Ubits May/June 2018
History in the making
TPU celebrates 125 years as a public treasure June 28 Employee Celebration
• Giveaways • Time capsule • Food & drinks
On April 12, 125 years ago, Tacomans voted to purchase the water and electric utilities from Charles Wright for $1.75 million. At that point, the community decided it would be better served by public utilities than privately owned ones. Although it wasn’t phrased that way, it was the foundation for Tacoma Public Utilities mission statement: We provide services that are vital to our quality of life life. “Since the beginning, TPU employees have taken that mission seriously,” said TPU’s Interim Director Linda McCrea. “One word has governed TPU’s approach to serving its customers: diligence.” The road was rocky during the first years as leaders worked to establish enough supply to meet the growing electric and water demand in
the community. The dogged determination of many helped make significant strides over the past 125 years that will carry TPU forward another 125 years and beyond. The utility: ■ Secured the rights and built the city’s permanent water supply from the Green River (1913) ■ Began municipal railroading in Tacoma (1914) ■ Built seven hydroelectric dams • LaGrande Dam (1913) • Cushman Dam No. 1 (1926) • Cushman Dam No. 2 (1930) • Alder Dam (1945) • Mayfield Dam (1963) Continued on page 5
In this issue
Page 2
New energy management system improves capabilities
Page 3
TPU Academy educates kids about STEM
Page 4
North 21st Street Project artifact preserved
New energy management system to improve Tacoma Power’s capabilities and protect connection to the grid About 50 employees have been involved with the $9.5 million replacement of Tacoma Power’s most critical piece of infrastructure – its Energy Management System (EMS), the primary tool that connects the utility to the power grid. The new tool will go live this summer, leveraging previously unavailable, state-of-the art programs and technology that will protect and position Tacoma Power now and into the future. Dispatchers use the EMS to monitor and operate the generation, transmission and distribution systems. Energy traders use information from the EMS during their energy purchasing processes. Since the existing EMS is about 15 years old (in the tech world, that’s a long time) it’s unable to support the functionality necessary to maintain optimal power reliability, and it can’t position Tacoma Power for future opportunities on the wholesale power market. The new EMS
is the technological equivalent of moving from a Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-DOS) to Windows 10. “The current system has become nearly obsolete,” said Tacoma Power Senior IT Project Manager Mark Pervinich. “Upgrading it wasn’t cost effective and it wouldn’t provide the flexibility necessary to effectively meet other programs coming online, such as AMI.”
The new EMS offers four important capabilities for dispatchers: 1) Advanced applications allow dispatchers to conduct real-time contingency planning analysis and steady-state estimates, which is a North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirement, by running model scenarios and applying different variables to see the outcomes in real-time before taking action. This essentially gives
dispatchers a hypothetical “crystal ball” to see how a problem on the grid or in the system will affect Tacoma Power. For example, a summer heat wave could
“The current system has become nearly obsolete.” maintain temperatures over 100 degrees for a stretch of time. That heat can cause utility lines to sag into trees, which can cause power outages. Dispatchers can test such a scenario in real-time to ensure any actions they take won’t have adverse effects on the system before executing them.
