties’ performance under the Services Agreement would fall under the voting
requirements related to Operational Matters set forth above. Any budgetary issues involved with
a particular resolution determined by the BPMC may require a vote using the voting
requirements ascribed to the Project and Power Sales Agreement related matters. Careful
review of the issue and the voting requirements set forth in the BPMC Bylaws should be
performed for each act of the BPMC.
® See BPMC Bylaws e.g., at Section 5.10.4, Section 5.10.5, Section 5.10.6, Section 5.10.7, Section 7.3,
Section 7.4, and Section 12.4.
° See Section 5.10.2 of the BPMC Bylaws.
Page 4
Il.
Il.
IV.
BRADLEY LAKE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Resolution 14-11
RESOLUTION RESOLVING THE DISPUTED ISSUES BETWEEN THE
DESIGNATED UTILITIES AND HOMER ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
Table of Contents
SUMMARY 6. 5.cnsss1cnecsoencssuvesonscoxssosesonssevansssscssssssusvsonsssvetsnsussessrevestssecaSsseotasssacererersroserererosed 2
BACKGROUND I ssssrccessncezssesesesesosoreveusssvarevetessssssssoasasasccssesucssnseeseusussoncsstoestesacorsoesaconersseseted 3
ETE PARTIE SH POSITIONS ccescsevscsscrecarcccrseccsosscesesastucarstecssareevesesssssstseassassensereseravesraeeran 7
A. HEA’s Position a8
B:| The Designated Wtilities? Position\:....0.....-vs.csocseacssssvesssvecessececossnvassasteasereeseeeesseeneeeeasaeas 8
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW..............scscssssssscssscsssseesssseosenees 10
A. The Disputed Issues Arise under the Bradley
ake A GreemiGnts vc ccccorssessssssvessstrssssssorsesctbectseresenecossserevonseceescsnccesssscerescussevecessceneecsnesee 10
B. The BPMC Has Authority to Consider and Resolve
Issues Arising Under the Bradley Lake Agreements..............ccscsessesesesseseseeseseteesesenees 10
C. The Bradley Lake Agreements Were Not Modified,
Amended, or Terminated By the Expiration of the
Lease and Chugach Is Still Entitled to Operate,
Maintain, Repair, Dispatch, and Wheel Project Energy
Over the S/O) Line rerececeascssessssrsssecosescssvesossrotecocesecsscroveresasscsecsucsassussusessvessesuesecssvsctecsees 13
D. HEA Will Be Permitted Some Additional Compensation
for the Use of Its System Associated With the Transmission
of Project Energy North of the Soldotna Substation...........cecessessseseeseseeeeseeeeseeeeeeeeees 15
IRES OLUTION ciseneassassexecevevssscesssscvocvassceresssurstevsustsesssusurstseusentoscoupuotensustessuccsesececengnocgnesesens 18
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 1 of 18
BY THE BPMC:
I. SUMMARY
On February 7, 2014, we found that this Bradley Lake Project Management Committee
(“BPMC’”) has authority to consider and decide on their merits the disputed issues between the
Designated Utilities! and Homer Electric Association, Inc. (“HEA”), regarding the continuing
effect of the Bradley Lake Agreements and bonding documents? after the expiration of the Lease*
and whether HEA is entitled to any additional compensation for Chugach’s continued use of
certain electrical facilities north of the Soldotna Substation for the purpose of wheeling energy
from the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project (“Project”) under the terms of the Bradley Lake
Agreements.* Our analysis in support of our finding on authority is contained herein.
Now, after having provided all parties with the opportunity to fully advance evidence, and
brief and argue their positions with regard to the disputed issues, we find that (1) the Bradley Lake
Agreements were not modified, amended, or terminated by the expiration of the Lease; (2) the
' Chugach Electric Association, Inc. (“Chugach”), Golden Valley Electric Association,
Inc. (“GVEA”), Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. (“MEA”), and the Municipality
of Anchorage d/b/a Municipal Light & Power (“ML&P”).
