HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.07.30 IMC Executed MinutesAlaska Intertie Management Committee (IMC)
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Teleconference
Friday, July 30, 2021
1. CALL TO ORDER
Jeff Warner called the meeting of the Alaska Intertie Management Committee to order
on July 30, 2021, at 9:03 a.m. A quorum was established.
2. ROLL CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Members present: Jeff Warner (Chugach Electric Association (CEA)); Tony Izzo
(Matanuska Electric Association (MEA)); John Burns (Golden Valley Electric
Association (GVEA)); and Kirk Warren (Alaska Energy Authority (AEA)).
3. PUBLIC ROLL CALL
Public present: Betty Caudle (Accu-Type Depositions); Jennifer Bertolini (AEA);
Debra Caldwell (AEA); Dona Keppers (AEA); Melissa Yang (AEA); Don Maynor
(ARECA Insurance Exchange); Sherri Highers (CEA); Russell Thornton (CEA); Stefan
Saldanha (Department of Law); Pete Sarauer (GVEA); Ron Woolf (GVEA); Bob Day
(HEA); Larry Jorgenson (HEA); Andy Patrick (HEA); Kirk Gibson (McDowell Rackner
& Gibson PC); David Pease (MEA); Bernie Smith (Public); and Christina Hunter
(Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA)).
4. AGENDA APPROVAL
MOTION: Mr. Izzo made a motion to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by
Mr. Warren.
Mr. Warren made a friendly amendment to move Item 7A Election of Officers prior to
Item 10 Member Comments. There were no objections to the friendly amendment.
A roll call was taken, and the amended agenda, moving Item 7A prior to Item
10, was approved unanimously.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None
6. APPROVAL OF PRIOR MINUTES - June 25, 2021
MOTION: Mr. Burns made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes of June 25,
2021. Motion seconded by Mr. Warren.
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A roll call was taken, and the Minutes of June 25, 2021 were approved
unanimously.
7. OLD BUSINESS
7A. Bylaw Amendment
Chair Warner informed that this item is renumbered as Item 7, reflecting the
amendment to the agenda. He requested Kirk Gibson, McDowell Rackner & Gibson
PC, present on the Bylaw Amendment. Mr. Gibson informed that the main intent for
the update on the Bylaws was to incorporate the new annual system demand by
purpose voting and voting in all other matters that was approved by the IMC. The
Bylaws have been reviewed and revised by Stefan Saldanha, Department of Law.
Changes to notice requirements were implemented to match the current statutes
from the original Bylaws. The two principal areas in the Bylaws that were affected
include the section regarding noticing meetings and the section regarding the annual
system demand. Mr. Gibson advised that the revised Bylaws have been distributed to
members and to their counsel for review. He believes that the changes are
straightforward and noncontroversial. Mr. Gibson requested that the clean copy of
the Bylaws be approved by the IMC. There were no questions.
Chair Warner acknowledged that he has read the changes made and he believes that
they are appropriate.
MOTION: Mr. Warren made a motion to approve the amended and restated
Bylaws, dated July 30, 2021, as presented. Motion seconded by Mr. Burns.
A roll call vote was taken, and the motion to approve the amended and restated
Bylaws, dated July 30, 2021, as presented, was approved unanimously.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS
8A. OC Report/ Operators Report
Chair Warner provided the Intertie Operating Committee (IOC) Report dated July 30,
2021. Item 1B is related to the spin study. EPS provided the benchmark of the model.
EPS has made recommendations and modifications to the model to better reflect
actual system operations. The study is moving forward and is on schedule. Chair
Warner informed that the IOC met yesterday and discussed this item. The System
Subcommittee provided a report on the ongoing study. The recommendations will
include allocation to span across the railbelt. It is anticipated that the work will be
conducted in the near future.
Chair Warner explained that Item 1C is related to the GVEA flight inspection that
occurred in August 2020. A ground patrol inspection followed in April 2021, and
visited to all of the sites that were identified as problematic. Two issues of concerns
were found in Towers 531 and 532. The repair plan is being formulated and it is not
IMC Meeting Minutes - July 30, 2021 Page 2 of 5
anticipated to be burdensome. The IOC will report back to the IMC when the plan is
finalized.
Chair Warner discussed that Item 2 of the report outlines the significant intertie trip
that occurred on June 3, 2021. The line outage lasted from 10:59 a.m. until 1:29 p.m.
The intertie experienced a phase to ground fault and the line tripped open. Chair
Warner noted that no loadshed was experienced. Significant power oscillations
occurred with a peak -to -peak magnitude of 223 MW measured between Quartz Creek
and Daves Creek. The voltage was problematic, but a voltage collapse was avoided.
Chair Warner noted that the Operations Study was reviewed at yesterday's IOC
meeting. The work has been completed for the Healy 1 and 2 units. The RFP has been
released for the tuning of the resources at Nikiski and Bradley. The Kenai SVC work
is upcoming and is being monitored through the Bradley 0&D Committee. The IOC is
working with the Systems Study Subcommittee (SSS) and Machine Ratings
Subcommittee to discuss additional issues on the upcoming work. The $865,000
Douglas Com Project is anticipated to utilize part of AEA's appropriation funding to
the utilities. The IOC requested that the project manager, CEA, work with the SCADA
Subcommittee and AEA to finalize the scope in order to continue forward momentum.
