Winter 2023 Ubits

Ubits

Winter 2023

New solar panel installation at the Oasis of Hope Center supplies more than power

Nestled on G Street among homes, churches, and businesses, the Oasis of Hope Center overlooks downtown Tacoma and farther still to the Cascade Range and mighty Mt. Rainier. Situated in the Hilltop neighborhood, the Center has been providing vital services to our community’s youth for 18 years. As a faith-based nonprofit, the Center is “firmly dedicated to serving our community with integrity, while engaging our neighborhood families. We believe in education, mentoring, providing health services, counseling, and youth crisis prevention resources [for] building nurturing relationships... that will foster individual growth.”

In this spirit of providing education and inspiration to their community, the Center began adding solar panels to their building, demonstrating the feasibility of projects like this in the Hilltop neighborhood. Additionally, the renewable energy system would help offset the Oasis of Hope’s energy costs, freeing up more of the Center’s resources for its programs and services.

While the Center was eager to begin work on the project, as a nonprofit, they needed financial and technical assistance to make their dream a reality. They applied for and were awarded an Evergreen Options grant. These grants are funded by Tacoma Power customers who participate in Evergreen Options. The funds buy renewable energy certificates and support renewable energy through grants. The Evergreen Options grant awarded to the Center provided $50,000 toward their project. Spark Northwest, another nonprofit whose mission is “partner[ing] with communities to build an equitable clean energy future,” secured additional funding and provided project management assistance. Finally, Sphere Solar Energy, a minority-owned business and a union-signatory electrical contractor, installed the project.

The community here [Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood] doesn’t have a lot of education or experience with renewable energy. This installation will spark conversations; people will ask, ‘what is that on your roof?’ and we will be able to talk about the importance of renewable energy, and the careers available to young people in renewable energy.”

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Executive Director of the Center, Tim Thomas, explained the importance of the solar panel installation.

p The Oasis of Hope Center solar panel installation with a ribbon cutting on Sept. 16. From left to right: Edwin Wanji, founder and CEO of Sphere Solar Energy; Bishop Prentis Johnson, Greater Christ Temple of Tacoma; Chris Robinson, superintendent of Tacoma Power; Christine Cooley, former chair of the Tacoma Public Utility Board; Bobby Coleman, board member of Spark Northwest; Tim Thomas, executive director of the Oasis of Hope Center.

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New solar panel installation at the Oasis of Hope Center supplies more than power

Edwin Wanji, founder and CEO of Sphere Solar Energy, echoed the importance of demonstrating the potential of renewable energy careers to youth, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities like Hilltop.

There are good-paying jobs in renewable energy,” Wanji said. “The sector is going to continue to grow and provide young people with good, union jobs for years to come.”

Power Superintendent, Chris Robinson participated in the ribbon cutting for the event and remarked, “...this is a substantial solar project that will significantly reduce [the Center’s] operating costs so they can use the savings for the wonderful things they do here.”

The project at the Center also took the dedicated effort of the Power Customer Energy Programs (CEP) team. They worked with the partners involved, including the installer Sphere Solar, Spark Northwest, and the Oasis of Hope Center, to ensure the grant was administered and the project stayed on track. Bernie Peterson, the CEP outreach coordinator, helped organize the ribbon cutting at which she and Sara Bowles, senior power energy conservation analyst, provided Hilltop community members with information about Evergreen Options and the Power energy conservation programs.

Power believes in partnering with customers to reduce their energy use, which helps ensure our region’s energy needs are met well into the future. Programs like Evergreen Options, which are funded directly by customers, present an important opportunity to keep development and renewable energy projects local.

New lighting installed under the Union Avenue bridge

Safety is a priority at TPU and following safety best practices around work areas helps prevent injuries. When a safety concern and less-than-ideal working conditions were brought up last year, Tacoma Water took corrective action. Crews were working in the dark under the Union Avenue bridge with only their headlamps and vehicle headlights. The team worked to improve the work environment, provide a secure space, and protect staff from potential accidents. Floodlights and overhead lights now illuminate the area under the bridge, and convenience outlets are available for plug-in equipment.