2 The Bradley Lake Agreements include (1) the Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of
Electric Power (“Power Sales Agreement”), (2) the Agreement for the Wheeling of
Electric Power and for Related Services (“Services Agreement”), (3) the Agreement
for the Sale of Transmission Capability, dated December 8, 1987, and the
Amendment to Agreement for Sale of Transmission Capability, dated March 7, 1989
(“Transmission Sharing Agreement”) (hereinafter “Bradley Lake Agreements” or
“Agreements”); and (4) Alaska Power Authority Power Revenue Bond Resolution
(“Bond Resolution”).
> Agreement for the Lease of Facilities, executed by and between Chugach and HEA in
September 1985.
4 See Transcript of February 7, 2014, BPMC Meeting at 104:15-106:6.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 2 of 18
Bradley Lake Agreements continue to provide Chugach with the contractual right and obligation
to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch, and wheel Project energy over the electrical facilities owned
by HEA from the Soldotna Substation north to the Quartz Creek Substation; and (3) HEA is being
adequately compensated for Chugach’s continuing operation, maintenance, repair, dispatching,
and wheeling of Project energy over the electrical facilities owned by HEA from the Soldotna
Substation north to the Quartz Creek Substation but will receive additional compensation as a
reasonable resolution of the disputes.>
Il. BACKGROUND
The Project was made possible through a series of integrated contracts referred to as the
Bradley Lake Agreements and bonding covenants. Under the Bradley Lake Agreements, among
other things, power is sold and transmitted from the Project across Project facilities to the Bradley
Junction, where it then enters the transmission system of Alaska Electric and Energy Cooperative,
Inc. (“AEEC”),° a wholly owned HEA asset. From Bradley Junction, Project energy flows north
along AEEC’s transmission line running from Bradley Junction to the Soldotna Substation
(“Soldotna Segment”). The transmission of Project energy across the Soldotna Segment is
governed by the Transmission Sharing Agreement. Under the Transmission Sharing Agreement,
Chugach, GVEA, ML&P, and MEA contributed to the cost of constructing the Soldotna Segment
in exchange for secure transmission capacity on the Soldotna Segment.
HEA raised other technical disputes regarding Chugach’s performance under the
Bradley Lake Agreements in HEA’s Statement Regarding Dispute Resolution
Procedures filed with the BPMC on January 23, 2014. Those disputes are not addressed
in this Resolution and will be considered and resolved by the BPMC through a separate
resolution.
A single-member generation and transmission cooperative owned by HEA.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 3 of 18
From the Soldotna Substation, Project energy then flows north through AEEC’s
transmission line running from the Soldotna Substation to the Quartz Creek Substation (“S/Q
Line”). For the past 25 years, Chugach has operated, maintained, repaired, dispatched, and
wheeled Project energy north of the Soldotna Substation through certain electrical facilities,
including the S/Q Line, pursuant to the Services Agreement,’ which continues in effect for another
25 years.* There is no provision in the Services Agreement that refers to the Lease or that suggests
the expiration of the Lease will impact the rights and obligations of any party to the Services
Agreement or any of the Bradley Lake Agreements.
The Lease was associated with Chugach’s wholesale power sales to HEA, and the Lease
expired on January 1, 2014.9 HEA believes that, when the Lease expired on January 1, 2014,
Chugach lost the right and the obligation to operate and maintain the electrical facilities north of
the Soldotna Substation owned by HEA (including the S/Q Line). The Designated Utilities
disagree. The Designated Utilities believe that, despite the expiration of the Lease, the Services
Agreement provides Chugach with the right and the obligation to operate and maintain all
electrical facilities north of the Soldotna Substation used to wheel Project energy (including the
S/Q Line).
