Ubits November/December 2017
Dec. 31 Incentive goal forms due
MyTPU.org/incentiveform
Director for a decade
UBITS STORY
Bill Gaines to retire in December
When Bill Gaines accepted the job as TPU Director 10 years ago, he may not have predicted the wild ride it would become. A recession. A drought. A $187 million filtration plant. Key executive retirements. Two different mayors, three city managers, and a complete turnover of the Public Utility Board. Regulatory and governance changes. The list goes on and on. “I was, and still am, thrilled to have been selected by the Board late in 2007 to succeed Mark Crisson as the leader of Tacoma Public Utilities, “Bill said. “TPU is a gem of an organization with a rich history of leadership and a very deep bench of talent. I’m not sure how well the public and elected leaders understand that; if they did, I believe their appreciation of the important role TPU plays in the community would grow significantly.” In the decade that followed his appointment as director, TPU flourished under Bill’s leadership.
If you asked Bill about his top priorities as leader, you would hear the words financial stability, long-term planning, businesslike, customer focus, and team based-management. He talks of past TPU leaders who made smart decisions for customers and the health of the organization, and set out to ensure his decisions and those of his management team continued that legacy. “TPU was built on a solid foundation, and prior leaders have made smart and strategic decisions – like investing in hydropower, securing a healthy water supply and being an active part of the industry and the community,” Bill said. “As the director, I have felt a great responsibility to do more than rely on that foundation. I have wanted to build upon that legacy so people look back some day and say I made the right decisions.” continued on page 2
In this issue
Pages 4-5
Page 6
Page 8
Bits & Pieces
Cowlitz Falls North Shore Collector
Scott Dewhirst
Bill Gaines’ Retirement
continued from page 1 The foundation has been tested. In 2009, the country faced Testing TPU’s foundation also came in the form of one of its worst recessions in decades. TPU’s financial situation what some might consider crises.
was solid when it hit, but Bill and the rest of the leadership team needed to work hard to minimize impacts to employees and customers. “It took creativity to manage through that recession,” Bill said. “We did it with minimal rate increases, and meanwhile achieved an increase in our bond ratings. It made me appreciate even more the capabilities of the professional workforce in this organization.”
Some other long-term planning and financial work that’s taken place in the last 10 years includes: • Ending a years-long struggle with the Skokomish Tribe, and securing a 50-year license for the Cushman Hydro Project • Negotiating new power supply contracts with the Bonneville Power Administration – including restructuring how the utility purchases power from BPA • Revising a long-term water sales contract with the Cascade Water Alliance that benefits both organizations • Completing the $187 million Green River water filtration plant • Selling bonds, receiving upgraded bond ratings and maintaining those ratings • Securing no-interest Build America Bonds for power and water projects • Establishing a long-term rail partnership with the Port of Tacoma and participating in the recruitment of the Grand Alliance of shipping companies to Tacoma
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In 2015, the region experienced one of its worst droughts in recent history. The drought threatened both Tacoma Water and Tacoma Power, who have obligations to maintain river flow levels while also providing customers the power and water they need. Both utilities met their regulatory requirements, while also maintaining service to customers. In 2016, Tacoma Water launched a customer-wide effort after receiving water sample results that indicated potentially high levels of lead in the water. The results turned out to be an anomaly, but the utility’s reputation was at risk for a short time. “Both experiences provided some learning lessons for us,”Bill said. “Contrary to what one might expect, the confidence of our customers actually improved after these events. That tells me we handled them fairly well.” Although he wouldn’t refer to himself as a tree hugger, Bill supported several important utility environmental initiatives during his tenure as director. “In this region, it takes more than just complying with regulations when it comes to the environment,” Bill said. “We’ve done that and more.” It takes no more than looking at the Warehouse Building to see one of the utility’s most visible and customer-favored environmental projects: community solar. Built in 2015, the community solar project sold out faster than any other utility’s in Washington state. More than 1,000 customers bought in to the project, and their satisfaction soared with the chance to support local renewable energy.
Some other major environmental activities completed under Bill’s leadership include: • Embracing and exceeding the energy conservation targets required by a voter initiative passed in 2006 • Replacement and modification of Tacoma Rail locomotives to significantly reduce air emissions and improve air quality in the Port of Tacoma • Construction of two new fish hatcheries • First-ever recognition from the Bonneville Power Administration for energy conservation As the top guy responsible for this utility, Bill has pushed and supported many initiatives to make things better for employees and customers. “I feel one of my greatest achievements as it relates to employees has been breaking down organizational ‘silos’ and emphasizing the importance of team-based management across the TPU organization,” he said. Bill also helped develop a citywide market-based compensation system that was put into effect in 2009. “It is essential for TPU to have the compensation tools necessary to recruit and retain its highly skilled workforce.”