These improvements also offer additional power and communication opportunities for future use. These opportunities could include extra lighting, security cameras, or various electrical equipment installations under or near the bridge. The work was made possible by our electricians Mike Haley and Mike Martin, the 401 Field Services crew comprised of Brad Gronlund, Tina Best, Anthony Garza, and Erika Geske, and electricians from McKinstry utilized from our new electrical maintenance contract. Field Services Lead Kyle Munkres and his crew consisting of Jeff Winden, Connor Burke, Eric Staley, and Savanah Tith, also supplied support.

The project took advantage of the new electrical infrastructure installed from an earlier electrical vehicle charging project that ran lighting circuits to the bridge. Early in the planning stage, they consulted with an ERW Lighting & Controls representative to determine the proper lighting needed for the type of work that occurs in these areas, such as operating heavy equipment, loading equipment and materials on large vehicles, and using forklifts to move equipment on and off shelving units. City of Tacoma Public Works bridge engineer Steve Carstens was consulted and approved plans for legal installation points along the bridge. The area and storage space are maintained and used by our Water division.

Water Engineer Ryan Floth praised the project team for the excellent work. It’s rewarding to combine resources and knowledge from different teams to accomplish a shared goal that is important to the safety of our field crew,” Ryan said. “Everyone involved made this project possible, and it is a great example of what we can accomplish as one large team! Each of those involved in this project was a huge pleasure to work with, and I am thankful for their hard work, critical thinking, and problem solving during this effort.”

Today, there are 28 lighting fixtures installed across four bays, four floodlights for an area where heavy machinery operates, and 24 overhead lights where equipment is stored on shelving units. In addition, power outlets are available in each bay to allow a crew to plug in equipment when needed. The new infrastructure allows a crew to work more efficiently, adds security, and improves safety.

New lighting and power outlets were installed under the Union Avenue bridge to ensure greater efficiency and a safer work environment for employees.

p Water employees help install the new lighting under the Union Avenue bridge.

Community Connection wraps up another successful year of giving

Community Connection evolved again last year with the return of in-person events, including Emergency Food Network food repacks, Habitat for Humanity builds, Rebuilding Together Day, the United Way kick-off, closing ceremony, and Celebrity Waiters, and Salvation Army holiday volunteer opportunities at the Tacoma Mall. The return of inperson events and the new hybrid structure that evolved over the past three years has brought our events to a sweet spot of success. There is no better way to show the success of your outreach to our community through volunteer hours and donations than to say it in numbers.

YOUR 2022 IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS

Nourish Food Drive (Jan.) collected 1,750 pounds of food and items for Nourish Pierce County.

Food & Basic Supplies Drive (June) received $5,040 in donated items

Delectable Desserts (Feb.) collected 13 dozen treats for seniors at Lutheran Community Services Northwest and raised over $1,900 for the TPU Senior Assistance Fund.

School Supplies & H.U.G.S . (July/Aug.) collected $7,465 in donated items for HopeSparks.

Bowl-A-Thon Photo Scavenger Hunt (March) raised $7,320 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.

Dam Ride (Aug.) raised $4,260 for the TPU Senior Assistance Fund.

Taste of TPU (April) raised $1,575 for the TPU Senior Assistance Fund and donated 51 meals to Lutheran Community Services Northwest Meals on Wheels.

Community Connection Book Drive (May) collected 562 books for Communities in Schools of Tacoma.

Rebuilding Together Day (Aug.) and Habitat for Humanity builds (May/Sept.) brought more than 42 TPU employees to volunteer to help build and rebuild homes in our community.

Puyallup Food Bank Food Drive (Oct./Nov.) helped us collect 1,426 pounds of food

Adopt-A-Family (Dec.) brought in $11,772 in Christmas gifts for families through Comprehensive Life Resources.

TPU Giving Tree (Dec.) helped you provide 209 gifts to children through the Salvation Army over the holidays.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND GIVING SPIRIT THROUGHOUT 2022!