On December 12, 2013, the BPMC passed Resolution 2013-02, preliminarily finding that
the disputed issues are within the BPMC’s authority to resolve and beginning the dispute resolution
process by appointing a Dispute Resolution Committee to address the disputed issues raised by
HEA and the Designated Utilities. The Dispute Resolution Committee scheduled and held five
7 See Services Agreement at 7-8.
8 See Services Agreement at 3, 28-29.
° See Lease at 2.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 4 of 18
meetings at the offices of the Alaska Energy Authority (“AEA”) to address the issues identified in
BPMC Resolution 2013-02.'° On January 24, 2014, the Dispute Resolution Committee asked all
interested parties to file briefs addressing three issues: (1) whether the BPMC has the authority to
address the underlying disputed issues; (2) whether Chugach has the right and obligation to
continue operating, maintaining, and repairing the electrical facilities used to wheel Project energy
from the Soldotna Substation north under the terms of the Services Agreement; and (3) whether
HEA is entitled to any additional compensation for Chugach’s continuing use of certain of HEA’s
electrical facilities north of the Soldotna Substation used for wheeling Project energy.
On January 27, 2014, the BPMC passed Resolution 2014-02 requiring that “[a]ll Project
participants shall act in good faith to maintain the status quo and permit Chugach to continue to
dispatch, operate, maintain, and repair, the S/Q Line under the terms of the Services Agreement
and the other Bradley Lake Agreements during the pendency of the dispute.” On February 4, 2014,
the Designated Utilities'! and HEA” both filed briefs addressing the issues identified in Resolution
2013-02. On February 7, 2014, based upon consideration of the arguments presented by both the
Designated Utilities and HEA, the BPMC found that it has authority to consider and decide the
disputed issues on their merits.'* The supporting analysis for the BPMC’s decision on authority
is detailed below. On April 11, 2014, the Dispute Resolution Committee made specific findings
regarding the disputed issues in Resolution 14-09. Those findings have been considered by the
10 Those meetings were held on the following dates: January 24, 2014; January 27, 2014;
February 7, 2014; April 11, 2014; and April 17, 2014.
Designated Utilities’ Brief on Disputes with Homer Electric Association, Inc.
(“Designated Utilities’ Br.”).
11
!2. Position Statement of Homer Electric Association, Inc. (“HEA’s Br.”).
'3. See Transcript of February 7, 2014, BPMC Meeting at 104:15-106:6.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 5 of 18
BPMC and are incorporated into the findings in this Resolution. On April 17, 2014, the Dispute
Resolution Committee passed Resolution 14-10 declaring that the parties had reached an impasse
and recommended that the BPMC move forward with formal dispute-resolution procedures. On
April 17, 2014, the BPMC approved the Dispute Resolution Committee’s Resolutions 14-09 and
14-10. Now, in accordance with the dispute-resolution obligations under the Services Agreement
and the BPMC’s Bylaws, the BPMC has determined to decide the disputed issues on their merits.'4
'4 Certain matters were referred to the Bradley Lake Operations and Dispatch Committee
(“O&D Committee”). The technical and operational information provided by the O&D
Committee in response has been duly considered by the BPMC and is incorporated into
this Resolution.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 6 of 18
Ill. THE PARTIES’ POSITIONS
A. HEA’s Position.
HEA asserts that the BPMC does not have the authority to consider or decide the disputed
issues on their merits.'° HEA further asserts that the BPMC’s authority derives from the Power
Sales Agreement and that the Power Sales Agreement does not give the BPMC authority to resolve
the underlying disputed issues.'® Specifically, HEA argues that the BPMC does not have the
authority to consider or resolve the issue of compensation to HEA for wheeling Bradley power.'”
HEA argues that “[n]o provision in any of the [Bradley Lake Agreements] speaks to” the
compensation issue.'* Instead, HEA states that the ultimate decision regarding compensation will
be made by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (“RCA”) or by a court.!?