Chair Warner discussed that the additional work on the related project to Healy is
ongoing and has to be completed by GVEA.
Chair Warner reviewed the discussion regarding project repair of Cantwell
equipment and the substation, which is wholly -owned by AEA. Possible actions
include creating a demarcation of the assets and resources between AEA and GVEA.
Work is ongoing to develop a comprehensive equipment list and project suggestions
for demarcation. Chair Warner highlighted the third quarter Reliability Report. As
indicated, there were only two loadshed experiences by GVEA. The IOC is awaiting
outage report information from some of the utilities. Chair Warner noted that the
report still lists ML&P, and that the listing should be removed.
Mr. Burns asked if there were recommendations resulting from the analysis of the
intertie trip that occurred on June 3. Chair Warner noted that discussions occurred
relating to the Oscillation Study that was conducted to help identify and correct
issues. The SSS is researching the development of a test plan in September or October
to test the work performed on the resources in the railbelt to ensure the work is
effective in reducing the oscillations. Additional study work may also be forthcoming.
There were no other questions.
8B. Budget to Actuals
Mr. Warren invited Debra Caldwell and Melissa Yang, AEA, to present the Budget to
Actuals Report. Ms. Yang discussed that the report covers the period of July 1, 2020
through May 31, 2021. The revenues are higher than budgeted by $629,000. This is
primarily due to GVEA's higher than budgeted usages of approximately 66,000 Mwh.
Operating expenses are under budget by $86,000. This is primarily due to lower
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maintenance of overhead lines in FERC 571, and is slightly offset by higher
maintenance of station equipment in FERC 570. More labor has been shifted to
station equipment maintenance, resulting in lower maintenance of overhead lines.
Ms. Yang reviewed that the administration costs are lower than budgeted by
$215,000. This is primarily due to slightly higher than anticipated AEA
administration costs and offset by lower than anticipated miscellaneous studies. The
year-to-date actuals reflect a surplus of $383,000.
Mr. Burns asked Chair Warner if the lower than anticipated maintenance costs are
due to deferral of maintenance. Chair Warner responded that he will research the
issue. He does not know which of the anticipated projects have not yet been
completed. Chair Warner asked for an explanation of the process that would trigger
an adjustment to the budget. Ms. Caldwell explained that the Intertie budget is
handled differently than the Bradley Lake budget. The Bradley Lake budget often
utilizes budget amendments that has a threshold of $250,000. Ms. Caldwell noted
that there is an option within the Intertie Agreement that allows for budget
amendments. The option has not been used historically. Ms. Caldwell explained that
the Committee can discuss the decision to implement the policy. There were no
additional questions.
9. NEW BUSINESS
9A. Election of Officers
Chair Warner requested Mr. Gibson explain the voting requirements for the election
of officers. Mr. Gibson advised that a majority vote is required for the election of
officers. He opened the floor for nominations for the position of Chair.
MOTION: Chair Warner made a motion to nominate and accept Mr. Burns as
Chair for the next cycle. Motion seconded by Mr. Izzo.
No other nominations were offered.
A roll call vote was taken, and the motion to nominate and accept Mr. Burns as
Chair passed unanimously.
Mr. Gibson opened the floor for nominations for the position of Vice -Chair.
MOTION: Mr. Warren made a motion to nominate and accept Edward Jenkin,
MEA, as Vice -Chair. Motion seconded by Mr. Burns.
No other nominations were offered.
A roll call vote was taken, and the motion to nominate and accept Mr. Jenkin as
Vice -Chair passed unanimously.
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Mr. Gibson noted that the Secretary/Treasurer position is historically held by AEA's
representative. He asked if there were any objections to continuing this precedent.
There were no objections.
A roll call vote was taken, and the confirmation to accept AEA's representative
Mr. Warren as Secretary/Treasurer passed unanimously.
Mr. Gibson expressed congratulations to the new officers. He turned the meeting over
to the newly elected Chair Burns.
10. MEMBER COMMENTS
Mr. Warren announced that today is Ms. Caldwell's last day with AEA, as she has
accepted an amazing opportunity. He expressed appreciation to Ms. Caldwell for her
service to the State and to AEA. Mr. Warren expressed confidence that Ms. Yang will
continue her high level of work efficiency on both IMC and BPMC budget matters.
Mr. Warner thanked Ms. Caldwell for keeping him on track related to budget items
over the last year. He looks forward to working with Ms. Yang in the same capacity.
Mr. Warner congratulated Chair Burns.
Mr. Izzo echoed the previous comments. He thanked Mr. Warner for his leadership
tenure. Mr. Izzo congratulated Ms. Caldwell on her exciting opportunity.
Chair Burns echoed the previous comments. He expressed appreciation to AEA staff
for their efforts in gathering and presenting all of today's necessary information.
Chair Burns wished Ms. Caldwell good luck in her future endeavors.
11. NEXT MEETING DATE - September 24, 2021
Mr. Warren informed that CEA has requested the next meeting be changed to October
1, 2021 due to a conflict. There was no objection to the date change.
12. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business of the AIMC, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.
Joh Burns, hair
Kir rren, Secreta
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