Commission recap, 2/11/2025 — Outgoing GM Wallen recognized for leadership. More...

Grant PUD Commissioners formally announced that they accepted the resignation of General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Rich Wallen during their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11. 

“We often talk about being a family here at Grant, which means we are more concerned with the welfare of the person than the job she/he can do for us,” Pyle stated. “An opportunity presented itself for Rich that allows his family to move closer to their families, while at the same time presenting Rich with a significant professional challenge. So, while we are disappointed in the loss of Rich’s proven leadership, we appreciate that he has made a decision that is best for his family.” 

Wallen is leaving Grant PUD to accept a job with Georgia-based Oglethorpe Power as their Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, beginning on March 31. Wallen, who is from West Virginia, came to Grant PUD from Oglethorpe in 2017.  

“We can’t adequately express our appreciation to Rich for his service, success and dedication to Grant County PUD employees and customers. He is leaving us better than he found us,” stated Pyle. 

Commissioner Tom Flint echoed Pyle’s words, “With your leadership it’s been one of the best times to be a commissioner at Grant and I give you credit for that.” 

Pyle added that the commission asks for patience from Grant PUD staff and customers as they develop a plan for replacing Wallen. 

“Our commitment to the district is to move forward as expeditiously as reasonable to define how we will replace Rich,” Pyle added. “We ask for your patience as we go through the process.” 

To Grant PUD staff, Pyle declared, “It is business as usual. Nothing is changing or limiting in the work you are being asked to do. We are not tapping the brakes on anything.” 

Commissioners also:

-- Heard Grant PUD’s fourth-quarter retail power load was about 8% below the forecast of 694.5 megawatts, according to a report from the Business Intelligence & Markets Analytics Department. Lower than expected power use from industrial customers and temperatures higher than normal were the main drivers of the variance. See the full report on pages 48-67 of the presentation materials. Hear the discussion at 3:03:24 on the commission audio. 

-- Received a request to increase an existing contract with Andritz Hydro Corp. by $788,776 for a new contract total of $3.5 million to transport, disassemble and repair the servomotors of the 7^th and 8^th turbine/generator units at Priest Rapids Dam. Each unit requires a pair of servomotors, which open and close the wicket gates that control water flow to the unit. Andritz will transport the servos to its shop in Spokane, where work will be completed. The work is part of the ongoing unit-upgrade work at the dam. Six of the dam’s 10 units have been rehabbed. This change order will rehab the servomotors for two more units. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the request at their next meeting, 2/25/2025. For more information, see pages 1-9 of the presentation materials. Here the discussion at 35:02 on the commission audio.

-- Received a request to increase an existing contract with Quanta Infrastructure Solutions Group, LLC, by just over $5.7 million for a new contract total of $110.3 million to fund additional scope of work and labor-rate adjustments on the yet-to-be-completed projects in an 11-project package of electric-system upgrades. Work includes new substations, expansion of existing substations and new transmission lines, carried out under a single, Progressive Design Build contract, referred to as DB2. Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the request at their next meeting, 2/25/2025. For more information, see pages 10-27 of the presentation materials. Here the discussion at 54:08 on the commission audio.

-- Heard from Grant PUD Fleet Manager Brian Barrows that the Transportation Shop kept the utility’s vehicles available for service 98.5% of the time in 2024, beating its availability target of 95%. Barrows is currently working on an analysis of vehicle usage to determine which of the cars, trucks and other vehicles could be feasibly replaced by electric vehicles to meet state requirements that all new vehicles sold in Washington be electric-powered by 2030. For more information, see pages 39-47 of the presentation materials. Here the discussion at 1:16:34 on the commission audio.

-- Heard Grant PUD Chief Commercial Officer John Mertlich recap 2024 for the Energy Supply Management division. 2024 was the first full year of operation for the new business unit. Highlights for 2024 include improving forecasting capabilities for both electricity demand and power market prices, the development of detailed tracking and reporting of Grant PUD’s wholesale market activities, and enhanced analytics for the Integrated Resource Plan. Mertlich told commissioners his team is working to assemble a mix of energy resources, including wind, solar, purchased power and new sources of generation to meet Grant County’s growing energy demand and continue to provide reliable service at the lowest possible price. For more information, see pages 68-78 of the presentation materials. Here the discussion at 1:38:46 on the commission audio.

-- Unanimously approved a resolution presented by Chief Commercial Officer John Mertlich to have Grant PUD to provide Phase II funding to continue to evaluate joining Markets+, an power-trading market created by the Southwest Power Pool. Markets+ is one of two organized markets currently being developed in the west. Markets+ will allow greater access to real-time and day-ahead generation and transmission services for utilities in the western United States. Hear the full discussion at 2:56:25 on the commission audio.  

-- Unanimously approved Motion 3506 to authorize the general manager/CEO to increase by $83,583.00 an existing contract with Olsson Industrial Electric Inc. for a new contract total of $14,755,005 to purchase medium-voltage cable and other services to upgrade aged equipment needed for operation of Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams. For more information, see pages 9-16 of the commission packet.

-- Unanimously approved Motion 3507 to execute a new, five-year, $1.26 million interlocal agreement for professional services with Douglas County PUD to operate and maintain the Carlton Acclimation Facility in Okanogan County. The 5-year agreement is part of Grant PUD’s federal requirement to rear and release summer Chinook Salmon into the Methow River Basin to mitigate impacts from Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams. Douglas PUD has the staff and expertise to complete the work and has the advantage of being much closer to the Carlton facility than Grant PUD staff. For more information, see pages 17-41 of the commission packet.