Moreover, HEA’s position is that Chugach’s right to access and transmit Project energy
over HEA’s facilities arose entirely from the Lease, not the Bradley Lake Agreements.”? HEA
asserts that the “expiration of both the [Lease] and the HEA-[Chugach] power sales agreement”
terminated Chugach’s right to receive power at HEA’s Soldotna Substation and to operate any of
HEA’s transmission facilities.2' HEA explains that upon the expiration of the Lease, HEA began
operating as an independent load-balancing authority and assumed the responsibility of providing
'S See HEA’s Br. at 2.
16 See HEA’s Br. at 2.
'7 See HEA’s Br. at 2.
'8 HEA’s Br. at 2.
'9 HEA’s Br. at 2.
20 See HEA’s Br. at 3.
21 HEA’s Br. at 3.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 7 of 18
transmission services between Bradley Junction and Quartz Creek.”” Finally, HEA argues that the
Services Agreement does not require HEA to maintain the December 31, 2013, status quo.°
B. The Designated Utilities’ Position.
The Designated Utilities assert that the disputed issues arise out of the Bradley Lake
Agreements, and the status quo must be maintained until the disputes are resolved. 74 The
Designated Utilities argue that the BPMC has the authority to consider and decide the disputed
issues on their merits. Specifically, the Designated Utilities argue that the Power Sales Agreement
creates and defines the BPMC’s broad rights and obligations with respect to the management,
operation, and improvement of the Project, and the Power Sales Agreement requires the BPMC to
adopt procedures for resolving disputes that arise under the Bradley Lake Agreements.?> The
Designated Utilities assert that, pursuant to the Power Sales Agreement, the BPMC adopted the
Bradley Project Management Committee Bylaws (“Bylaws”), which contain specific procedures
for dispute resolution.?° The Designated Utilities further argue that the Bylaws’ dispute-resolution
procedures give the BPMC the authority to decide, on their merits in accordance with Article 12
and Section 5.10 of the Bylaws by majority vote, those issues the BPMC determines are within its
authority to consider.?” The Designated Utilities point out that the Services Agreement similarly
provides that all disputes arising thereunder are subject to resolution in a manner consistent with
22 See HEA’s Br. at 4.
23. See HEA’s Br. at 4.
4 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 1-7; see also Tr. 67:18-24 (Feb. 7, 2014, Dispute
Resolution Committee Meeting).
25 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 6.
26 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 6.
27 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 6.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 8 of 18
the BPMC’s adopted dispute-resolution procedures.7® The Designated Utilities, therefore,
conclude that pursuant to the Power Sales Agreement, the Bylaws, and the Services Agreement,
the BPMC has the authority to (1) determine whether it has authority to consider the disputed
issues, and (2) to resolve, on their merits by a majority vote, those issues the BPMC determines
are within its authority to resolve.”
Moreover, the Designated Utilities argue that the Services Agreement and the Lease are
unrelated agreements and that the termination of the Lease did not terminate Chugach’s rights and
obligations under the Services Agreement to operate, maintain, and repair the electrical facilities
north of the Soldotna Substation, including the S/Q Line, for wheeling Project energy.*° The
Designated Utilities assert that Chugach’s rights and obligations with regard to the S/Q Line are
governed by the Services Agreement, not the Lease.*! Further, the Designated Utilities assert that
HEA has been and is still being fairly compensated for the use of its facilities to wheel Project
energy north as a part of the “net economic benefits” all Project Participants recognized and receive
under the Bradley Lake Agreements.*”
28 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 6.
°° See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 6-7.
30 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 2-5.
31 See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 2-5.
32. See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 7.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 9 of 18
IV. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
A. The Disputed Issues Arise Under the Bradley Lake Agreements.
The BPMC finds that the disputed issues between the Designated Utilities and HEA are
essentially a disagreement over Chugach’s and HEA’s relative rights and obligations with regard
to electrical facilities owned by HEA and operated by Chugach to dispatch and wheel Project
energy under the Services Agreement. The BPMC finds that this dispute is governed by the terms
of the Services Agreement and the Bradley Lake Agreements. Further, the BPMC finds that there
exists a dispute as to whether HEA is entitled to any additional compensation for the use of HEA’s
electrical facilities north of the Soldotna Substation for wheeling Project energy. The BPMC finds
that this dispute is also governed by the terms of the Services Agreement and the other Bradley
Lake Agreements.