He also led the development of annual business unit and employee goals tied to performance evaluations. Anticipating the changes taking place in the utility industry, in 2013 Bill launched a broad initiative focusing on TPU’s customers. Elements of this program included formation of employee groups focused on customer and market research, marketing, and economic development. Other elements included enhanced technology projects in the Customer Service area to enable more customer self-service opportunities, and to bring TPU to a level of maturity more consistent with what customers might experience in the consumer marketplace.
Some other notable management activities in Bill’s time at TPU include: • Managing the retirements and replacement of three Power superintendents and two Water superintendents • Creating service-level agreements with the City’s Human Resources, IT, Finance and Legal groups • Increasing TPU’s focus on emergency preparedness and management • Making significant physical and cyber security changes at TPU’s facilities • Developing succession plans to prepare TPU executives for future opportunities Bill also continued TPU’s legacy of leadership in the community, and in the utility industry. He served on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Board. He was chairman of the 2010 United Way fundraising campaign. And he championed deeper TPU involvement in local economic development and job creation. He evolved as a recognized public power leader, and brought recognition to TPU at the regional and national levels. In 2017, Bill was elected by his peers as vice chair of the American Public Power Association, after serving on APPA’s board for three years. Previously, he served for two years as chair of the Large Public Power Council, representing the nation’s 26 largest public power utilities. When Bill retires on Dec. 2, will he look back at these and many other accomplishments with pride? “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at TPU, and the many things we have accomplished together. The support I have had from the employees, the business community, and the industry have enabled and affirmed what we have done. Despite changes to its governance, it is my sincere hope that TPU can continue its focus on the business of serving customers in a quasiindependent, no-nonsense and apolitical fashion.”
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bits & pieces COMING OUT OF THE DARK
Fleet Shop and Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery upgrade to LED lighting Two Tacoma Power buildings are finally seeing the light – and it’s LED! The Fleet Shop at the main TPU Administration Building and the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery recently received lighting upgrades that are already saving the utility energy and money.
Fleet Shop gives up its dungeon cred
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Word on the street is that the Fleet Shop has been in need of new lights for many years. There were a lot of dark spots and shadows throughout the shop that made it difficult for workers to do their jobs. Employees described it as “cave-like” or “like working in a dungeon” and often used flashlights, head lamps and shop lights to see well enough to do their work. Thanks to a cross-functional team of employees from Generation, Fleet, Conservation and Purchasing, the Fleet Shop is seeing things in a bright new way. “The new LED lighting provides a safer, better-lit and overall improved working environment,” said Fleet Manager Don Ashmore. “It has created a friendlier environment – no one likes to work in the dark.”
Don said his team is proud that the estimated energy savings of this project is 60%, which equates to more than $6,000 annually. This project qualified for a Tacoma Power Bright Rebate of $17,500. “We sincerely appreciate the project team’s willingness to ensure the Fleet Shop was provided with exactly what we needed,” Don said. “We’re no longer working in a dungeon!”
Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery partners with Lewis County PUD
When the 7-year-old lights started burning out at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, Hydro Electrician Mark Dean had a bright idea: Look into Lewis County PUD conservation programs for new lighting. Lewis County PUD supplies power to Tacoma Power’s two hatcheries on the Cowlitz River. Just like TPU’s own conservation programs, Lewis County PUD has energy efficiency programs for business customers; one aspect includes offering rebates for lighting. “I had worked previously with Lewis County PUD to upgrade to ductless heat pumps for some of
the residences at the hatcheries,” Mark said. “When I noticed the fluorescent lights were burning out, I contacted them about using their program to install more energyefficient LED T8 bulbs.” Lewis County PUD performed an assessment and offered to pay 70% of the cost of materials and labor. “We ultimately needed 1,082, 12-watt T8 LED bulbs to replace the 32-watt T8 fluorescent bulbs in the fixtures,” Mark said. “That equaled two entire pallets of bulbs.” It took approximately two weeks to swap out the bulbs; Mark replaced ballasts as needed. Mark said they also ended up replacing the lighting in two more buildings and some street lights. “The whole hatchery has been updated to LED lighting,” Mark said. “Thanks to the 70% rebate from Lewis County PUD, and the savings we’ll receive on our monthly power costs, it will take us less than a year to repay this initial investment and start reaping the long-term benefits of being more energy-efficient.”
