Mark Cousins

The meeting addressed several key items, including commissioner reports which covered a discussion on accommodations for electric vehicles in mid-size multi-family properties and the need for an informational session for property managers. Gratitude was extended to Gaston Lake for providing additional power to the farmers market, enabling vendor expansion. A commissioner inquired about implementing a neighborhood energy utilization comparison feature similar to National Grid's bill mailers. The board approved the minutes from the June 1st meeting. The old business section focused heavily on contract discussions for the General Manager, including a retroactive 5.25% raise for 2022, retroactive to January 1st. Proposed changes to the new contract included setting a five-year term beginning January 1, 2023, moving the goals and objectives review date to March 15th, proposing a 2.75% salary increase for the contract's first year, and making the $10,000 longevity payment permanent. Other proposed contractual changes involved increasing vacation time from four to five weeks and lowering the sick time buyback calculation to 25 percent, consistent with association agreements. The appendix containing generic goals and objectives was recommended for removal.

The key discussions for this meeting focused on the Electric Division Annual Update, covering 2025 accomplishments and 2026 goals, including updates on the Energy Park microgrid implementation, status of NEMT and WMHS solar projects, and details on a $2.8 million federal grant for system hardening. Old Business included project updates on the Energy Park, Massachusetts Municipal Association conference topics such as geothermal pilot programs, discussion on the Employee Handbook revisions, and a winter rate update due to rising commodity costs. New Business involved discussions regarding a Data Center Rate to attract potential customers. The agenda also included provision for an Executive Session to approve minutes from November 14, November 25, and December 5 meetings.

The meeting commenced with Chair remarks, including a reference to a letter sent regarding energy savings opportunities and a discussion on the timeliness of security updates given evolving threats like cyber attacks and physical drone attacks against infrastructure. Commissioner reports focused on the Green Communities program application timeline, with plans to apply next year after completing the energy reduction plan assessment, and scheduling subsequent presentations for February. A key update included the allocation of an additional fifty thousand dollars for another solar installation on a municipal building. The presentation segment featured a discussion on power supply portfolio costs from 2020, broken down into transmission, energy, and capacity components, and strategies to control costs and ensure stable rates. Discussions also centered on advocating for a planned transmission process for offshore wind accommodation to reduce costs and environmental impact, and managing capacity costs through asset ownership versus market purchases. Furthermore, the shift in focus toward non-carbon energy requirements stemming from the Massachusetts Climate Bill, setting targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050, was highlighted, alongside considerations for future load growth from new electric vehicle adoption.

The meeting included remarks from the chair concerning the easing of COVID-19 protocols and the hope for future in-person meetings, alongside thanks for posting information regarding high energy bills driven by weather and geopolitical factors affecting Russian energy sectors. A commissioner provided commentary on the severe energy market volatility. Staff presented an analysis comparing supply costs through January 2022 against neighboring utilities, showing lower electric costs but slightly higher gas costs for WMGLD customers, and acknowledged ongoing monitoring of February cost increases. A key discussion involved a preliminary analysis, presented by staff, detailing the estimated gas and carbon emission savings resulting from the gas moratorium for new units switching to all-electric heat pump systems, with projections based on a standardized 1000 square foot unit. The board also addressed general manager reports, noting progress on gas meter conversions and the implementation of local public building mask mandate eliminations, while maintaining safety measures in the lobby area.

The meeting commenced after addressing initial technical difficulties with the remote access platform. Remarks included thanking crews for their work during the recent storm, noting the system performed well, and reporting on positive outcomes from the previous strategic meeting, including plans to develop draft EV and solar-ready code for environmental sustainability consideration. Commissioner requests included follow-up on marketing/education for existing programs like Green Choice and EE programs, and inquiring about the visibility of usage graphs within the ChargePoint app for electric vehicle chargers. Project updates covered gas division leak survey results, indicating the lowest number of leaks added to date due to capital investment in pipe replacement, with a specific Class 1 leak location noted. Discussions also addressed updating COVID policies, including discontinuing mandatory weekly testing for the unvaccinated but maintaining mask requirements within the building and providing take-home tests. Furthermore, the Board discussed ongoing utility work regarding the relocation of poles necessitated by a town project to create a bike path, with cost arrangements still under discussion. A significant portion of the meeting involved a detailed discussion on the community solar offering, focusing on financial modeling, customer payback periods, the proposed $1.20 incentive, and exploring options to stretch the loan repayment period beyond the standard seven years, potentially targeting low-income customers with a guaranteed savings model over a 20-year commitment.