B. The BPMC Has Authority to Consider and Resolve Issues Arising Under the
Bradley Lake Agreements.
Upon consideration of the Bradley Lake Agreements, the Bylaws, and the arguments put
forth by both the Designated Utilities and HEA, the BPMC finds that it has authority to consider
and resolve the disputed issues on their merits by a majority vote.*> The BPMC finds that the
disputed issues between the Designated Utilities and HEA concern Chugach’s continuing
contractual rights and obligations to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch and wheel Project energy
over the electrical facilities north of the Soldotna Substation and are within the BPMC’s authority
to address and resolve under both the Power Sales Agreement and the Services Agreement.
33 If the resolution of such a dispute also involves an amendment to any of the Bradley
Lake Agreements, then such an amendment would also have to be made consistent with
the language for amendment of the Bradley Lake Agreements.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 10 of 18
The Power Sales Agreement and the Services Agreement place a broad range of rights and
obligations upon the BPMC.** Section 13(c) of the Power Sales Agreement requires the BPMC
to oversee the “management, operation, maintenance, and improvement” of the Project and
requires the BPMC to “[a]rrange for the operation and maintenance of the Project, and the
scheduling, production, and dispatch of Project power.” This language requires the BPMC to
address operation and management issues as well as issues associated with the scheduling and
dispatch of power. The current disputes between the Designated Utilities and HEA concern each
of these areas of the BPMC’s authority. Further, Section 13(b) requires the BPMC to adopt
“procedural rules” for “dispute resolution.”
Similarly, Section 10(b) of the Services Agreement expressly incorporates and designates
the BPMC as the entity responsible for resolving disputes under the Services Agreement.
Specifically, the Services Agreement provides:
At the meetings referred to in Section 10(a), the Parties shall also review
performance under this Agreement, including difficulties encountered under the
Agreement by any of the Parties and allegations (if any) of failure of any Party
to perform the Agreement in good faith in accordance with its terms or intent.
The Parties agree that any further procedures for dispute resolution under this
Agreement shall be entrusted (if the Authority concurs) to good faith negotiation
and adoption by the [BPMC], with Chugach’s affirmative vote required for
adoption of such procedures.*>
This language requires the BPMC to address difficulties encountered with, and the failure of any
Party to perform in accordance with, the terms of the Services Agreement. The current disputes
between the Designated Utilities and HEA concern each of these areas of the BPMC’s authority.
34 See Power Sales Agreement at 19-23; see also Services Agreement at 18.
35 Services Agreement at 18.
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Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 11 of 18
The BPMC’s authority over the issues in dispute between the Designated Utilities and HEA
is also consistent with the exemption of the Bradley Lake Agreements from any regulatory
oversight under AS 42.05.431(c). Absent such an exemption, the rights and responsibilities of
utilities over electrical facilities and rates would be resolved by the RCA. In the case of the Bradley
Lake Agreements, however, the Legislature exempted all such matters from the RCA and
permitted them to be addressed and resolved by the industry through the specialized experience
and expertise of the BPMC.
This ruling on the authority of the BPMC is required under Article 12 of the Bylaws entitled
“Procedures for Dispute Resolution.” Article 12.2 of the Bylaws states that “in the event the
authority of the [BPMC] to act is at issue, the [BPMC] shall first make a finding as to its authority.”