TPU United Way Campaign (Sept./Oct.) - raised $169,559 for this year’s hybrid United Way Campaign! You helped to tackle poverty at its roots. In 2022 we welcomed the return of the raffle, prize patrol, and Celebrity Waiters.

PLUS, THESE OTHER UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN NUMBERS

109 Leadership Level donors (over $500 donated )

p 2022 Habitat for Humanity, TPU Women’s Build

334 PTO/VAC hours donated = $14,658

$12,913 raised from raffle ticket sales, T-shirts, Celebrity Waiters, etc.

Tacoma Public Utility Board formally adopts updated rates for customers

After the Tacoma Public Utility Board voted to approve updates to utility rates, the City Council voted in late November to approve the 2023-2024 proposed biennial budget. The budget covers maintaining safe, reliable service to customers and enhancing residential assistance programs for income-constrained customers while balancing increased costs from inflation.

Inflationary pressures have driven up costs for the utility — the cost to construct and maintain utility infrastructure, such as power transformers and water reservoirs, has risen with supply chain constraints. Wages have also increased to keep pace with the labor market, and inflationary pressures have impacted other costs such as fuel and insurance.

In 2023 and 2024, customers will experience a system average rate increase of 3.5 percent for power and 4 percent for water, below the 9 percent inflation rate in the Puget Sound region. These increases are designed to be gradual, preventing future large increases while providing safe and reliable services.

As a part of the budget and rates proposal, Tacoma Public Utilities will provide enhanced residential assistance programs for customers who need it most. These enhancements will provide an automatic bill credit based on qualifying income thresholds. As a result, the total available household aid for the five City utility services will increase from $672 per year to $967 in 2023 and $1,035 in 2024, offsetting rate increases for those who qualify.

The increases in water bills took effect in January during off-peak water consumption, while power bills will increase in April, after winter’s peak power needs.

Tacoma Water hits an advanced meter project milestone

COMMERCIAL METER UPGRADES COMPLETE

Tacoma Water met a major advanced metering milestone when its Meter Shop completed all assigned commercial and industrial advanced meter upgrades. The Meter Shop maintains meter sizes greater than 1 inch and all dedicated fire services. The effort to exchange or retrofit more than 5,300 meters took five years, completing on schedule. At the start of the advanced meter installations, finishing on time and schedule did not look promising based on historical projections. However, the team’s performance exceeded expectations through continuous improvement efforts to test advanced metering compatibilities and optimize installation planning for efficiency.

Throughout the project, the primary focus was communicating with customers to ensure the upgrade went smoothly.

The team provided exceptional customer service, minimizing customer impact when service disruptions were required,” stated Corey Bedient, senior project manager. “In addition, they adapted to challenges and maintained positive attitudes when encountering obstacles. Examples of some challenges include staffing shortages, supply chain impacts, and learning multiple work management systems.”

When asked about the milestone achievement, Dan Martin, advanced metering infrastructure analyst and former Meter Shop lead, said, “I’m proud to be part of this team. The pandemic brought challenges that no one could have planned for, and still, the work was completed on schedule. I’m looking forward to the new possibilities that advanced meters will provide Tacoma Water and its customers in the coming years.”

The new advanced meters improve customer service by offering new tools that allow customers to view and manage their water usage. With advanced meters, commercial and industrial customers can view their usage data in hour increments rather than total usage over a monthly billing period.

p Meter Shop team left to right: Jeff Winden, Ryan Huff, Dan Martin, John Vance, Ben Schuetz, Eric Peterson, and Jason Grubb. Team members not present: Bill Thompson, Nate Lawson, Matt Hayes, Toby Holland, and Mandrell Luckey.

