Let There Be Light*

LAFCO Resolution No. 07-01, which establishes the sphere of influence and authorized powers for the TPUD, limits its activity to "provide power, light, and heat." Communications (i.e. internet) is not one of the authorities granted. The public needs to be aware of the limited scope of activities that the TPUD can be involved in without first expanding the authority granted to it by LAFCO and the Public Utilities Commission.

All electricity customers within the County are not currently receiving the benefit of low cost Federal power as provided for in the Trinity River Act of 1955.

Those Trinity County residents off the grid neither receive benefits from their right of use of preferential power nor from the compensation for damages paid by other CVP water and power customers.

TPUD accepted four parcels of unimproved land from Trinity County as partial payment for funds advanced to support the Trinity Hospital. Ownership of the unimproved land is not germane to providing TPUD customers with light, power, or heat.

TPUD's completion of the Direct Connect to WAPA decreased the California Independent System Operator charges by as much as a million dollars a year and eliminated TPUD customer's reliance on PG&E's sometimes unreliable service.

The extent of the benefit being realized by TPUD customers and the additional benefits that could be utilized from their use of Preferential Power is not well known. Recommendation 6a: TPUD should provide an annual benefits statement to each customer along with their bill. Recommendation 6b: TPUD should publicize an accounting of the total realized and unrealized benefits each year. Response 6a and 6b: A detailed individual benefits statement would be difficult and costly to produce for each individual customer. TPUD is working on a website that will allow the District to improve customer communication and increase customer knowledge of the benefits that the District provides. Finding/Recommendation 7:

Through the good efforts of those that formed and served the TPUD throughout the years Trinity County residents are making beneficial use of approximately one third of the Preferential Power made available by the Trinity River Act of 1955. If TPUD were to act on all the above recommendations, that beneficial use might go up as high as 50%. At the current rate of growth, it will take decades to reach the level of commitment made in the Trinity River Act of 1955. Trinity County Grand Jury June 19, 2012 Recommendation 7e: TPUD should assess the feasibility of installing charging stations in key locations around the County to encourage the use of electric vehicles. This bold move could make Trinity County the place to visit for curious tourists with electric/hybrid cars throughout the County. Response 7e: It is the hope of TPUD that our economy will expand to use much more of our current First Preference allocation. TPUD sees a bright future for electric vehicles in Trinity County. The cost advantage of using TPUD's low-cost, renewable energy for fuel would dramatically benefit our customers. TPUD would like to see the adoption of electric vehicles on a scale that would justify the installation of charging stations. Unfortunately, electric vehicles have not yet been adopted on a scale that would justify TPUD installing public charging stations. TPUD will continue to monitor the electric vehicle market and be ready to make investments when the time is right. If you would like to discuss the TPUD responses, please feel free to contact the General Manager, Paul Hauser at 623-4564 to set up a meeting. Sincerely, Richard L. Morris, President Trinity P.U.D. Board of Directors RLM/klp