Once such a finding is made, the BPMC has the authority to decide, on their merits, those issues
the BPMC determines are within its authority to consider. Finally, with regard to these particular
disputes, Article 5.10.2 of the Bylaws provides that “the act of a majority of votes taken during a
meeting at any time when a quorum is present, shall be an act of the [BPMC], and binding on the
members.”?°
The BPMC, therefore, concludes that (1) the disputed issues between the Designated
Utilities and HEA arise under the Bradley Lake Agreements; and (2) the Power Sales Agreement,
the Services Agreement, and the Bylaws provide the BPMC with the authority and the
responsibility to resolve the disputed issues between the Designated Utilities and HEA.
Cc. The Bradley Lake Agreements Were Not Modified, Amended, or Terminated
by the Expiration of the Lease, and Chugach Is Still Entitled to Operate,
Maintain, Repair, Dispatch, and Wheel Project Energy Over the S/Q Line.
36 Emphasis added.
Resolution 14-11
Resolving Dispute between Utilities Page 12 of 18
Upon consideration of the Bradley Lake Agreements and the evidence and arguments put
forth by both the Designated Utilities and HEA, the BPMC finds that Project energy enjoys
priority status for transmission services from the Project north to the Project Participants. The
expiration of the Lease did not modify, amend, or terminate the Services Agreement or the priority
status that Project energy enjoys thereunder. Instead, transmission services across the S/Q Line
continue to be governed by the Services Agreement. The Services Agreement requires Chugach
to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch and wheel Project energy over the electrical facilities from
the Soldotna Substation north.*” And, the Services Agreement requires Chugach to perform those
38 services for 50 years.”* The shorter term of the Lease is never mentioned in the Services
Agreement.*° Significantly, the Services Agreement does not limit Chugach’s rights or
obligations to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch and wheel Project energy over HEA’s facilities
north of the Soldotna substation to the term of the Lease. Instead, the Services Agreement requires
Chugach to exercise such rights and obligations throughout the 50-year term of the Services
Agreement without any qualification or limitation relating to the Lease. Notably, the Services
Agreement was executed two years afier the Lease.*” Thus, if the parties had intended that the
expiration of the Lease would terminate Chugach’s rights and obligations under the Services
37 See Services Agreement at 2 (“At the request of any Wheeling Utility, Chugach will
provide wheeling, storage, and energy purchase services to such Utility for that Utility’s
Bradley Lake Energy in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.”); see also
Services Agreement at 7-8 (“Chugach will in good faith and at all times: . . . operate,
maintain, and repair the electrical facilities used to perform the services provided
hereunder... .”).
38. See Services Agreement at 3, 28-29.
39 The Lease expired on January 1, 2014. See Lease at 2.
40 The Lease was approved by the Commission in Order U-85-013(3), June 4, 1985. The
Services Agreement was executed on Dec. 8, 1987. Services Agreement at 1.
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Agreement, they would have expressly qualified or limited those rights and obligations to the term
of the Lease. Further, such a limitation would not be reasonable to imply, given the Services
Agreement’s express requirement that Chugach operate, maintain, repair, dispatch and wheel
Project energy over HEA’s facilities north of the Soldotna substation for 50 years, the length of
time the bonds would be outstanding. Finally, GVEA, MEA, and ML&P were not parties to the
Lease between Homer and Chugach and, thus, expiration of the Lease could not be deemed to
affect GVEA’s, MEA’s, and ML&P’s rights under the Services Agreement.
Additionally, the Services Agreement can only be amended, renegotiated, or terminated at
an earlier date by unanimous agreement.*! As such, the Chugach delivery point for Project energy
may only be changed from the Soldotna Substation to the Quartz Creek Substation as a “successor
facility” through the “written consent of all Parties.”*? HEA’s attempts to unilaterally terminate,
amend, or renegotiate the Services Agreement through its Tariff Filings and actions impeding
Chugach’s ability to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch and wheel Project energy over the S/Q
Line are improper.
The BPMC, therefore, concludes that the expiration of the Lease, which was neither
referenced in nor related to the Bradley Lake Agreements, does not affect the continuing rights and
obligations under the Services Agreement or the priority status Project energy enjoys thereunder.
