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Pend Oreille PUD’s customers responded to a plea to use less power from the utility last Friday and were the deciding factor in avoiding a major power outage. Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, customers voluntarily reduced their electrical usage, which allowed the utility to continue service to the majority of its customers until a failed transformer at the Cusick Substation could be replaced. Early Friday, February 1, the Cusick Substation failed, resulting in the loss of power for approximately 1,500 customers. Within a few hours PUD crews were able to transfer electrical loads to other substations and restore power to all but about 100 customers. The utility worked throughout the day and into the evening transferring loads to other circuits and was able to restore power to all customers. With electrical loads from Cusick transferred to other substations, the District’s distribution system was loaded to maximum capacities. “We knew it wouldn’t hold through the evening”, said Chris Jones, Line Superintendent. “We needed our customers to help by using less electricity.” The PUD’s Customer Service Representatives and other staff telephoned as many customers as possible and asked them to reduce power usage. Pend Oreille County Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Department assisted by issuing an emergency broadcast. “With everyone’s cooperation, we avoided a major power outage”, said Jones. Meanwhile, back at the Cusick Substation, the failed transformer was examined and determined to be damaged beyond repair. PUD crews began an extensive process of moving its only spare transformer from the Diamond Lake Substation to Cusick. The 25-ton transformer arrived at Cusick Friday evening, and crews worked through the night to complete the installation by Saturday morning. PUD management is currently considering how best to fit the unexpected expense into its budget. Preliminary cost estimates to replace the transformer are approximately $1.75 million. Doctors’ Network Improves Area Healthcare Pend Oreille PUD and Newport Hospital recently completed a broadband project, which resulted in a giant, technological leap forward for local medical care delivery. With their recent conversion to a fully computerized medical records system and connection to a regional information system network via Newport Hospital, the local physicians recognized patient care could be improved if they were able to access their medical records system from their homes. However, due to the federal regulations protecting confidential medical records, electronic transfers of this sensitive data must be done through an encryption process. Since satellite and wireless communication systems do not have the capacity to reliably handle encrypted data, fiber broadband was the only solution. Newport Hospital and the PUD developed a plan to deploy fiber optics to the homes of four physicians in the county, and the “Physicians’ Network” was born. An example of how the new technology could benefit a patient would be a case where a local automobile accident victim from the county is transported to Newport Hospital. The emergency room can contact the victim’s physician, and before the doctor leaves home, they can retrieve electronic medical information for the patient from the secure medical records system. If the victim has received medical care at any medical facility in the region, pertinent information, such as drug allergies, pre-existing conditions, radiology or CT exams, etc. can be reviewed, and the physician can make a more informed decision and effectively treat the patient immediately. Doctors are also able to view x-rays, heart monitors, scans, and other test results. “The Doctors’ Network is a win-win situation”, said Joe Onley, the PUD’s Community Network System Manager, “It’s convenient and time saving for the physicians, and convenient and potentially life saving for patients.” Cold Weather Causes Record High Electric Usage Electric consumers in Pend Oreille County set an all-time record for electricity usage during the recent cold spell. With temperatures hovering around -5ºF and -10ºF, throughout the county, a record high of 73.4 megawatts of electricity were consumed between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. on January 23. The previous record of 71.7 megawatts was set in January 2005, when temperatures dropped to -25ºF. Power-demand peaks normally occur following at least 3 days of cold temperatures, and are always on a weekday morning, when people are getting up and preparing for the day. In order to meet the high energy demand this year, the PUD purchased power on the open market, at an average price of $83.78 per megawatt. Pend Oreille PUD celebrated Public Power Week 2007 with the kids. Sixth grade students from Cusick and Lillian Bailey schools toured the PUD’s historical Calispell Power House and Box Canyon Dam. “The great thing about showing the kids both generation projects”, said Dave Sullivan, Hydro Operator, “is that they can see and feel the water going into the Calispell powerhouse and watch the corresponding gauges to see how much power is being generated. And, although Box Canyon is small (60 megawatt capacity), it’s an example of a modern hydro generation project.” Kindergarten classes from Newport toured the PUD’s Newport line headquarters, which included a bucket truck demonstration, watched an electrical safety presentation, and received “goodie bags” that contained coloring books, growth charts, and a CFL bulb. Pend Oreille PUD Completes Building Addition Construction of a 5,200 square foot addition to Pend Oreille PUD’s Newport, WA office was completed early in October, and staff members are settling into the much needed extra space. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held October 2nd, followed by the first Board of Commissioners meeting in the new meeting room. The first floor of the new building, which includes the meeting room, adjoining atrium, kitchen, and restrooms, will be available for after-hours use by public agencies and non-profit organizations. Eight offices surround a small conference room on the second floor of the addition. A special feature of the building is a brick wall that was constructed in 1900, which was left intact and is now an interior wall in the two-story atrium. (See photos) Special Meeting Water Rate Hearing A special meeting of the Board of Commissioners of PUD No. 1 will be held at 7:00 p.m., September 10, 2007, at the Town Hall, Metaline Falls. The purpose of this meeting is to consider water rates for the Metaline Falls Water System and may include discussion on rates for the other water systems owned and operated by the PUD. The public is invited to attend and be heard. Pend Oreille Power Outage – September 9, 2007 The PUD will be shutting off power to the following areas on September 9th , beginning at 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. to perform maintenance and upgrade work at the Cusick Substation:
Although the work scheduled may be completed in less time, PUD customers are encouraged to be prepared for a 5-hour power outage. Notice is hereby given that the Newport Administrative Offices of Public Utility District No. 1 of Pend Oreille County will be closed all day, September 12, 2007. The purpose of this office closing is to allow contractors to complete the electrical upgrade to the new addition to the administrative offices at 130 N. Washington, Newport. All emergency personnel, including system dispatch, will be on duty to serve the public in the event of an emergency. Box Canyon Dam will be operating as usual. Pend Oreille PUD and Kalispel Tribe Reach Agreement August 9, 2007 (Newport, Wash.) – Following years of discussion and negotiations, Pend Oreille PUD and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians announced today that they have agreed on how annual payments for Reservation lands, used by the PUD’s Box Canyon Dam, will be calculated. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations require that the PUD and Tribe negotiate the annual payment as part of the Box Canyon’s new license. This process is mandatory for all dam operators, as long-term federal licenses are renewed. The negotiations were a cooperative effort between the Kalispel Tribe and the PUD. “What I am really pleased about is the ability to work together,” said PUD general manager, Bob Geddes. “We are entering a new era of cooperation, and I am really looking forward to it.” The agreement specifies that benefits from the operation of Box Canyon Dam will be determined by comparing the actual cost of production of Box Canyon power and the cost of purchasing alternative power. The Tribe will receive its proportionate share of that benefit, based on the amount of Tribal land inundated by the Box Canyon Project. “Productive and successful negotiations can be challenging, but we are pleased with the outcome,” says Glen Nenema, chairman of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. “This is an example of the Tribe and PUD working together to meet common goals. The outcome is fair to both sides, and we look forward to continuing to work with the PUD on a range of issues important to our region.” The Tribe’s annual payments will come in the form of energy, of which the amounts will vary from year to year, in correlation with water flows in the river and the annual cost of Box Canyon operations. The agreement is effective upon FERC approval, which is expected to occur in the next few months. Congress overwhelmingly supports hydropower as renewablePress Release from National Hydropower Association WASHINGTON DC “NHA is extremely pleased with the House vote.
Hydroelectric energy, along with the many benefits it provides, is a vital
component of the nation’s energy portfolio,” said Linda Church Ciocci, NHA’s
Executive Director. “This recognition is well-deserved, and NHA is gratified by
the tremendous show of support. As the nation’s largest renewable energy,
hydropower is one of the key tools in combating climate change.” "If we are going to discuss renewable energy, then we need to include hydropower,” Sali said. “Hydropower is clean, renewable, consistent, and most importantly pollution free. Hydropower works all the time and should be part of this bill because hydropower for America means no greenhouse gas emissions. Hydropower offsets more carbon emissions than all other renewable energy resources combined.” The hydropower industry estimates that, in addition
to its current contribution, approximately 23,000 megawatts of new energy could
be brought online by 2025. More than 95,000 MW are left untapped in the country
and have potential for development beyond 2025. To achieve this goal, additional
policy support and incentives are needed. Washington Bicycle Ride Camps at Box Canyon
