HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_GTEU_12.17.2020 CanceledMinutes of the Meeting for the
Georgetown Electric Utility Advisory Board
Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 4:00 PM
at: Virtual Meeting (Zoom)
Board Members Present:
Via Teleconference (Zoom): Robert Case -Vice-Chairman, Sam Jones - Secretary, Mike Triggs,
Rick Woodruff
Board Members Absent: Bill Sattler - Chairman
Staff Present:
Via Teleconference (Zoom): David Morgan, Daniel Bethapudi, Mike Westbrook, Michael
Weisner, Leigh Wallace, Jennifer Flor, Cindy Pospisil, Laura Wilkins, Leticia Zavala Jones,
REGULAR SESSION:
A. Call to Order - Robert Case, Vice -Chairman
Meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM by Case.
B. Roll Call of Board Members present.
Mr. Sattler was absent.
C. Introduction of Visitors
No visitors were present.
D. General Manager's Monthly Report - Daniel Bethapudi, General Manager of the Electric
Utility
- Customer Care Report
Leticia Zavala-Jones gave Customer Care Report. Comparison of the beginning of this
year vs. last year. Revenues were higher than we anticipated. A 6% system growth - we were very
fortunate to have good growth. Question from Woodruff - in general revenue is running lower but
overall sales revenues are up? Answered by Bethapudi with a second review of slide #10. Bethapudi
stated that one thing that helped was Leticia's group tightened up processes with focus on the
numbers and that has paid off for us.
- Fourth Quarter Financial Report
Leigh Wallace gave the 4thQuarter Report for 2020. Good news on the Preliminary Un-
Audited Report. Overall, it has been a good year. Case and Jones congratulated the staff. Lots of
good work over the last year.
- Monthly Operations Report
Georgetown Electric Utility Advisory Board
Agenda for Thursday, December 17, 2020
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Westbrook gave the Operations Report - Increase in residential and significant increase
in new commercial business - which is good to have. Question by Case - what is the nature of the
commercial business coming in? Answered by Westbrook - Professional office developments;
car washes - some operating 24 hours a day. Developments along IH-35 frontage road;
developments along Williams Drive. Finished up Wolf Crossing on SH-29 across from Wolf Ranch,
includes an Aldi grocery store. A nice broad range of small and large businesses. Woodruff asked
about the Tesla Super Charger any idea on the time frame on that? Answered by Bethapudi - we
have sourced the transformer needed and sent them the design. Tesla has slowed down their
approach to that. Still going through the development process. Coming in 2021- Titan Development
- 33,000 sq. ft. buildings - large commercial loads - industrial. Reviewed the statistical pages.
- Year -End Review
Bethapudi gave overall summary of the year in review. Updated Risk Management
Policy. Used a more disciplined, systematic approach which helped a lot. Comment from Jones -
companies who do their own work in-house usually are better able to respond to situations.
Woodruff agreed and, looking forward, would like to understand how the City is dealing with cyber-
security risks. Bethapudi responded that we will put this as an item on a future agenda.
Bethapudi continued summary - We were able to lower the Power Cost Adjustment
(PCA) by $0.01
E. Overview of Collection Agency process and next steps. - Cindy Pospisil, Customer Care
Manager.
Cindy Pospisil gave an update on Request for Proposal (RFP) for Collection Agency. RFP
done in mid -November. We received 5 proposals. A Cross -department team reviewed and
scored the proposals. Turn all score sheets over to Purchasing. Purchasing will invite the top
2 firms to present their proposals. They will do background checks and reference checks.
Plan to take this to Council in February.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION:
F. Review and possible approval of the minutes from the meeting of October 15, 2020 - Laura
Wilkins - Executive Assistant MOTION by Jones, second by Triggs to approve the minutes
as presented. Roll Call Vote - APPROVED 4-1(Sattler absent)
G. Consideration and possible recommendation to approve annual task orders: Task Order MEI-
21-001 for Electric System and Planned Capital Improvement Projects in the amount not to
exceed $200,000, Task Order MEI-21-002 for Electric System Engineering Planning and
Assistance in the amount not to exceed $250,000, and Task Order MEI-21-003 for New
Development Engineering and Design in the amount not to exceed $590,000 with McCord
Georgetown Electric Utility Advisory Board
Agenda for Thursday, December 17, 2020
Page 3 of 4
Engineering Inc., of College Station, Texas for professional engineering services. -Mike
Westbrook, Electric Operations and Engineering Manager Westbrook presented the item.
MOTION by Triggs, second by Woodruff to recommend approval of the three task orders
(MEI-21-001; MEI-21-002; MEI-21-003) as presented. Roll Call Vote - APPROVED 4-1 (Sattler
absent)
H. Consideration and possible recommendation to renew the Annual Electric System
Underground Construction and Maintenance Bid for labor services to Pedro S.S. Services, Inc.
of Austin, Texas, in the not to exceed amount of $2,000,000.00 - Mike Westbrook, Electric
Operations and Engineering Manager Westbrook presented the item. This is the second
annual contract renewal. MOTION by Triggs, second by Woodruff to recommend approval
of the construction maintenance bid at $2 million dollars as presented. Roll Call Vote -
APPROVED 4-1 (Sattler absent)
I. Consideration and possible recommendation to continue utilizing the annual agreement for
LCRA Material Acquisition to purchase electric distribution, fiber, water, safety, and
substation materials, hardware, and tools for Fiscal Year 2021 from Techline Ltd. under their
contract with the Lower Colorado River Authority ("LCRA") Electric Material Acquisition
Program in the not to exceed amount of $4,000,000.00 - Mike Westbrook, Electric Operations
and Engineering Manager Westbrook presented the item and said that per previous
discussion, we will be actively looking for a possible different supplier for our materials
req u i remen ts. Question from Woodruff - if you do find another entity to provide materials -
would you come back with a different entity? Answered by Westbrook - Yes we would go
out for bids, and score them and bring to the Board a final recommendation. MOTION by
Jones, second by Woodruff to recommend approval of the LCRA Materials Acquisition
Program not to exceed $4 million as presented. Roll Call Vote - APPROVED 4-1 (Sattler
absent)
MOTION to adjourn to Executive Session: MOTION by Woodruff, second by Jones to
adjourn Regular Session and move into Executive Session. APPROVED 4-1 (Sattler absent)
Regular Session Adjourned at 5:10 PM
Executive Session called to order at 5:11 PM by Case
J. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Section 551.086: Competitive Matters
- Purchased Power Review
Triggs left meeting at 5:32 PM - quorum was maintained - meeting continued.
Georgetown Electric Utility Advisory Board
Agenda for Thursday, December 17, 2020
Page 4 of 4
MOTION by Woodruff, second by Jones to adjourn Executive Session and reconvene in Regular
Session. APPROVED 3-2 ( Triggs and Sattler Absent)
Executive Session Adjourned at 5:44 PM
Regular Session reconvened at 5:44 PM
Action from Executive Session: NO ACTION
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Jones, second by Woodruff to adjourn the Electric Board meeting.
APPROVED 3-2 (Triggs and Sattler Absent)
ELECTRIC BOARD MEETING ADJOURNED at: 5:45 PM
Bill Sattler - Chairman Sam J es - Secretary
Laura Wilkins - Board Liaison