Instead, HEA must act in good faith to honor its commitments under the Services Agreement and
allow Chugach to continue operating, maintaining, repairing, dispatching, and wheeling Project
energy over HEA’s facilities north of the Soldotna Substation.
41 See Services Agreement at 3-4.
See Services Agreement at 3. As the Designated Utilities point out, at least ten sections
of the Services Agreement would have to be amended in order to effectuate such a
change in delivery point. See Designated Utilities’ Br. at 2, n.5.
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D. HEA Will Be Permitted Some Additional Compensation for the Use of Its
System Associated With the Transmission of Project Energy North of the
Soldotna Substation.
The BPMC finds that the parties to the Services Agreement and the Transmission
Sharing Agreement anticipated that the Project would produce “net economic benefits” for all the
parties, including HEA.*? Specifically, all parties received the benefit of being able to purchase
cheap power from the Project. Further, HEA received contribution from the other Project
Participants to build the Soldotna Segment.*4 HEA was designated as the operator of the Project
and receives compensation for its services provided as such. HEA’s system is more reliable as a
result of having the Project located on the southern edge of HEA’s system. HEA receives the
ongoing benefit of Chugach operating and dispatching Project energy at less than Chugach’s actual
costs of providing such services. And, HEA is benefited as a result of its right to pay for the
scheduled dispatch of its Project power on an energy-delivered basis as opposed to an energy-
reserved basis. The BPMC finds that, in exchange for those benefits, HEA committed its system
to be used for the transmission of Project energy to the Project Participants in accordance with the
Bradley Lake Agreements. Thus, HEA is adequately compensated under the Bradley Lake
Agreements for the use of HEA’s system and is entitled to no additional compensation.
Nonetheless, in the interest of reaching a resolution among the Project Participants, the
BPMC orders that HEA is to receive additional payments from the other Project Participants for
the continuing use of HEA’s facilities north of the Soldotna Substation throughout the term of the
Services Agreement. While HEA is not entitled to any additional compensation under the
controlling Bradley Lake Agreements, the BPMC holds that permitting HEA some additional
43 Services Agreement at 1; Transmission Sharing Agreement at 1.
44 Transmission Sharing Agreement at 2-3.
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compensation would be the most efficient and reasonable resolution of the disputes. Such a
resolution, while providing HEA with additional compensation, preserves the structure and terms
of the Bradley Lake Agreements by maintaining and continuing Chugach’s responsibility and
obligation to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch, and wheel Project energy over HEA’s facilities
north of the Soldotna Substation. Such a resolution also provides the most efficient continuing
means to dispatch Project energy to the Project Participants.
The amount of additional compensation shall consist of both a fixed and a variable
component. The fixed component is to be an amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
($300,000) per year, which provides additional compensation to HEA to resolve the disputes
concerning the Project Participants’ continuing use of HEA’s transmission facilities from the
Soldotna Substation north under the Bradley Lake Agreements. The variable component is to
consist of reasonable costs incurred by Chugach in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Services
Agreement to maintain and repair HEA’s transmission system from the Soldotna Substation north
when such maintenance is performed by or through HEA’s own efforts. Chugach has the
continuing obligation under the Services Agreement to authorize and approve all such variable
maintenance costs. Such fixed and variable amounts are consistent with the maximum
compensation HEA has recovered historically from Chugach through the formula elements set
forth in the Bradley Lake Agreements and represent a reasonable remedy under the circumstances
of these disputes. These fixed and variable payments are effective and required from January 1,
2014, until the expiration of the Services Agreement.
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Vv. RESOLUTION
THE BPMC FURTHER RESOLVES:
1. As discussed in the body of this Resolution, the BPMC has the jurisdiction and
obligation to resolve the disputes at issue.
2. As discussed in the body of this Resolution, the expiration of the Lease had no
effect on the operation of the Services Agreement.