Pend Oreille PUD Celebrates Communities (See Attached Photos) This year’s Newport Rodeo Parade was all about family for Pend Oreille PUD. Employees, spouses, and many, many children joined in the fun and portrayed the theme, “From Generation to Generation, Providing Clean, Renewable Hydroelectric Power”. Community celebrations like this provide an opportunity for PUD employees to connect with customers in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The PUD also participated in the Cusick 4th and the Ione Downriver Days parade July 28. Bald Eagle Survey Completed (See Attached Photo) PUD employees, Pat Buckley and Marty Robinson, working closely with representatives of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), have completed this year’s bald eagle survey work. The annual eagle surveys are one of the many wildlife enhancement requirements of the Box Canyon license. The District’s Natural Resources personnel conduct surveys between Albeni Falls and Box Canyon, throughout the eagle nesting season (late winter to mid-summer). An initial survey is made in January – February to note the return of the eagles to established nesting sites. This year, 16 pairs nested along the river, including 14 returning pairs and 2 new nests. The eagle population within our 55-mile section of the Pend Oreille is thriving, with an average of 2 eagle chicks per nest produced this year. The survey work included 2 aerial surveys by helicopter, as well as land and boat surveys. After the hatching period and while the chicks are still in the nest, 4-hour behavior observation studies were conducted at each of the 16 nests. These surveys took place during the first 4-hours of daylight, which meant some very early and cold mornings for Syd, Marty, Pat, Scott, and consultants. Bald eagles have increased in Washington State from about 105 nesting pairs in 1980, to about 650 pairs today. Approximately two-thirds of the eagle nests in Washington are on private lands. The District is working in conjunction with the WDFW in an effort to increase the awareness and understanding of the importance of protecting and limiting the disturbance of eagle nesting areas. Metaline Falls Water System Receives $585,000 CDBG Grant Metaline Falls was recently notified of the award of a $585,000 Community Development Block Grant to upgrade water lines in the Pend Oreille Village area. As the operator of the Metaline Falls Water System, Pend Oreille PUD, is the project subrecipient, and will be responsible for the planning, contracting, and completion of the work related to this project. Welch Comer and Associates have been selected to perform engineering, design, and project oversight. The project will replace 50 to 70 year old water lines in the Pend Oreille Village, which do not meet the National Safety Foundation Drinking Water Standards, as well as eliminate the potential for contamination from failing sewer lines located in the same trenches as the water lines. Approximately 3,260 feet of waterline, 29 service connections, and 7 fire hydrants, and will be installed. The actual construction phase is scheduled to be completed this fall. Pend Oreille PUD Awards $69 Million Contract for Box Canyon Upgrade Newport – The Board of Commissioners of Pend Oreille Public Utility District recently approved the award of a $69 million contract to VA Tech Hydro for work at Box Canyon Dam on the Pend Oreille River. The scope of the rehabilitation project consists of replacing the four, original vertical turbine runners with fish friendly models, rewinding the generators, governor replacement, and excitation upgrades. The turbine modifications will allow for increased flows to reduce total dissolved gas, which may negatively impact fish. Turbine and equipment automation capabilities will also be included. The upgrade is expected to result in an increased peak generation capacity of approximately 18 megawatts. The first new turbine is scheduled to be installed in 2009-2010, followed by one each year for the next three years. Kevin Fisher, PUD Water Operator, Wins Muddy Boots Award PUD Water Systems Operator, Kevin Fisher, was awarded the Operator of the Year Muddy Boots Award May 22nd. The award, sponsored by the Inland Empire Northwest Section of the American Water Works, is presented to a water system operator in recognition of outstanding customer service and expert water system operation skills. Fisher was nominated for the award by his supervisor, Mark “Bubba” Scott, who said, “No matter how big the job may be, how much time it requires, or how unpleasant the weather and working conditions, Kevin consistently maintains a positive and courteous attitude and stays with the job until every customer is satisfied”. In his position as a water systems operator for the PUD, Fisher is responsible for daily operation and maintenance of nine community water systems. See Photo Granite Shores Drinking Water Best Tasting Water of the Year In a landslide victory, the Granite Shores drinking water was voted, The Best Tasting Water of the Year at the annual meeting of the Washington Association of Sewer and Water Districts in April. “Considering that the customers served by this water system were frequently on notice to boil water prior to using it just a few years ago, this is truly an accomplishment”, said Mark “Bubba” Scott, the PUD’s Water System Manager. In 2003, the PUD drilled wells and converted the system from a surface water to a ground water community water system. Water systems from around the state competed in the drinking water taste competition. “It’s an honor to be selected by a group of water operators”, said Scott. Water is their business, and they know good water when they taste it” See Photo Commissioners Ken Hirsch, Curt Knapp and Dan Peterson and General Manager, Bob Geddes, officially broke ground for a 5,182 sq. foot addition to the PUD’s Newport office on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin February 26, 2007. See Photo PUD Receives Stay for Box Canyon License Conditions The U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has ordered a stay pending appeal for several conditions of the license for Box Canyon Dam. The January 16 order placed a hold on implementation of fish passage and trout assessment and restoration