The regular meeting of the Board of Electric Commissioners was convened at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at the Burlington Electric Department, Burlington, Vermont.

Commissioners Scott Johnstone, Jan Harris, Sarah Judd, and Bob Herendeen were present.  Commissioner Wallace-Brodeur was absent for this meeting.  Staff members present included:  Barbara Grimes, Tom Buckley, and Munir Kasti,   Other staff members present included Ken Nolan, Chris Burns and Shawn Enterline.  Patricia Crowley, Clerk, was present. 

Channel 17 was present for the taping of this meeting.

Commissioner Johnstone called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

1.        Agenda

Barbara Grimes asked the Commission to add a new agenda item to be discussed in Executive Session and entitled ‘Lamoille, pending litigation’.

2.    Minutes of the April 11, 2007 meeting:

Commissioner Judd moved to accept the minutes for the April 11, 2007 meeting.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris and approved by all Commissioners present.

3.     Public Forum

No one from the public was present.

3.5       Commissioners’ Corner

Commissioner Johnstone requested that our June meeting have a start time of 6:00 p.m. due to a request from another Commissioner.

Commissioner Wallace-Brodeur informed the Commission that she will be presenting the Commission Chair Report, which includes BED’s Performance Measures Report, to the City Council at their meeting on May 21, 2007.           

4.      General Manager/Commission Information Items

Mrs. Grimes informed the Commission that there have been some changes to the SQRP and that we will get these completed and a special Commission meeting will have to be held for the vote.

Mrs. Grimes thanked our BED lineworkers for going to Rutland to assist other utilities in cleaning up after the storm that hit them hard.  The employees were:  Dave Brunelle, Seth Brownell, Butch McLaughlin, Ben Pfeil, Jay Rouille, Rick Couillard, Pete Crowley, Rick King, and Dennis Lockerby.

Mrs. Grimes informed the Commission that one of our BED lineworkers was injured falling out of a BED truck and is recovering.  She stated that Rick Couillard will be back to work. 

5.      ***CONSENT AGENDA***

         5.01        March Financial Report

         5.02        Deutsche Bank Energy Trading EEI

Upon no discussion of the Consent Agenda items, this item was passed with the approval of the agenda at thebeginning of the meeting.

6.      Legislative Update (Discussion)

        Tom Buckley updated the Commission regarding H.520. ‘The Conservation of Energy and Increasing the   Generation of Electricity within the State by use of Renewable Resources’ and let the Commission know that at this time, the bill has passed both parties.

  7.    Integrated Resource Plan (Public Process/Scenario Tree)   [Discussion]

Shawn Enterline provided a brief Powerpoint presentation describing the decision tree analysis staff that intends to utilize in preparing BED's 2008 IRP document.  The Commission asked staff to remain flexible on treatment of DSM effects, and to consider whether the "low DSM case" was necessary given recent increases in the efficiency fund budgets.  There was agreement that the proposed structure represented a good framework for the IRP development, subject to further discussion as the public review process unfolded.

Ken Nolan then briefed the Commission on staff's proposal for public involvement in the IRP development.  Ken noted that historically the IRP was discussed at Commission meetings, and then presented to the public as it neared completion.  BED staff is proposing that this IRP be developed using a public steering committee that will meet between 6 and 8 times to discuss various assumptions and provide feedback on policy questions.  The Commission agreed with the desire to gain greater public involvement, but expressed some concern that the process needs to keep the Commission firmly involved as decisions are made.  Use of a steering committee will not lessen the need for review and discussion of IRP issues with the Commission.  Commission members agreed to have the Commission Chair and Vice-Chair meet with BED's GM and the Mayor to further develop the public involvement process with a report to all Commissioners after the meeting.  Ken noted that this process would meet staff's needs with the committee anticipated to be established and hold its first meeting in mid-June.

8.            ***EXECUTIVE SESSION***

8.01       Lamoille

Commissioner Harris moved that the Board of Electric Commissioners enter into Executive Session at 6:51 p.m. to discuss agenda item #8.01, Lamoille, a litigation matter; the premature disclosure of which could place the Burlington Electric Department at a substantial disadvantage.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Herendeen and approved by all Commissioners present.  The Commission returned to regular session at 7:34 p.m. upon motions of Commissioners Herendeen and Harris.

There being no further business to discuss, Commissioners Harris and Judd moved to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. which was approved by all Commissioners present.

Attest:

Patricia J. Crowley, Clerk