The meeting involves the RMLD Board of Commissioners and the Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) discussing operational updates, policy reviews, procurement requests, and community engagement initiatives. General Manager Greg Phipps and other staff provide updates on power supply, safety, reliability, and ongoing projects. The transcript includes presentations, discussions, and motions related to utility operations and community programs. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
Contents
Union President’s Statement
Union President’s Statement on Work Schedule Changes
- Timestamp: 0:01–2:27
- Speaker: Anthony Sarcoon (Union President and Chapter Chair, LMS Unit)
- Key Points:
- Sarcoon expresses deep concern over the fifth work schedule change in two years for light workers, emphasizing the physically demanding and high-risk nature of their jobs.
- Frequent schedule changes disrupt family life, childcare, and personal commitments, impacting workers’ well-being and safety focus.
- The current 4-10 schedule contributed to a 97% reliability rate, earning RMLD an excellence in reliability award.
- Implementing changes during ongoing contract negotiations undermines fair bargaining.
- Sarone requests delaying schedule changes until a new contract is in place and employees can adjust.
- Outcome: The board acknowledges the comments but takes no immediate action. The chair moves to the next agenda item.
Committee Updates
Committee Updates: MLCA and Killam School Building Committee
- Timestamp: 2:50–7:35
- Speaker: Ray Porter
- Outcome: The board encourages CAB members to join MLCA. The speaker commits to coordinating MLCA schedules and staying engaged with the building projects. No formal motions are made.
Energy Efficiency Update
Power Supply, Certificates, and Energy Efficiency Update
- Timestamp: 10:49–24:54
- Speaker: Megan Wu, Director of Integrated Resources
- Key Points:
- Power Supply Costs: Demand is stable compared to last year, but costs have risen due to increased energy and transmission expenses. Capacity costs remain stable (set three years in advance). RMLD uses Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and hedging to manage energy costs and is exploring summer hedging options.
- Battery Storage: A 10 MW battery in North Reading was commissioned to reduce peak demand. RMLD collaborates with CES (vendor) and Cazar (owner-operator) to optimize battery discharge during peak hours, sharing savings.
- Certificates: A six-month delay exists in finalizing certificate transactions. RMLD retires certificates in the NEPOOL GIS database and sells high-value certificates to offset supply costs.
- Energy Efficiency Programs: Over five years, RMLD underspent its Energy Efficiency Charge (EEC) collections, maintaining a $2.5M cushion moved in 2021. Spending focuses on heat pumps, weatherization, and solar rebates. In 2024, 35% of rebates were for appliances, which are labor-intensive. RMLD plans to restructure rebates to prioritize high-value programs (e.g., heat pumps, solar, EV chargers).
- Rate Increases: Rate hikes occurred in 2022 and 2024, with a likely increase in 2026.
- Mass Save Comparison: RMLD’s EEC rate is 0.5 cents/kWh vs. Mass Save’s 3.5 cents/kWh. Customers with National Grid gas can access Mass Save rebates but cannot double-dip with RMLD rebates.
- Outcome: No formal motions. The board requests a follow-up on the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) communication plan and its integration with demand response programs.
Safety and Operations Update
Safety and Operations Update
- Timestamp: 34:59–51:32
- Speaker: Michael Giordano
- Key Points:
- Safety Performance: Compared to last year, motor vehicle incidents are down (12 to 4, green trend), personal injuries are up (3 last year to 3 this year, red trend), reported injuries without medical attention are stable (1 last year, 1 this year, yellow trend), and long-term injuries are down (4 to 1, green trend). A new “near miss/good catch” reporting category promotes proactive safety awareness.
- Reliability: RMLD tracks at 9.37 minutes of outage time (vs. 23.24 last year) and 0.08 incidents (vs. 0.27 last year), both positive trends. Outages are caused by equipment (32%), weather (30%), wildlife (19%), trees (16%), and vehicles (3%).
- Maintenance: RMLD maintains an active transformer replacement program and is exploring infrared and drive-by technologies for preventive maintenance. Vegetation management is proactive, using GIS to track areas and collaborating with arborists.
- Capital Projects: Installed 19 pad-mounted and 38 pole-mounted transformers, removed 14 pad-mounted and 37 pole-mounted transformers, and replaced 55 poles. The SpryPoint system upgrade (expected completion in June) will enhance work management and KPIs.
- Outcome: The board praises “near miss/good catch” reporting as a positive safety initiative. The team is congratulated for receiving the Diamond Award for reliability. No formal motions.
Meter Replacement
AMI Meter Replacement Program
- Timestamp: 1:04:27–1:12:23
- Speaker: Meter Replacement and unnamed board member
- Key Points:
- RMLD is replacing AMR meters with AMI meters, which are cheaper than time-of-use meters and enable real-time load profiling.
