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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in an attempt to find out if other wholesale power sellers engaged in power trading schemes used to manipulate electricity markets during the Western energy crisis of 2000 and 2001, ordered wholesale power sellers to “admit or deny” their involvement. Pend Oreille Public Utility District in Newport, WA., was among the 150 entities, including 41 public power utilities, to receive such a request. This week, Pend Oreille PUD issued its formal response to FERC denying that it engaged in any of the various trading strategies, which Enron, and allegedly, traders of other companies active in wholesale electricity and ancillary services markets in the West and particularly in California engaged in during the years 2000 and 2001. The PUD further stated in its response that it did not purchase energy from, or sell energy to, any Enron Company, including Portland General Electric Company during that time. Pend Oreille PUD Appoints New Commissioner Pend Oreille PUD - Curt Knapp of Newport WA has been appointed to fill Pend Oreille’s commissioner position, which was recently vacated by the death of Robert Johnson. The appointment is for the unexpired term of the District No. 2 position, which expires December 31, 2002. Knapp and his wife, Kim, live in Newport and own and operate Sherman and Knapp Funeral Home, Inc. As a resident of Newport for the past 20 years, he has been involved with various civic organizations, including the PUD’s Budget Committee, City of Newport Civil Service Commissioner, Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Fireman, Cemetery District Commissioner, Kiwanis, and Newport Booster Club. See Photo Mark Scott Named Water System Operator of the Year 2001 The Evergreen Rural Water Association has named Mark “Bubba” Scott as the Water System Operator of the Year 2001. Mark is the Water Systems Supervisor for Pend Oreille PUD. The award is based on the extraordinary accomplishments during 2001 of an individual, who is directly or indirectly responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of a water system. Mark has been with Pend Oreille PUD for 1 ½ years and is responsible for nine water systems operated by the PUD. That responsibility includes the maintenance and upkeep of three surface water systems and nine wells. During his time at PUD, Mark has been in charge of two water treatment system pilot projects and has begun the process of installing rapid sand filter plants for two of the water systems. See Photo. The District lost a good friend and a staunch supporter with the passing of Commissioner Bob Johnson on Saturday, Jan. 12th. Bob served on the Board of Commissioners for 22 years. He was appointed to office in 1980 to fill an unexpired term. Bob was born and raised in Pend Oreille County. After attending college at WSU, he served 5 years in the Army during World War II. He worked as the superintendent for a local pole yard and then was an accountant for Jackson Motors for many years before retiring. He and his wife, Doris, raised their three children in Newport. As a commissioner, Bob supported the District through many changes and natural disasters, just a few of which were the purchase of Inland’s service territory in the county, Fire Storm, Ice Storm, the construction of the transmission line, the birth of fiber optics, and the occasional headache from an employee. Through it all, we had his support. He was a good man, who stood for what he thought was right. He will be missed. Payment Station Change Effective January 1, 2002 Payments will no longer be accepted at the Metaline Falls Trading Co. or the Ione Town Hall, effective January 1, 2002. Effective January 1, 2002, payments for electric and water bills may be made at Box Canyon Dam. A Customer Service Representative will be available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Services provided at Box Canyon will include:
Fiber Optic Connection Makes Telepharmacy Available to Rural Area Residents in the remote communities of Ione, Metaline, and Metaline Falls, Washington are now able to have prescriptions filled at the Selkirk Family Medicine Clinic in Ione, a benefit made possible by Pend Oreille PUD’s fiber optic line. A Remote Telepharmacy Unit, owned and operated by Community Health Association of Spokane (CHAS) has been installed in the Selkirk clinic and is connected to CHAS’ main office in the Spokane Valley via Pend Oreille’s fiber optic system, which extends from the Canadian border to the US Bank Building in downtown Spokane. When a prescription is written for a patient at the clinic, it’s faxed to CHAS, where a staff pharmacist sends an order, complete with label, to the Remote Telepharmacy Unit at the clinic. The physician’s assistant at the clinic then verifies the prescription information and commands the unit to dispense the medication. At that time, the patient participates in a short videoconferencing session with the pharmacist, where they receive instructions regarding the medication, drug interaction information, and may ask questions of the pharmacist. Chris Sundquist, P.A. at the Selkirk clinic said, “Before the telepharmacy unit, our patients could either drive to Newport or Colville, both of which are an hour’s drive one-way, or they could wait 3 to 5 days to receive prescription drugs by mail. Either way, it was inconvenient for everyone, and all but impossible for some of our elderly patients, who don’t have the mobility they used to”. CHAS currently has 4 off-site locations in Spokane, all of which are linked with an Intranet system through a T-1 connection. The unit at the Selkirk clinic is not only CHAS’ most remote location; it’s the most remotely located unit anywhere in the United States. It is also the first such unit to be located at a community health center. Clinic patients will also receive a cost savings on prescriptions. Because the clinic is a community health center, Medicare and non-insured patients are eligible for 340B pricing on prescription drugs received through the telepharmacy unit, a savings of 25 to 50%. “Some people haven’t been getting the medical care they need”, said Chris Sundquist. “They wouldn’t come to the clinic because they couldn’t afford to fill prescriptions. With this added price break, more of our patients will be taken care of”. The Selkirk clinic, which serves an average of 350 people per month, offers health care on a sliding fee scale, based on income. Until now, Medicare and non-insured patients received no discounts for prescription drugs. According to Heather Byer, CHAS pharmacist, the unit will be stocked with both generic and brand name drugs, the type and quantities of which will be decided upon by clinic staff and the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee of CHAS. The unit is able to stock 85 different types of prescription medications. “Even though we wanted to,” said Byers, “there was no way to install the unit before Pend Oreille PUD constructed its fiber optic system. Healthcare has always been a challenge in remote areas, but now, with tools like this, we’re breaking down some of the barriers”.
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