Placer County Water Agency Update

Auburn, Calif.- Directors of the Placer County Water Agency on Thursday (Apr. 18) approved several measures related to future operations, maintenance and energy sales of the PCWA Middle Fork American River Hydroelectric Project.

Andy Fecko, the water agency’s director of resource development, said the measures are needed this year as PCWA begins operations under a new power sales agreement with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Directors approved four agreements with PG&E that cover interconnections between PCWA power plants and the PG&E transmission line system.  Fecko said the interconnected lines serve a single purpose of carrying PCWA energy output to market so the agency must contribute to their operation and maintenance.  

The agreements are for the Oxbow, Ralston, Middle Fork and French Meadow/Hell Hole generating facilities.   Cost to PCWA over the 10-year term of the contracts is $602,500. 
      
The board also approved an on-call product and services agreement with PG&E for backup maintenance, engineering and testing services as needed.

Directors also adopted a new policy governing PCWA compliance with safety and reliability standards of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). 

In other business, directors:

• declared that up to 16,500 acre-feet of water would be available this year to agricultural growers in PCWA Zone 5 in far western Placer County.
• authorized the temporary one-year sale of up to 20,000 acre-feet of surplus water from the PCWA Middle Fork American River Project to the Westlands Water District.  Director of Strategic Affairs Einar Maisch said surplus water is sold only after Placer County needs are met and that the sale could bring PCWA $3.3 million if Westlands purchases the entire amount.
• welcomed Tamra West, president of the Foresthill Public Utilities District, who publicly thanked and recognized PCWA Human Resources Consultant Shelley Langan for assistance with the recruitment process for FPUD’s new general manager.

Information on PCWA board meetings may be obtained through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850 or (800) 464-0030.