MID Board Report Archive

Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board Meeting of Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Contact: MID Public Affairs Department, Melissa Williams, 209 526-7390
The next MID Board meetings will be January 22, February 12 and February 26.

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, CA 95350, telephone (209) 526-7360, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.

Staff and director reports

Power outages & power supply during recent storms

• Assistant General Manager of Transmission & Distribution Tom Kimball discussed the power outages resulting from the recent storms. Overall, the system held up well as only approximately 7,500 customers experienced momentary losses in power, four sustained feeder outages occurred and there was minimal damage to MID facilities. Kimball attributed this to the District’s tree trimming strategies, MID crews’ efforts and the design of the system.
• Assistant General Manager of Electric Resources Roger VanHoy reported that things were quiet on the power supply side as well during the storms. MID was able to purchase power from the Northwest and South with only minor curtailments on the imports due to the weather.

Water report

Walt Ward, Assistant General Manager of Water Resources, provided the following updates:

• The recent storms brought the snow pack up to average to date.
• Rainfall is currently above average season to date. We received approximately 2.68 inches during the storms of Thursday through Saturday of last week.
• Don Pedro is up about one foot. More water can easily be taken into storage, as the current level is still about 50 feet below the flood curve.
• Preliminary salmon counts are in at 1,000 returning adults with 200 salmon in the
  Tuolumne.

Approved by unanimous vote

• The 2007 Annual Public Benefit Review and the 2008 MID Electric Utility Public Benefit budget.
• Implementation of the 2008 Energy Efficiency Programs. In addition to existing programs, new programs – including both residential and commercial incentives – will be introduced to meet increased energy savings goals and to comply with new reporting requirements.
• An interest rate swap transaction with Bear Stearns Financial Products, Inc. Authorization of necessary action to convert existing variable rate debt to fixed rate.
• Acquire, install and maintain system continuity for Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s Northern California Joint Pole Association utility code, including execution of agreements for approved budgeted software licenses, upgrades and support. This software is designed to improve the current joint pole application processing time and improve accuracy of information.
• Execution of a utility agreement between MID and State of California – Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for widening of Highway 219. The agreement requires MID to relocate poles with Caltrans right-of-way, and requires Caltrans to reimburse MID for pole relocations where MID has an existing easement.
• Implementation of budget transfers for five Don Pedro capital items using funds from the Ripon Water Treatment Plant Improvement capital account. These items include major road repair, unit sub breaker replacement, a new pickup truck for the District biologist (shared with TID), a new debris barrier and a new tugboat.