2) Advanced analytics and graphics displays help dispatchers with situational
awareness by allowing them to quickly identify problems in the electrical system and learn how they impact other areas in the system. This helps minimize errors Continued on page 6
Pg. 2
As a foundation for the future with baby boomers retiring and leaving gaps in the workforce, TPU has teamed up with local Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound to help inspire youth toward science, technology, engineering and math-related career paths. The unique pilot launched early this spring – a seven-part program called the TPU Academy. The program gives kids a chance to see TPU employees on the job through field trips and classroom mentoring. Employees at TPU serve as instructors of the Academy representing Tacoma Power, Water and Rail. The kids learn hands on through games, activities, experiments and site tours. After a few weeks, fourthfifth-and sixth-graders better understand TPU and the value of enduring harder classes back at school. “It’s one thing when kids learn STEM in the classroom, but it’s entirely different when a TPU employee can share with kids first-hand how they use math in their everyday jobs and the cool work they get to do,” said Community Affairs Manager Erika Tucci. Among the sessions of the first TPU Academy was a visit to Tacoma Rail. Students learned about locomotives from mechanics, tried moving a train in its training simulator, and sat behind the controls of a real locomotive with an engineer. Kids also discovered the smart phones they own and the French fries they love
may have even been handled by Tacoma Rail. Although it may be too early for them to think about becoming a highly skilled diesel mechanic or engineer, the goal of the TPU Academy is to connect the dots and plant seeds for the future. “Hopefully it sparks their imagination and they can stay in school, stay focused and do what they need to do to have the kind of career that they want,” said Assistant Rail Superintendent Alan Matheson. Students also take field trips to learn where Tacoma gets its water and how the utility ensures it’s safe to drink. They also learn about Tacoma Power, how electric meters work and why cyber security is important for a utility. The program is generating a lot of excitement from the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. “The future of Tacoma is in our buildings,” said Elvin Bucu, director of operations at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. “A lot of our programs are rooted in academic success with STEM being a major part of that. We want to make sure we’re providing STEM in a fun and engaging way and TPU is helping us do that.” TPU hopes to build long relationships with the students at the Boys & Girls Clubs so they become part of the utilities future.
Community Connection
Pilot TPU Academy educates kids about futures in utilities through STEM
STEM: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Pg. 3
bits & pieces Community partnership preserves a historic artifact for future generations in Tacoma The Tacoma Historical Society’s lobby filled with members of its curation committee, board and guests in late May for a special donation from Tacoma Power – the oldest porcelain insulator from the 93-year-old lattice tower at the Pearl Substation. The tower was the first removed and replaced by a sleek new steel power pole as part of the historic North 21st Street Pole Replacement Project.
Pg. 4
The original towers along North 21st Street were built in 1925 to deliver power to Tacoma from the Cushman Hydroelectric Project along the Potlatch Transmission Line. The line was an engineering feat at the time, marking it the world’s longest single span of electrical wire. Former President Calvin Coolidge participated by flipping a ceremonial switch to signal the energized lines across the Narrows. The historic project allowed for the development of the north end of Tacoma. “This is a special moment for us. Our task is to keep Tacoma’s history alive,” said Tacoma Historical Society Board President Bill Baarsma (also a former Tacoma mayor). “That’s why we’re here and why we hope to continue to be here to hold archives like this in perpetuity for the citizens of our great city.” Tacoma Power Senior Line Electrician Steve Winden took special care to coordinate obtaining the almost
100-pound insulator from the tower, and delivered it to the Tacoma Historical Society for the event. Project Manager Joe Rempe helped share the story with the public live on Facebook before the official dedication. “From the looks of it, we think it might be from the era of the original structure,” said Joe. “There are no markings on it that will confirm whether they are the original, but simply by looking at them, by looking at how they’ve aged; how they’ve rusted essentially, and some of the parts and pieces that are on this insulator, we have fairly high confidence that these are really old.” Insulators keep electricity safely on the transmission line to prevent it from going to the ground, causing unsafe conditions, line electrocution, fires and power outages. The original North 21st Street transmission line housed about 115 strings of porcelain bell insulators equaling about 805 bells.
Tacoma Water teams rock regional competition When it comes to fast-paced contests, Tacoma Water employees showed their mad skills at the April 25 regional American Water Works Association competitions for the Pacific Northwest. Three teams – the women’s tapping team, men’s tapping team and meter madness team – brought home first place trophies. “It was a lot of fun to watch and see our teams’ hard work pay off,” said Tacoma Water Superintendent Scott Dewhirst. “Thanks for making us so proud!”
The pipe tapping teams raced against a clock to tap into a pressurized pipe and install a water service line, while the Meter Madness team raced to assemble a water meter from a bucket of parts. The new Hydrant Hysteria team put together a hydrant from a pile of nuts, bolts and parts. The first place teams went to the Las Vegas national event in June. The Hydrant Hysteria team made an impressive effort and came in fifth place out of nine teams.