work, until the court renders a final decision. The motion for stay, which was filed jointly by Pend Oreille PUD and Ponderay Newsprint Company on December 12, 2006, contends that the Box Canyon license, which was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in July 2005, included unreasonable and burdensome conditions. The motion also stated that the stay is necessary in order to avoid ‘irreparable injury’ to the PUD, Ponderay Newsprint, and the economy of Pend Oreille County. “This court action will provide for the judicial review of the conditions of the license we believe are unreasonable”, said Mark Cauchy, the PUD’s Director of Regulatory Affairs. “We are working diligently on many other license conditions, such as water quality, wildlife, and erosion control. However, we’re relieved to be able to await a court review and decision before implementing the fish passage and trout restoration projects”, he added. The stay is effective until the court renders a final decision on the merits of the case. Pend Oreille PUD Prepares for Fish Work - See Photos Pend Oreille PUD biologists are preparing for a temporary upstream fishway, which will be deployed near Box Canyon Dam on the Pend Oreille River this spring. Williams Brother Construction of Spokane was awarded the contract to build the 25-ton, catamaran style fish trap. Paul Carson of EES Consulting is responsible for the design and engineering of the fishway. A similar unit, as shown in the photo, is located at Cabinet Gorge Dam. While the fishway is under construction, Pend Oreille’s biologists and consultants are busy conducting hydroacoustic and acoustic Doppler studies to determine the primary fish byways and flow conditions above and below Box Canyon. The information will be used to select locations for the temporary upstream fishway and will also provide valuable data for hydraulic modeling and total dissolved gas studies. A fish laboratory at Box Canyon was completed last summer. The small lab is equipped with two raceways and chillers, each with independent pumps and controls to assure continuous operation. Fish captured in the fishway will be collected daily and transported to the laboratory, where biologists will identify the species, sex, weigh, and tag select, target species (bull trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, and Mountain Whitefish) fish. The fish will then be transported upstream and released. With the exception of severe winter weather and high flow conditions, Pend Oreille biologists plan to operate the temporary fishway year round. Stay away from fallen power lines and electric equipment Pend Oreille PUD urges customers to stay away from fallen power lines and electric equipment. During a windstorm and resulting power outages last year, a PUD line crew found a customer trying to re-energize a power line. This person had climbed a pole and was attempting to close a breaker. The situation posed a serious threat for the customer and the linemen. It was fortunate that no one was injured at that time. The PUD wants to remind everyone to never climb power poles and to stay away from any downed power lines and always consider lines to be energized. Power outages, especially in the winter, often involve trees falling into the lines and knocking them to the ground. It is very possible that a downed line or power lines with trees in them are still energized. The PUD urges everyone to stay away from power lines, no matter what the circumstance. Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by assuming a downed power line is dead. And, at no time, should anyone other than authorized PUD personnel attempt to climb power poles or operate electric equipment. When a power outage occurs, report it by contacting Pend Oreille PUD at 447-3137, 446-3137, or 242-3137. The PUD’s line crews will respond as quickly as possible. Technology, good instincts save youngster after bicycle accident
Sunday,
August 24, 2003 Carla K. Johnson - Staff writer A boy falls off his bike while racing a friend down a hill. Happens every summer. But when 9-year-old Kole Akre of Newport, Wash., fell Wednesday morning, the bicycle's handlebar, one bare-metal end of it, pounded into his chest, rupturing a valve in his heart. On the surface, the wound looked harmless, like a cookie cutter had been pressed into Kole's chest. It masked a potentially deadly condition. Getting Kole the care he needed involved both high-tech fiber-optic connections and low-tech gut instincts. It involved a rural hospital, a helicopter and a city hospital. And in several weeks, Kole will undergo open heart surgery at a third hospital. The injury itself was so unusual that two Spokane doctors may write it up for an online medical journal. Kole was winning the bike race when he lost control and crashed. He was able to get up and walk partway home. But then he wanted to lie down in the road and sleep, and his cousin, Vincent Lopez, 12, got worried. Vincent and a friend carried Kole the rest of the way. When Kole's mother, Yolanda Lopez, saw him acting dazed, she knew he should go to the emergency room. Dean Crosgrove, the physician assistant who examined Kole at Newport Community Hospital, also was alarmed. The boy's color looked good, and his heart sounded fine. But a fingertip sensor detected that his blood oxygen level was slightly low. And 25 years of experience told Crosgrove that something was profoundly wrong. ‘‘I know Kole. He's a patient from the clinic,'' Crosgrove said. ‘‘He didn't give me a smile. He was lying there very quiet on the bed. He seemed to be breathing a little fast.'' Crosgrove started an IV, ordered basic lab tests and consulted with radiologist Dr. Rob Arnett, who was working that day. They