Ubits November / December 2018
T-Town gets lit
HAPPY HOMECOMING
Nov. – Dec. Giving Trees Benefitting Salvation Army
In this issue
LED streetlight replacement project wraps up nearly $2 million under budget Through effective collaboration and by sharing duties, Tacoma Power and the City of Tacoma Department of Public Works completed Tacoma’s streetlight replacement project three months early and almost $2,000,000 under budget. The City’s Environmental Action Plan recommended upgrading 21,000 of Tacoma’s inefficient HID streetlight fixtures that had been in service long past their useful life, to new LEDs. Meanwhile, Public Works faced a backlog of maintenance issues and delays in servicing existing streetlights due to staffing constraints. Limits to General Government’s budget also made group fixture replacement impossible. To help manage electricity costs, the City sought help from Tacoma Power for a solution. The utility
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Power’s water heater research
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created a new rate for LED streetlight service to recover the project’s capital and electricity costs by combining the expense of the LED fixtures with their energy use. The rate enabled Tacoma Power to fund and replace 15,400 HID fixtures with LEDs, and Public Works to replace 2,800 HID fixtures with LEDs through Tacoma Power’s Bright Rebates program. The City will save approximately 11,869,024 kWh of electricity. This equals the electricity use in almost 1,000 average homes. The City will cut its lighting load by approximately 71 percent, reducing its electricity costs by almost $650,000. In addition to saving the City money through energy conservation and reducing maintenance costs, citizens and visitors in
Elk poo and populations
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Q&A with Jackie Flowers
Image provided by Tacoma Housing Authority.
Tacoma Power’s participation in water heater research could help change manufacturing in the US Pilot research conducted by Tacoma Power, other regional utilities, and the Bonneville Power Administration in the Tacoma Housing Authority’s Salishan neighborhood could help transform water heater manufacturing in the U.S. Ninety homes in Salishan received the newly equipped electric water heaters. Daily testing measured shifts in electricity use and the impacts on people’s lives when turning their water heaters on and off during various times of day. People could “opt out” for 24-hour periods to ensure they would have adequate hot water, but few did. “We wanted to learn whether turning off water heaters, and delaying electrical use until a later time when there was a surplus of electricity, would negatively impact people’s lifestyles,” said Assistant Conservation Manager Bruce Carter. “If successful, we might be able to seamlessly delay electric use, integrate new renewable energy resources and not cause people inconvenience.” Finding new ways to use electricity during times when the most is available could also mean less waste and saving resources. Special equipped water heaters may offer one solution to several challenges thanks to the study at Salishan. Evidence shows the possibility of implementing the new standard nation-wide without significant impacts on people’s lifestyles. Area leaders will now work on a plan to help put this new smart communication technology into all water heaters made in the U.S.
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Wellness webinars, classes now available to employees during work hours Tacoma Public Utilities’ strength and success depends on its employees. To aid that success and continue building a healthy culture at TPU, Director Jackie Flowers recently announced Tacoma Employees Wellness program webinars and classes have been made available to employees during work hours. Jackie hopes the program will assist employees with maintaining or even improving their health to help ensure everyone meets their personal and work-related goals. “The choices we make every day can help us live healthier and happier lives, both at work and at home,” said TPU Director Jackie Flowers. “Our program helps all of us increase our knowledge about health matters, explore fun ways to eat healthier, stress less, improve our level of physical fitness, sleep better, and more.”
The voluntary TEW program offers activities that encourage employee participation. Some offerings include: Affordable discounts at local fitness clubs. Onsite Employee Wellness Centers located at TPU and the Municipal Complex. Onsite Weight Watchers, which soon counts towards the wellness incentive requirement. The RedBrick Health portal offering: Compass Health Assessment — a short questionnaire to help you understand your current health and best options for making improvements. Journeys — engaging and effective online behavior change programs. Track — a tool that allows you to get credit (manually or by syncing a device/app) for the everyday habits you already practice.
Health insurance premium discount — available to those enrolled in a City medical plan and who earn 1,000 points within the RedBrick Health portal during the program year (Oct. 1 through Sept. 30). Wellness webinars and onsite wellness classes that count towards wellness incentive requirements. Employees still need manager or supervisor approval to take TEW classes, and must go through the regular training nominations process. Classes post regularly on the City of Tacoma’s Training and Development Calendar.
