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Board Report Archive
Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board Meeting of Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Media contact: MID Public Affairs Department, Kate Hora, 209 526-7454
The next MID Board meetings will be Aug. 26; Sept. 9, 23 and 30; and Oct. 7, 14 and 28.
The MID Board Report is a summary of highlights of meetings of the MID Board of Directors and not a complete or official record of proceedings. Official records of proceedings of the MID Board of Directors are contained in the Minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors. For information about the Minutes, please contact the Office of the Board Secretary, 1231 Eleventh Street, Modesto, telephone 209 526-7360, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, excluding holidays, or email Board@mid.org.
Public hearings
- Miscellaneous changes to MID’s 2008 electric rates and service rules
Among other changes, eligibility for the MID CARES low-income discount program would be raised from 155 to 160 percent of federal poverty guidelines, allowing approximately 900 – 1,000 additional residential electric customers to qualify for the discount.
- Optional pilot time-of-use residential electric rate in Mountain House
The proposed rate would offer participants an opportunity to better manage electric costs by shifting consumption to off-peak times of day and allows MID staff to gather data about customer responsiveness to price signals.
Following the public hearings, the MID Board amended the first proposal with respect to a fee for submersible transformers, then approved both proposals by a 4–1 majority vote.
Staff reports
Water Report
Bill Ketscher, Irrigation Engineering Manager, reported that some growers have begun their last irrigation prior to harvest. An end-of-season drop in irrigation water deliveries is expected soon. Water storage levels in the upper Tuolumne watershed are expected to begin dropping sharply. Other water agencies are ending their irrigation seasons early, and continuing dry conditions are now forcing MID to take a hard look at 2009. Elevation in Don Pedro Reservoir is at 750 feet compared to 770 this time last year, and staff expects the number to fall to around 720 by year-end. MID has received a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding minimum fish flows in the Tuolumne River. A discussion with Turlock Irrigation District is scheduled next week. MID is moving forward with Phase One of the SCADA system upgrade. The system is expected to be online on a test basis around Oct. 1.
Don Pedro Board of Control Report
Director Cecil Hensley reported that the Board of Control reviewed a proposed fee schedule that included increases in slip rental fees ranging from 32–73 percent.
2008 Summer Peak Week Operations Review
Electric Resources Assistant General Manager Roger VanHoy gave an overview of the week of July 6–12, the hottest week so far in 2008. Peak load so far this year was 650 megawatts on Wednesday, July 8. This may not have been the peak load for 2008 since no canneries were online. On July 8 MID held one McClure unit in reserve for emergencies. The new Westley-Rosemore transmission line afforded system operators greater flexibility and a more comfortable safety cushion.
Approved by unanimous vote
A resolution to authorize District Representatives to execute agreements related to conversion of 2004B Certificates of Participation to a fixed interest rate.
Approved by majority vote
A resolution reprimanding Director Serpa for violations of District rules and regulations regarding Board of Director conduct.
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