OUT WITH OLD AND IN WITH NEW
Project will replace halide streetlights in Tacoma with LED lights Tacoma Power and the City of Tacoma’s Public Works Department will complete a project to replace about 75 percent of the city’s aging halide streetlights with new, energyefficient LED fixtures. The upgrades to about 16,000 lights will help decrease light pollution and increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The new lights also will bring financial and environmental benefits. The City spends about $1 million annually to power its streetlights and traffic signals.
The estimated $6.9 million LED replacement project will save the City about 11,500 megawatt hours of electricity each year– enough to power about 1,000 homes. The new LEDs will use 25 to 35 percent of the energy the existing streetlights use, last an average of five times longer and cost less to maintain and replace. The City plans to complete the project by the end of 2018. An interactive map available at MyTPU.org/streetlights shows the upgrade schedule by neighborhood.
DON’T WAIT!
Incentive Goal forms due by Dec. 31
MyTPU.org/ incentiveform
The end of the year is fast approaching, and so is the deadline to get your Community Involvement Incentive Goal completed, documented and turned in. Submit your Community Involvement Goal activities by 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, using the online form at MyTPU.org/incentiveform. If your form is not submitted by this time, you will not qualify for the Community Involvement Goal (no exceptions).
CHANGE STARTS HERE
Employees provide for community needs through United Way Campaign Many TPU customers rely on United Way services. In fact, utility bill assistance is the number one request United Way receives through its 2-1-1 call center – a resource and referral line for people in need. During TPU’s recent United Way Campaign, 350 employees raised more than $164,000, which will go right back into our community to help customers pay for utility services and other basic needs. About $142,500 came in the form of pledges, $1,200 in donated PTO, $17,000 from the basket raffle, $1,900 from special events through Click! and Retirement, and the last $1,500 was raised at Celebrity Waiters Night. “The generosity of our employees continues to amaze me,” said Community Connection Program Manager Erika Tucci. “This high level of giving is one more way our employees demonstrate they truly care about the customers we serve.” Check out photos from the entire campaign at bit.ly/tpuuw17.
Eligible submissions must include:
• A total of eight hours of eligible activities. • At least four hours of volunteer work for a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving the poor or infirm.
• No more than four hours of eligible donation credit. • Volunteer activities performed within TPU’s service territory. You can earn the Community Involvement Incentive Goal time as long as you’ve earned at least one Business Unit Goal and been employed with TPU at least six months during the calendar year. For more Incentive Program information, check out Unet or call Erika Tucci at 253-502-8225.
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Fish collector is an engineering feat Question: When is it OK to carve two giant holes in a dam? Answer: When it’s not your dam. Answer: JUST KIDDING! When they enable building a phenomenal fish collector that supports restoring natural-origin fish populations on the Cowlitz River in Lewis County. Tacoma Power’s new Cowlitz Falls North Shore Collector literally runs through the Cowlitz Falls Dam. The collector is part of a long-term agreement Tacoma Power signed in 2014 with Lewis County PUD, the dam’s owner, and BPA, which originally owned the dam’s fish facilities. The agreement allowed Tacoma Power to take ownership of the existing fish facilities and remodel them, and build the new collector. “Our ultimate goal is fish population recovery on the Cowlitz River, where we own Mossyrock and Mayfield dams and two hatcheries. Building this collector to help improve our fish collection rate is a critical step in helping us achieve that goal,” said Generation Manager Chris Mattson. Promising results
The $35.5 million collector has been running continuously since it was fired up on April 17. Despite one of the most dynamic and challenging water years on record, the collector has shown promising results.
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Although capture rates are still below the utility’s 95% fish passage survival goal, preliminary findings indicate that steelhead and coho collection has improved by 15% to 20% and Chinook as much as 40% relative to similar water years. “But it is important to note we are still in the very early stages and have a lot to learn,” said Adaptive Program Manager Matt Bleich. Tacoma Power engineers and biologists took innovation to the next level and built the collector with responsiveness in mind. “This is an incredible, world-class collector,” said Natural Resources Manager Keith Underwood. “The ability of this collector to shift operations and adapt to seasonal environments is like nothing we’ve seen before.”