The team behind the $2 million incentive check at Joint Base Lewis McChord

Over the past 30 years, Tacoma Power has partnered with Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) on various energy efficiency projects, including lighting retrofits, HVAC improvements, compressed air system upgrades, and standby generator block heater retrofits. On October 18, 2022, Power reaffirmed the strong partnership and collaboration with JBLM by presenting them with a “big check” for $2,126,428. The check represents the total incentive payments by Power to JBLM since 2017 for various energy efficiency upgrades. These upgrades, including extensive lighting retrofits, were made possible in part through the dedicated work of the utility’s Business Customer Energy Programs (BCEP) team.

Throughout the years of working with JBLM, the BCEP team has provided technical input and financial incentives through a variety of energy efficiency offerings and strives to be trusted energy advisors business customers can collaborate with to identify cost-effective energy efficiency improvements for their facilities.

Through the BCEP team, Power offers a commercial Bright Rebates program that provides financial incentives for electricity savings achieved through replacing old lighting with more efficient equipment, including interior and exterior LED fixtures, tubes (TLEDs), and lighting controls.

These lighting upgrades have a variety of benefits, including substantial labor and cost maintenance savings, as LED fixtures have longer lifespans. Fluorescent bulbs containing hazardous materials are removed as lighting fixtures are updated with LEDs. Other spaces can also provide enhanced security and safety with new, more effective LED lights.

In addition to larger lighting retrofit projects, JBLM also installs LEDs across various buildings as part of their regular, recurring facility maintenance work. For these maintenance work replacements, Power has provided JBLM with incentives based on a comprehensive inventory of the equipment installed and the energy savings achieved across the collection of facilities involved.

JBLM has a history of incorporating energy-efficient lighting in its facilities, evolving as technology advances. Beyond LEDs, projects

now include more advanced lighting control features, driven partly by the partnership with the Power commercial lighting team. Jeff Gascoyne, a commercial lighting expert on the CEP team, has explored the future of LEDs and lighting controls technology with JBLM. Discussions have included details about how lighting upgrades in JBLM facilities can move beyond focusing on TLEDs to more comprehensive solutions such as retrofit kits and more advanced technologies like luminairelevel lighting control (LLLC). LLLC uses sensors embedded in lighting fixtures and allows networking and adjusting light levels based on schedule, time of day, programming, and more.

Tacoma Public Utilities Senior Account Executive Keil Drescher also played an essential part in the success of the projects at JBLM. Keil fosters and maintains the TPU relationship with JBLM. His role as the key account executive with a complex organization like JBLM is necessary for teams like BCEP to connect with the right people on a particular project. For example, Keil helped BCEP maintain a relationship with the JBLM Environmental Division within the Directorate of Public Works to identify, develop, and complete energy efficiency projects.

Other organizations also supported the completion of energy efficiency

projects at the base. For example, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has provided support with contracting and financing arrangements, leveraging their federal-to-federal relationship with JLBM, most recently for an expansive scope of interior and exterior LED lighting retrofit projects across the base. Although most of the BPA support wrapped up in 2019, JBLM has continued to develop and complete projects, working closely with Power for technical support and incentive funding. Completed projects also involved several contractors and supporting organizations, resulting in substantial business activity and economic benefits to the region.

Our power utility is proud of its partnership and this amazing accomplishment that serves as an inspiration to other large employers in our service area and showcases the teamwork that happens within the utility to make these big successes happen. Congratulations to our dedicated staff, who helped make this impressive conservation story happen.

p A big celebration for JBLM’s big check — pictured here. Front row from far left: Walker Armstrong, JBLM Energy Manager; Paul Farnan, Assistant Secretary for the Army for Installations, Energy and the Environment; Colonel Phil Lamb, JBLM Base Commander; Clay Norris, Tacoma Power Management Officer. Next row, far left to right: Matthew Schreck, JBLM Energy Program Manager; Dr. Mark Holt, JBLM Deputy Directory, Directorate Public Works; Steve Bicker, Tacoma Power Customer Energy Programs Manager. Pictured in back: Jeff Gascoyne, Tacoma Power Lighting Specialist.