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bits & pieces
Heat pump water heater rebate now available
GETTING THE JOB “DUNG”
Jackie Gonzalez
Natural Resources gets the scoop on Cushman elk populations Counting piles of elk pellets is likely not on most employees’ typical task lists. But for biologists in Tacoma Power’s Generation’s Natural Resources group, it’s an ongoing “to-doo.” As part of its federal license to operate its dams and generate clean, renewable hydropower, the utility protects 20,000 acres of land around its four hydropower projects. This work includes monitoring 75 acres of elk forage fields on Cushman Hydro Project lands. Removing trees, conditioning soils, and seeding the areas with a desirable elk forage mix of native grasses established the fields a few years ago. “Our goal is that the fields attract more elk and help boost elk populations in the Cushman area,” Natural Resources Technician Jackie Gonzalez said. Biologists monitor use of the fields via remote cameras and by conducting qualitative and quantitative surveys, including pellet group counts. “We make observations about the number of pellet groups, when they appear and patterns of field use, then we compare that with data from prior years,” Jackie said. “The good news is we have seen an increase in use. If that trend continues, we will look into expanding the fields up to 125 additional acres. We’re excited to see the progress so far!”
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Water heating is the second largest energy user in a home behind heating. Tacoma Power now offers customers, and employees who are also customers, $500 to upgrade their electric water heater to an energy-efficient heat pump water heater. A separate heat pump isn’t required — one is already built in to heat the water. At about $1,300, HPWH cost more than the standard electric tank, but the savings add up year over year in electricity costs. A HPWH is 60 percent more efficient, and users can also sync a HPWH to their cell phone for more costs savings. An app allows adjustment to the water heater settings based on a schedule, and users can get alerts about issues that will prevent costly repairs. Emergency replacements also cost extra and are avoidable by replacing tanks over 10 years old. More information about HPWHs and Tacoma Power rebates is available at MyTPU.org/Rebates.
United Way campaign contributions sneak past previous year TPU’s 2018 United Way campaign ended with over $173,000 in employee contributions, slightly surpassing 2017 totals by a few thousand dollars. Months of work planning, strategizing, participation, education and enthusiasm spread to co-workers and the community closed this year’s campaign out with yet another success for the United Way, TPU, and Community Connection’s Leadership Team.
“This is always my favorite time of year because I get to work so closely with employees. Their smiles, energy, laughs, creativity and excitement make my day, every day,” said Community Manager Erika Tucci. “Kudos to them for taking on this role for us, and helping extend our customer service values in a big way, one more time.” Employees contributed in numerous ways including electronic pledging
($143,000), Paid Time Off contributions ($4,100), through paper pledge forms ($3,700), the basket raffle ($17,800) and LIVE UNITED shirt sales ($900). The Celebrity Waiters night event at The Swiss rounded out the campaign leaving General Government employees looking forward to a rematch next year in good jest. TPU employees brought in just over $700 more than General Government for United Way, which walked away with nearly $3,500. TPU’s Celebrity Waiters celebrate an INCREDIBLE comeback to reclaim the top spot from General Government’s waiters this year.
Electric vehicle charging study gears up Tacoma Power will launch a study in winter of 2019 to further understand its residential customers who own electric vehicles and their EV charging behaviors.
Results of the study will help the utility determine how to assist EV customers through potential new programs, education, or services such as EV specific rates based on data reflecting local regional traffic and driving patterns, customer preferences, impacts due to weather, electricity necessary to operate the EVs, and the impacts on the utility’s electrical system. Increasing electricity use at certain times of the day and year, for example, may have additional complex impacts that Tacoma Power will also need to explore.
The utility seeks to recruit 100 participants for up to two years. Each will receive up to $500 for participating the full two-year period. Employees and retirees who receive electricity from Tacoma Power that would like to participate in the study should contact brusso@cityoftacoma.org.
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Jackie Flowers shares how she’s transitioning into her role as TPU’s new director A Q A We had a chance to sit down with Director Jackie Flowers for a quick check-in before her All Employee Meetings at TPU. We wanted to know how she finds her way around and what we can do to help her fit in. She’s smart, funny, and passionate, and like all of us, may need a point in the right direction when it comes to ABS or ABN.
The employees definitely like working here. Not only do they say that, but you can feel it. You can feel the enthusiasm. I don’t think I’ve met anyone yet, who has said, ‘Meh, my job is OK.’ People really are engaged in their work, challenged by their work and rewarded by their work. That is very special and I hope it’s something TPU can always keep.
People really are engaged in their work, challenged by their work and rewarded by their work. That is very special and I hope it’s something TPU can always keep.”