ordered a CT (computed tomography) scan and alerted Northwest MedStar, the emergency air transport service. By the time Arnett read the CT scan and saw blood backing up into Kole's liver, the helicopter was landing on the hospital roof. And by the time Kole and his mother landed at Deaconess Medical Center, the scans, X-rays and lab reports were already in the Deaconess emergency room, transmitted by fiber-optic cable. At Deaconess, doctors ordered a test for a blood enzyme; it indicated heart damage. Later, an echocardiogram pinpointed a problem in the valve between the heart's right atrium and right ventricle. The valve is made of three flaps that together act as a one-way door. Muscle supporting one of the flaps tore during the bike accident, leaving the door ajar. Kole, a fourth-grader at Priest River Elementary, won't be riding his bike for a while. He needs to slow down while awaiting his open heart surgery, which will be at Sacred Heart Medical Center. On Friday morning, Kole was sitting up in bed playing video games. His cousin Vincent earnestly told the story of the bike accident. His mother praised the hospitals. ‘‘I was impressed and grateful,'' she said. ‘‘What if they did just send him home?'' Kole had his own question: ‘‘Where is my bike at?'' Fiber optics provides lifeline for rural community Newport, WA. Imagine a medical emergency in a small, rural hospital. A severely injured patient, who is being stabilized and about to be transferred to a large, urban medical center, is lying on a stretcher being examined by a physician. This scenario may sound very ordinary, until you realize that the physician performing the examination is sitting in front of a monitor more than 50 miles away at the large, urban medical center. The camera controls at his fingertips, the doctor zooms in to get a closer look at the injury, talks with the patient and the emergency room staff, and puts a treatment plan into action for when the patient arrives. Not too many years ago, this would have sounded like the beginning of a science fiction story, but not today. Pend Oreille PUD’s fiber optic network from Newport to Spokane has made the Telemedicine Program between Newport Community Hospital in Newport and Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane a reality. Hosted and operated by Inland Northwest Health Services, the program was made available by funding from the Office for Advancement of TeleHealth, a branch of the Department of Health and Human Services, and is one of its Telemedicine demonstration projects across the country. “It’s gives us a picture of the patient we’re going to receive”, said Dr. James Nania, Medical Director of Deaconess’ Emergency Department. “This sharing of information, especially visual, reduces delays and helps us provide seamless, rapid, definitive patient care”, he added. When a patient, who has been examined via the Telemedicine unit, arrives at Deaconess, they can be whisked immediately to wherever they need to be, such as the operating room, cardiology, radiology, etc. “In trauma medicine, every second counts, and when we don’t have to completely re-examine transferred patients, we’re saving valuable time”, Dr. Nania said. Tucked away in the northeast corner of Washington in a small, rural community, one may expect Newport Community Hospital’s Emergency Department to be an older, somewhat behind the times, slow-paced, country facility. Oh contraire! Small, as compared to large urban hospitals, it may be, but this emergency department is new, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, staffed 24/7 by a highly trained emergency medical staff, and, on average, sees 7,000 patients each year. “The staff at Newport provides incredibly good emergency care”, said Dr. Nania. Approximately 1 out of every ten emergency patients seen at Newport is stabilized and transferred to a larger medical center in Spokane. “Stabilizing trauma patients is what we know”, said Chris McGlothlen, PA-C at Newport. “In trauma cases, time is muscle, and the Telemedicine unit helps the medical staff optimize every second for the patients we transfer”, he added. In addition to emergency patient evaluations, the Telemedicine Program is also being used for staff education and doctor/patient consultation sessions. “We’re just beginning to use this system to its full potential”, said Dr. Nania. “The possibilities are incredible. Fiber optics has made it possible to add this new dimension to rural medical care”. Far removed from the emergency medical scene, the debate of who should have authority to deploy telecommunication systems continues. For a trauma patient, for whom every second counts, and for whom life-saving decisions are being made via the Telemedicine unit, the who and why don’t matter at all. Prior to Pend Oreille PUD’s constructing the fiber optic line between Newport and Spokane, for its electrical purposes, the only available high-speed telecommunication circuit in the area was T-1 that transmitted data 7 to 700 times slower than fiber optics and was cost prohibitive for this type of program. Access to Pend Oreille PUD’s fiber optic system not only made it financially feasible to locate the project in Newport, its speed of light communication capabilities allow connections between the hospitals to be made in less time than it takes to dial a phone number. Pend Oreille PUD’s fiber optic backbone runs from the Canadian border to Spokane and provides the only fiber optics connection between Pend Oreille County and the outside world. Without this system, the remote and sparsely populated Pend Oreille County would remain on the “have-not” list for high-speed telecommunication access.
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