The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month. Meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and are held in the department conference room at 65 Lafayette Ave, Littleton. Board meetings are open to the public and time is allotted for public comments at each meeting.
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The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting began at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2012 in the Littleton Water and Light Department (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Eddy Moore, Commissioner Perry Goodell, Financial Services Director Cheryl Wilkins and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of June 4, 2012 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Goodell made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moore.
The vote was in favor 3-0-0.
SUPERINTENDENT/ MANAGERS REPORT:
1. The department completed a procurement process on Thursday, June 7, 2012 for wholesale power resources (energy) which included resource allocations in year 2013, 2014 & 2015. Five (5) providers submitted bids in accordance with the department’s request for a proposal that included peak, off-peak and base load projected load requirements. The projected expenses associated with this solicitation are expected to be approximately twenty (20) percent lower than the department’s current cost of wholesale power. Demand (Kilowatt) charges are projected to increase and are expected to offset some of the savings gained as a result of the recent purchase. This procurement will affect all customers though generally those with a poor power quality factor(s) will be more affected by an increase in costs associated with demand charges.
2. The BOC discussed the final approved version of NH senate bill (Chapter 150) in regard to privacy concerns with the installation of Smart Meter Gateway Devices on residential properties. The department currently does not have the capability of operating an automatic metering interface (2 way communications) platform, due to limitations with the Inhance utility billing software. Over the past couple of years the department has operated an automatic meter reading platform and this type of technology is not affected by the new law as it is only capable of communicating data in one direction (outbound) from the meter.
3. Goulet Communications, Inc. will be installing a new Avaya Internet Protocol (IP) Office communication phone system for the department over the summer. The new digital telephone system is expected to fully integrate the phone and computer systems. In addition to handling typical office transactions the new system will record all telephone transactions, both incoming and outgoing phone calls are recorded and can be downloaded as needed. After hours and trouble/ outage calls will be recorded and available for personnel to trend and manage activities more efficiently.
4. Due to limitations with the Inhance Utility billing software selected office personnel will participate in a web demonstration with Harris Computer on Thursday, June 21, 2012. LWL personnel will be shown the major functional applications available with Harris computers premier software (North Star) suite.
5. The Town of Littleton has requested an abatement of water usage for Feb 2012 through Jun 2012 do to a failed water closet that was not noticed by occupants of the Town Building/ Opera House. The BOC agreed to abate (credit) the amount requested by the Town correspondence (letter not dated) received by the LWL on June 8, 2012 in the amount of $451.20 once the leak(s) are confirmed repaired. Current meter reading consumption indicates that the issue/ problem has not been resolved.
6. NHDOT, Highways Maintenance office in Concord advised the department to postpone action with regard to terminating service to the I-93 ramp lighting in accordance with their April 6, 2012 correspondence. NHDOT needs to officially advise the effected communities in writing in regard to their proposed plan to turn off the ramp lighting as a cost saving measure.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. The BOC discussed the process of reestablishing service to a customer’s account that was terminated as a result of being declared delinquent (as defined by NHPUC 1200). Currently the customer is charged for a 3 hour call–out if the customer decides that they want their power reconnected after regular business hours, on weekends and holidays. Many utilities do not offer after business hour’s reconnection services on an account whose service was terminated for being delinquent because of liability to personnel, additional cost incurred by the department to manage these type accounts, and the circumstances are complicated when dealing with accounts that are declared delinquent.
Following a brief discussion and an overview of the department current business practice regarding the management of delinquent accounts, the BOC agreed that it did not seem to be in the best interest of our customers and the department. The BOC decided that in accordance with NHPUC 1203 – “Reconnection of Service” that the LWL would adopt the following policy: “No service that was terminated for being delinquent shall be reconnected after regular business hours, on weekends or on any holiday, unless a medical emergency exists.” A highlighted note will be placed on the department’s “Disconnection Notice” to inform customers going forward.
2. Commissioner Moore expressed his appreciation for making repairs to the roadway/ driveway section adjacent to Millworks.
Superintendent Considine stated that the LWL facilitated the repair process as there was some confusion as to whether it was part of the town roadway or driveway. The damage appears to have been caused by a plugged pipe at the junction of several roadway drains that kept the ground saturated. The Littleton DPW was able to remove the restriction allowing the pipes to drain properly.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Goodell.
The vote was in favor 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
The regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting is held twice monthly on the first and third Monday, at 1:00 p.m., in the Department’s conference room.