Men’s Tapping Team Phil Gause, Alfonso Gonzales Mike McCaffrey, Ken Young (coach)
Women’s Tapping Team Kim Edwards, Jen Routh, Shantel Shepherd, Julie LaVergne (coach) Hydrant Hysteria Troy Newman, Conan Kempf, Scott LaFrenier (coach)
Meter Madness (not pictured) Carlos Comacho, Chris Hicks (coach)
125 years continued from page 1 ■
■
■
■
Started being governed by the Tacoma Public Utility Board, created by the City Charter (1953) Secured long-term licenses for Cowlitz and Cushman Hydroelectric Projects (2003 and 2010) Established a 20-year operating agreement between Tacoma Rail and Port of Tacoma (2013) Completed the Green River Filtration Plant (2015)
Pg. 6
Those are just some of the major milestones TPU employees accomplished since 1893. Countless others exist. Employees continue that legacy – working hard and smart to preserve what has been built and to lay more groundwork for a future workforce. “I imagine that if the people who voted to establish Tacoma Public Utilities 125 years ago could see us today, they would say we made the right decision,” Linda said. “Between now and the end of the year we’ll celebrate this significant
milestone in its history.” The City Council proclaimed April 11 Tacoma Public Utilities Day. The Public Utility Board recognized 125 years of achievements during a recent meeting as well. Other celebratory things planned include social media posts, placement of the special 125th Anniversary logo on the TPU building, a microsite with interesting stories about TPU’s history and an employee celebration. Watch Newsline for more information.
Pg. 5
DID YOU KNOW?
You can help families in need via your utility bill Check marks the box. TPU offers an easy opportunity for you to help customers in need through the Low-Income Assistance donation program. It’s printed right on your utility bill. If you are at TPU customer and you mail your bill in, you can assist low-income customers and those who need one-time emergency assistance pay their utility bill. The most common reasons customers need help include: ■ ■ ■ ■
Major illness or death in the family. Family hardship (e.g. divorce, domestic violence, etc.). Unexpected major expense (e.g. medical, car repair, home repair, etc.). Loss of employment or a reduction in work hours.
✔
Just check the box printed in the lower left corner of your bill and write in the dollar amount you would like to donate. It’s a quick and easy way to give back. Check it out.
energy control center continued from page 2 and increases power restoration times. In the past, alarms alerted dispatchers about problems, but instead of alerting them to one problem, several pages of alarms would go off making it a challenge to narrow and identify a single problem.
3) Improved security and standardized hardware meets new NERC regulations
and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards to protect the system from security breaches. Standardization helps staff troubleshoot, update, maintain and replace hardware faster and easier.
4) Enhanced dispatcher training simulator allows dispatchers to train
using the same software they use to operate the system in real-time. They can beta-test processes and scenarios and refine them before responding during emergencies. The new simulator also allows dispatcher trainees to experience
Pg. 6
on-the-job training through beta-testing as if in real-time, which significantly enhances the training experience and provides a higher level of proficiency when learning how to operate the system. “It’s pretty fancy and I’m happy there are new widgets. For example, the new displays allow dispatchers to customize their screens without the need for me to do it for them,” said Senior Dispatcher Andy Trimmer. “This makes things a lot easier for everyone.” Dispatchers will see the biggest impacts because the EMS is their primary tool for work, but the new system also gives energy traders better visibility of Tacoma Power’s footprint on the power grid. “Energy traders will have the ability to buy and sell energy faster,” said Tacoma Power Assistant Section Manager,
Tony Landrith. “They can also test and see the impacts of their decisions not only on power supply, but also on the environment, such as fish, agriculture, and recreation.” The old and new systems will operate in parallel to integrate data before Tacoma Power switches to the new system. After the switch, the team will spend at least 1,000 hours using the new EMS and working out technical challenges before decommissioning the old system later this year. “Our biggest hurdle now is getting existing data to line up with the new system,” Andy said. “We want it to be as seamless as possible when we cut over from the old EMS to the new one. There’s a lot of anxiousness about that.”