Customer Energy Programs Plan supports energy savings in our community

Tacoma Power completed its 2022-2023 Customer Energy Programs Plan for the next conservation biennium. Through its programs, Power seeks to serve our community’s needs, help residential customers maintain safe and comfortable homes, assist business customers with managing their bottom lines, and enable all customers to shrink their environmental footprints.

The 2022-2023 biennium ushered several changes to the CEP program portfolio, including exciting new post-pandemic opportunities. Revisions to income-qualified offerings provide greater financial support and bridge the split incentive gap with income-qualified home renters. Also, CEP is launching a new and sizeable behaviorbased energy savings program for about 70,000 residential customers, one of its single largest residential customer engagements. This program will provide those customers with energy use analyses for their homes and suggestions for reducing their utility bills.

You can learn more about the CEP energy conservation efforts for residential, business, industrial, and institutional customers at MyTPU.org/CEPPlan22-23

TPU crews assist neighboring communities after Nov. 4 windstorm

When storms hit our region, it is vital for our community that we help one another. A windstorm this past November was the first of the season, knocking out power throughout the area but mainly in the North Sound.

Puget Sound Energy and Snohomish County Public Utility District requested mutual assistance to rebuild from this devastating storm. After restoring power locally, multiple Tacoma Power crews volunteered to assist in restoration efforts in Snohomish County and Whidbey Island. Two heavy transmission crews headed to Whidbey Island, and two equipped to rebuild distribution assisted Snohomish County.

CEO/General Manager John Haarlow of Snohomish PUD said, “The windstorm that hit us on the night of Nov. 4 appears to be the most damaging storm that our PUD has had to deal with in a couple of decades. Winds of 85+ miles per hour… blew for four hours, leaving over half of our customers without power.”

To restore power to Snohomish customers, 1,100 service jobs and 750 crew jobs were completed. There were 70 poles, 618 cutouts, and 90 transformers replaced, 10,259 wire splices issued, and 27 miles of new wire strung.

Your amazing employees, along with our crews, several other mutual assistance and contract crews, and the support staff, worked with intensity and persistence throughout the week to get all our customers back in lights. Most importantly, this work was done safely! I appreciate your response and the tremendous help from all your crews, and we will look forward to future opportunities to return the favor,” remarked John.

TPU is proud of our high-voltage line technicians’ efforts to restore Tacoma Power customers and continue restoration efforts in our neighboring communities!

p Crews gathered for a morning briefing before heading out to assist our neighboring communities after a wind storm this past fall.

A fond farewell to our recent retirees

RETIREES FOR OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2022

Welcome new employees

New Palmer Fish Ladder creates safe spawning for Pacific salmon

In the fall of 2021, Tacoma Water discovered Chinook salmon had entered the Palmer Fish Ladder but were largely unsuccessful in passing through. The fish ladder located in Palmer Slough, a tributary of the Green River below our diversion dam, was built through a joint ecosystem restoration project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It was the first time the utility observed Chinook in Palmer Slough after a decade of coho salmon using the habitat and fish ladder. The ladder links the Green River to Palmer Slough to create safe spawning and rearing habitat for Pacific salmon, especially coho.

Through further investigation, Water natural resource specialists found a few contributing factors to why some of the Chinook were unsuccessful in ascending the ladder. One, the stoplogs which maintain the Palmer Slough water level were leaking. The leak led to number two, water not flowing over the top weir of the fish ladder. And three, the clearance between the weirs and the ladder’s ceiling was not enough for the large Chinook salmon to climb the steps.

This September, the Environmental Stewardship group and the Green River Filtration Facility Maintenance and Construction workgroup began replacing the wooden stoplogs and weirs and raising the fish ladder ceiling. The work required both groups’ collective expertise to complete the job without dewatering the slough or the stream below.

Since replacing the stoplogs, the depth of Palmer Slough has increased by 8 inches, and water is again flowing over the weirs. The team finalized the project by raising the ceiling 3 feet to provide salmon more clearance to jump over the weirs. The teams will continue to monitor salmon use of the updated passage.

pq A new fish ladder provides more clearance for large Chinook salmon to climb the steps of the ladder safely.