Balancing act
Tacoma Power worked with multiple state and federal agencies, the Yakama Tribe and other organizations to design and site the collector. Matt said one huge consideration for the team was the fact that Tacoma Power built the collector on another utility’s dam. “We are working with Lewis County PUD, BPA and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to figure out how to cooperatively support flexibility in power generation while still optimizing fish collection and attraction,” Matt said.
Things are swimming along
Matt says this has been a great shakedown year for the collector. His team is currently acquiring and analyzing baseline performance data. “We are looking at discovery, entrance, retention and collection efficiency measures to understand how effective the collector is in different phases; this will help us make any necessary adjustments to maximize performance into the future,” Matt said. Tacoma Power will also begin remodeling the adjoining fish sorting and handling facility in 2018. “We’re focusing on making sure that facility will be able to handle the larger numbers of collected fish anticipated and that it’s built ergonomically so staff can work efficiently,” Matt said. This collector is just one tiny cog in the entire Cowlitz fisheries machine. “We must consider our role in hatchery production, habitat improvements, fisheries management and the harvest in and out of the basin,” Matt said. “We take our role in these responsibilities very seriously, which is why we are investing so heavily with time and resources as we work toward the recovery of self-sustaining fish populations.”
Eight graduate from apprentice programs Five Tacoma Power apprentices graduated to journey-level status in 2017 after completing thousands of hours of on-the-job-training, classes and tests. The two most recent graduates from Tacoma Water’s rigorous Apprenticeship Training Program are now full-time water utility workers as well. Congratulations!
Tacoma Power
Pictured from top left to bottom right: Colten Wesen, Jesse Bauer, Andrew Burkhard, Robert Marty, Zachery Zuhlsdorf
Tacoma Water
Pictured from left to right: Alfonso Gonzales, Dalyn Davis, Chris Costa
Who’s new around here
Sarah Cox Engineering Technician Tacoma Power
Scott Dewhirst Superintendent Tacoma Water
Raymond Hogue Utility Worker Tacoma Water
Andre Pedeferri Assistant Manager Tacoma Power
Zachariah Shoemaker Utility Worker Tacoma Water
Joshua Yandle Utility Worker Tacoma Water
Jennifer Otis Professional Engineer Tacoma Water
Who retired
Nicolas Garcia, assistant manager with Tacoma Power, retired in October after 10 years of service. Rich Mizner, utility service specialist with Tacoma Water, retired in October after 24 years of service. Mark Nesbitt, substation operator with Tacoma Power, retired in September after 8 years of service. Gene Olson, utility worker with Tacoma Water, retired in September after 19 years of service.
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Tacoma Public Utilities PO Box 11007 • Tacoma WA 98411
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TACOMA WA PERMIT NO 2
Tacoma Water Superintendent Scott Dewhirst reports for duty
Ubits is a publication for Tacoma Public Utilities employees and is provided as a courtesy to retirees. cms@cityoftacoma.org
After a nationwide search, Tacoma Water welcomed Scott Dewhirst as its new superintendent in early October. Scott spent the first few weeks in his position learning about Tacoma Water’s operations, people and initiatives. “I feel like I’m drinking out of a water hose right now and that’s a good thing,” Scott said. “There’s a lot to learn and take in because every utility is set up, run and regulated a little differently. What’s clear to me about Tacoma Water so far is that things have been very well done by a dedicated staff, and I only hope to build upon that.” Scott says he looks forward to meeting and getting to know everyone, and learning what each person does to satisfy Tacoma Water’s mission. “It’s obvious to me that we have a great staff,” Scott said. “I want to find ways to keep employees engaged. My goal is to figure out what they want to take ownership of and enable employees at all levels to make decisions. Everyone should understand how their job fits in to the overall mission, know that their job is as important as anyone else’s, and believe that when we all work together, we can truly do amazing things in our industry.”
As far as priorities go in his new position, Scott is first gathering information that will enable him to make informed, strategic decisions. “I’m the kind of person who doesn’t want to make any hard or fast decisions until I know how the organization works, who does what, what’s working and not working, and what initiatives we should prioritize,” he said. “I didn’t come here with a preset agenda, so until I know those things, I want to gather input from staff, learn and then make decisions about how to move forward.” Scott worked for Newport News Waterworks in Virginia the past 17 years in a variety of roles. He started as an engineer in 2000, and most recently served as the assistant and interim director. Prior to that, he worked as an engineer for Black & Veatch, an international engineering, consulting and construction company.