3. As discussed in the body of this Resolution, Chugach will continue to operate in
accordance with the rights and obligations agreed to in the Services Agreement. Accordingly,
Chugach will continue to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch, and wheel Project energy over HEA’s
facilities north of the Soldotna Substation in accordance with the terms of the Services Agreement.
4. As discussed in the body of this Resolution, HEA is violating BPMC Resolution
14-02 by not maintaining the status quo while this dispute is being resolved by the BPMC.
5. HEA shall take all reasonable steps to provide Chugach with the information and
physical capability (where HEA cooperation is needed) to continue to perform its responsibilities
in the same manner as Chugach did prior to January 1, 2014.
6. HEA shall act in good faith to provide such cooperation as Chugach may from time
to time request to allow Chugach to fulfill its responsibilities to operate, maintain, repair, dispatch,
and wheel Project energy over HEA’s facilities north of the Soldotna Substation under the Services
Agreement, as those responsibilities have been clarified in the body of this Resolution.
Ts HEA shall amend its tariff filings designated TA355-32 and TA356-32 (“HEA’s
Tariff Filings”) with the RCA to expressly provide that HEA’s Tariff Filings shall not apply to any
and all services or rates covered by the Bradley Lake Agreements, as those services and rates have
been interpreted and more fully identified in the body of this Resolution. Additionally, such
amendment shall specifically and expressly provide that (a) HEA’s Tariff Filings shall not apply
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to any services associated with the transmission of Project energy; (b) HEA’s Tariff Filings shall
not affect the priority status that Project energy currently enjoys under the Bradley Lake
Agreements; and (c) HEA’s Tariff Filings shall not apply to or require compensation for the use
of HEA’s facilities associated with the transmission of Project energy. HEA shall file such an
amendment to its Tariff Filings in accordance with this Resolution of the BPMC within 15 days
from the date of this Resolution.
8. HEA is to submit its request for variable component cost recovery to the BPMC in
accordance with terms announced in section IV.D. of this Resolution within 15 days from the date
of this Resolution.
9. Chugach is to submit appropriate payments to HEA, consistent with compensation
terms announced in section IV.D. of this Resolution, within 30 days of the date of this Resolution.
10. All parties are entitled to seek immediate judicial enforcement of the terms of this
Resolution before the Superior Court for the State of Alaska, Anchorage District.
DATED AND EFFECTIVE this day of , 2014.
By. Bradley Evans
BPMC Chair
Sara Fisher-Goad
Secretary
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DISPUTED ISSUES
The Designated Parties assert and HEA denies the truth or accuracy of the following
propositions:
1
HEA does not have the legal right to recover transmission-related costs for wheeling
Bradley Lake energy though a tariffed rate filed with the Regulatory Commission of
Alaska (RCA).
The RCA does not have jurisdiction to approve a tariffed rate which allows HEA to
recover its costs of wheeling Bradley Lake energy.
HEA did not have the legal right to remove from the Soldotna Substation the CEA
meter used to measure the Bradley Lake power flow to that substation.
The term "Soldotna Substation" as used in the Services Agreement, means the
physical facility by that name located in Soldotna, Alaska unless and until changed by
an amendment to the Services Agreement.
HEA has a legal and/or contractual duty to permit CEA physical access to certain
areas within its Soldotna Substation to enable Chugach to maintain a metering point
for and to receive delivery of Bradley Lake power.
HEA has a legal and/or contractual duty to permit CEA physical access to its
Soldotna Substation and the transmission lines between the Soldotna and Quartz
Creek Substations to enable Chugach to transmit Bradley Lake power from HEA’s
Soldotna Substation to CEA’s Quartz Creek Substation.
HEA has a legal and/or contractual duty to permit CEA physical access to its
Soldotna Substation and the transmission lines between the Soldotna and Quartz
Creek Substations to enable Chugach operate, maintain and repair the facilities.
The legal and contractual rights and duties referred to in the above list arise under
and by virtue of one or more of the Bradley Lake Agreements and AS 42.05.431(c).