Watts Current: PWP E-Newsletter - January 2016 Issue

Watts Current - January 2016 Issue

INCOMING INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER

The City is continuing its search for a permanent General Manager following the retirement of Phyllis Currie in June 2015. The City Manager has decided to provide an opportunity to the Assistant General Managers of the Water and Power Department to rotate temporarily in the role of Interim General Manager while the search is ongoing.

Eric Klinkner has served in this capacity for more than seven months and will resume his role as Deputy General Manager effective Monday, January 25, 2016. On that date, Shari Thomas will begin her term as the Interim General Manager for PWP for a period of approximately six months. Ms. Thomas joined PWP in January 2006 and began her career with the City of Pasadena in 2002 as the Deputy Director of Finance. As the Assistant General Manager, Ms. Thomas is responsible for financial planning and budgeting, cost of service analysis and rate setting, information technology for PWP, customer service and billing, materials management, safety, energy risk management and settlements.

NO OUTDOOR WATERING FEB 25 - MAR 1O

PWP will be experiencing an emergency water shortage from February 25 to March 10 and is asking everyone to do their part to conserve and not water outdoors, including hand watering. The Metropolitan Water District will be performing critical upgrade work on a major regional treatment plant that will restrict Pasadena from receiving its imported water supply, which makes up 60% of Pasadena's water supply.

PWP needs your support. Without your conservation, Pasadena will not have sufficient water to supply customers' water needs. Water waste patrolling will be in effect during this time period. To learn more about the shutdown and other tips, click here.

CHARGING AN EV IS FASTER THAN YOU THINK!

PWP recently installed a Direct Current Fast Charger for electric vehicles, also known as a Fast Charger, at the Del Mar Boulevard parking structure (260 S. Raymond Avenue), conveniently located next to the Del Mar Gold Line Metro Station.

As the first Fast Charger in Pasadena, drivers can fully charge their electric vehicles in nearly 30 minutes and it's absolutely free of charge! Traditional chargers generally take 3-6 hours but with the Fast Charger, a commuter can be back on the road in a matter of minutes. Most newer electric vehicles are equipped with the fast charging technology . Installation of the Fast Charger was partially funded by a grant PWP received from the California Energy Commission. To learn more about PWP EV incentives, click here.

PUSD PARTNERS WITH PWP TO INSTALL SOLAR PUMPS

PWP is excited to share that four elementary schools in Pasadena will be receiving a free solar-powered heat pump air conditioning system. These unique mini cooling systems will help PUSD staff and students stay cool while saving money by primarily drawing on the free power from the sun. PWP will use this application to study the potential energy savings from these types of projects. This research, development and demonstration project is funded in part by an American Public Power Association Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments grant. To learn more about PWP's energy conservation incentives and rebates, click here.

A NEW WATER SOURCE

Last June, PWP asked the community for their feedback on the Non-Potable Water Project, which proposes to construct a pipeline that could bring more than 6,000 gallons of recycled water to Pasadena. With this project in place, Pasadena would be able to access up to 10% of the City's current water use from the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation plant and use it for non-drinking purposes, which include irrigation for large commercial properties and industrial cooling. Feedback from the community on the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was used to develop the final EIR, which is now available for public review in hard copy at various city library locations and online at PWPweb.com/recycledwater.

A public hearing on the Final EIR was scheduled for February 1 but has been rescheduled to February 22, 2016 at 7pm in the City Council Chambers. To learn more, click here.

To view previous issues of Watts Current, click here .