Who’s new around here
Who’s ready to relax The following employees recently retired:
Michael Cotie Watershed Inspector Tacoma Water
Shane Dunn Safety Officer Tacoma Power
Amber Gonzalez Office Assistant Tacoma Public Utilities
John Nierenberg Section Assistant Manager Tacoma Power
Aimee Nunes Management Analyst Tacoma Rail
Sharon Roach Engineer Tacoma Power
Zach Shaner Utility Worker Tacoma Water
Charles Spencer Engineer Tacoma Power
Brandon Stroh Maintenance Technician Tacoma Power
Daniel Townsend Engineer Tacoma Power
Conner Valadez Assistant Park Supervisor Tacoma Power
Jim Armstrong, hydro project mechanic, Tacoma Power, retired after 33.5 years of service. Chris Brousseau, administrative assistant, Tacoma Power, retired after 19 years of service. Larry Burnett, hydro project manager, Tacoma Power, retired after 17.5 years of service. David Burns, engineering construction manager, Tacoma Power, retired after 26.5 years of service. Doyle Cottrell, tree trimmer, Tacoma Power, retired after 29 years of service. Steve Hanson, custodian, Tacoma Power, retired after 41 years of service. Dennis Koehn, hydro project manager, Tacoma Power, retired after 32 years of service. Tom Schouten, park supervisor, Tacoma Power, retired after 16 of service. Charlie Seiler, chief of party, Tacoma Power, retired after 32 years of service. Dolores Stegeman, section manager, Tacoma Power, retired after 27 years of service.
We remember Bill Routley Sr.
Andrew Zaremba Management Analyst Tacoma Water
Bill Routley Sr., who retired in 1998, died April 24. Bill worked for TPU for 15 years, starting in Water Distribution as a utility worker and later moving to a safety role with Tacoma Power. Bill Routley Sr. is the father to Water Distribution Engineering Construction Coordinator Bill Routley Jr.
Pg. 7
Tacoma Public Utilities PO Box 11007 • Tacoma WA 98411
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TACOMA WA PERMIT NO 2
Murray Morgan Bridge to help support bringing energy into Downtown Tacoma
Ubits is a publication for Tacoma Public Utilities employees and is provided as a courtesy to retirees. Sonja Bert, editor cms@cityoftacoma.org • (253) 502-8223
Tacoma’s Central Business District is about to get a more robust electrical system built for the future, thanks to the Murray Morgan Bridge. The Central Business District and Dock Street in Tacoma require more energy for long-term growth and development. To keep pace, Tacoma Power has found a unique way to pump more electricity into the heart of the city using the historic Murray Morgan Bridge on 11th Street. The bridge will soon carry upgraded electrical cable from Tacoma Power’s East F Substation (at the east end of the bridge) up and over its top and across the Thea Foss Waterway and connect it to the underground distribution system near Cliff Avenue downtown. Investment in electrical infrastructure enables Tacoma Power to anticipate future needs and provide more reliable power service now and for years to come. Work on the bridge will take place from July to mid-September. The bridge will close July 9 through Aug. 17, but will open temporarily to accommodate Maritime Fest July 26 through July 31. Single-lane closures will occur on the bridge Aug. 20 through Sept. 14. “It’s the safest time of year when the most predictable balance of dry weather and long hours of daylight occur,” said Project Manager Joe Rempe. “Extending cable across the
bridge is unique and very difficult to perform. It requires special equipment and processes and the weather has impacts. Safety is our top priority for the public and our crews.” Some employees will work 60 feet above water on the bridge deck; others will work up to over 207 feet above water on the towers.
“Extending cable across the bridge is unique and very difficult to perform. Safety is our top priority for the public and our crews.” Tacoma Power will ramp up safety for the project as a precaution. Up to five crews will work at any given time on the project to ensure efficient work and safety for all. “We recognize the inconvenience this may place on some people, but we don’t want to place the public in positions where they could get hurt by the work,” Joe said. Access between Dock Street and the bridge deck via the elevator will remain open for the duration of the full bridge closure. The sidewalk will remain accessible on the side of the street where one lane remains open during the single-lane closures. The Thea Foss Waterway will not close during construction. The bridge will raise and lower for large boats the duration of the project.