Q A
So, have you caught your breath? (Chuckles) No, I don’t think so, but I am breathing! (Laughs) It’s been a whirlwind, without a doubt. I feel like I hit the ground running and jumped off a building! It’s been crazy. That’s funny, because you legitimately did for Habitat for Humanity!
Q
You’ve been on a 100 day listening tour and it’s not over yet. Is there a theme that you’re hearing from employees that you can share?
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Q
It doesn’t matter if you’re a line worker, customer service representative or CEO, the first days of a new job are always daunting. Where are you feeling the pressure? Finding my way around this place! I actually said this to new employees, during their orientation, ‘Don’t worry, I still get lost 80 days in!’ I call Charleen frequently, saying ‘I don’t know where this conference room is.’ Also, I wish I knew everyone’s names. If I could’ve just landed and known everybody, it would feel better with me. So, I struggle with that.
A
What can we do as employees to support you? Everybody has been phenomenal; I mean really. Probably the biggest thing at this time right now is that I am struggling with everybody’s name. Be patient with me. I have introduced myself a few times to people, and they are like, ‘Yeah we’ve met.’ That is the worst. I struggle with names anyway, but I am hoping I can really start to get that in this next year.
Q A
There’s certainly a lot going on at TPU to keep you busy. What do you do to recharge? Right now, I am still drawing energy from everybody here and all the tasks that we’ve got going on and all the great initiatives. I feel like I can come to work and be tired, and after the first conversation that I have, I am like, ‘Yes! I am ready!’ The energy here is amazing.
TPU Director Jackie Flowers visits with employees during a meet and greet ice cream social — one event held during her “100 days of listening” tour.
Who’s new around here
Who’s ready to relax Cyndy Jacoby, Tacoma Power administrative assistant, retired in October after 28 years of service. Norman Johnson, Tacoma Power senior line electrician, retired in October after 16 years of service.
Rochelle Gandour-Rood Water Program Specialist Tacoma Water
Peter Kandris, Tacoma Power Vehicle & Equipment Shop supervisor, retired in September after 24 years of service.
Brandie Marshall Public Disclosure Specialist Tacoma Public Utilities
Randy Stearnes, Tacoma Public Utilities community relations officer, retired in October after 22 years of service. Debra Truax, Tacoma Power senior wire electrician, retired in October after 23 years of service.
Robert (Bob) Nugent Electrician Tacoma Power
Pamela Poelvoorde Administrative Assistant Tacoma Water
LED streetlights continued from page 1 Tacoma have better quality, and more consistent light levels that improve night time safety. LEDs now make up 85 percent of Tacoma’s streetlights. Public Works will install additional fixtures over the coming months, and expects to have 95 percent of its streetlights converted to LEDs by the end of 2019.
Before
After
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Public Utility Board adopts two-year budgets and rates after transparent public outreach
Ubits is a publication for Tacoma Public Utilities employees and is provided as a courtesy to retirees. Sonja Bert, editor communications@cityoftacoma.org 253-502-8223
The Tacoma Public Utility Board approved TPU’s 2019-2020 budget in late October, including rate adjustments for Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Rail. This milestone marks the end of a budget and rates outreach process that gave ratepayers an opportunity to provide feedback. TPU and the City of Tacoma coordinated public outreach holding over 45 meetings with numerous groups to ensure franchise cities, neighborhood councils, and other community groups stayed informed about the proposed budgets and had an opportunity to provide feedback. “This year’s budget process demonstrates a new level of public engagement for Tacoma Public Utilities,” said TPU Director Jackie Flowers. “In partnership with our board and colleagues within the City of Tacoma, we plan to bring more transparency to the city’s budgeting process, so our customers can be informed well in advance of any financial impacts, especially those in our community living on limited incomes.”
TPU has allocated a host of work for the next two years. Tacoma Power budgeted for maintenance and upgrades of nearly 2,400 miles of power lines, security systems for cyber and physical threats, investments in technology to improve reliability and customer service, and enhanced safety programs. Tacoma Water’s budget includes allocations for operating the filtration plant, maintaining 24 wells, protecting thousands of acres in the Green River Watershed, and maintaining and upgrading 1,376 miles of water mains. The budget for Tacoma Rail includes costs for handling over 100,000 freight shipments each year, maintaining 140 miles of track, operating 16 locomotives, which have been built or retrofitted for reduced emissions, and equipment and training for oil spill containment and positive train control. Once the Tacoma City Council adopts TPU’s budget, updated rates go into effect Jan. 1, 2019, for Tacoma Water and April 1, 2019, for Tacoma Power.