- AMI data will enhance demand response programs, complementing battery storage efforts to reduce peak demand. Battery systems target utility-scale peak reduction at the transmission tie point, independent of customer-level demand response.
- The program is a replacement initiative, with a communication plan to be developed.
- Outcome: The board requests a follow-up presentation on the AMI communication plan within a couple of months.
Policy Review
Policy Review: Community Relations
- Timestamp: 1:12:40–1:15:57
- Speaker: Erica Morse and board members
- Key Points:
- Policy 1, Revision 6, was updated to reinstate the community relations program section at the board’s request. It now includes engagement with legislators, regulators, partners, and vendors, though customers remain the primary focus.
- The recent River Park Energy Storage ribbon-cutting exemplifies community engagement.
- Outcome:
- Motion (CAB): Recommends approving Policy 1, Revision 6. Passed unanimously.
- Motion (Board): Approves Policy 1, Revision 6. Passed 4-0.
Procurement Requests
Procurement Requests: Transformers
- Timestamp: 1:15:57–1:21:25
- Speaker: Unnamed board member and staff (likely under Greg Phipps)
- Key Points:
- Pole-Mounted Transformers: IFP 2025-9 awarded to Greybar Electric ($229,330.32) and United Utility Supply/E. Flowers ($263,097) based on lowest bids meeting specs.
- Pad-Mounted Transformers: IFP 2025-10 awarded to Greybar Electric ($369,370.22) based on lowest bid.
- The transformer budget is $1.372M, sufficient for these purchases. Lead times range from 12 to 28 weeks due to supply chain constraints. Awards are based on unit cost, not total ownership cost.
- Outcome:
- Motion (Pole-Mounted): Approved unanimously.
- Motion (Pad-Mounted): Approved unanimously.
Green Communities Program
Green Communities Program
- Timestamp: 1:21:25–1:26:43
- Speaker: Greg Phipps (General Manager)
- Key Points:
- RMLD will act as a billing agent for the Renewable Energy Trust Fund for Reading (5 mills, ~41 cents/month for average customers). Only Reading participates among RMLD’s four towns, with Lynfield and Wilmington showing interest.
- The agreement is irrevocable, with exit costs borne by Reading if they withdraw. Special legislation allows RMLD to collect for individual towns, finalized after administrative delays. Collection starts July 1, 2025.
- Outcome:
- Motion (CAB): Recommends authorizing Greg Phipps to execute the agreement. Passed unanimously.
- Motion (Board): Authorizes Greg Phipps to execute the agreement. Passed unanimously.
NEPA Conference
NEPA Conference Approval
- Timestamp: 1:26:43–1:28:12
- Speaker: David Talbot, Pam Daskalakis
- Key Points:
- Approval requested for board and CAB members to attend the Northeast Public Power Association (NEPA) conference, August 17–20, 2025, in Burlington, VT.
- Budget is $1,500 per board/CAB member, sufficient for full attendance.
- Outcome:
- Motion (CAB): Approves travel and attendance. Passed unanimously.
- Motion (Board): Approves travel and attendance. Passed unanimously.
General Manager Update
General Manager Update
- Timestamp: 1:28:12–1:53:18
- Speaker: Greg Phipps (General Manager) and board members
- Key Points:
- Staffing: A new marketing communications coordinator starts June 16, 2025. Four interns hired for summer 2025 in accounting, customer service, operations, and marketing. Positions posted for finance/accounting director and energy program specialist.
- Ribbon Cutting: The River Park Energy Storage event was well-attended, promoting RMLD’s innovation.
- Projects: Station 6 transformer installations are ongoing, the Parker School solar project is under review, Ash Street campus planning is progressing, and Chestnut Street (Station 3) discussions with North Reading are advancing.
- Enterprise Software Platform: Replacement is prompted by end-of-support for key systems. A detailed review, including cybersecurity, is planned for July 2025.
- Reliability Award: RMLD received a reliability award for the fifth year, exceeding the five-year average of U.S. utilities.
- Wood-Burning Power Plant Issue: Discussion on a regulatory change allowing MLPs to claim non-carbon credits for wood-burning power (e.g., Springfield plant burning 1,200 tons/day). RMLD’s policy prohibits purchasing such power, but the board considers a broader policy statement via MLCA.
- Economic Development: The board suggests a joint presentation with Reading’s town planning director to align RMLD’s site planning with town-wide industrial development and load growth opportunities.
- Outcome:
- Greg Phipps is tasked with researching the wood-burning power plant issue, engaging with Energy New England (RMLD’s co-owned cooperative), and proposing it as an MLCA agenda item for the next meeting.
- The board requests a joint presentation with the Reading town planning director.
- No formal motions, but the board affirms scheduling for June 25, July, and August meetings, ensuring no conflicts with MLCA (June 26, no July meeting, August at NEPA).
Key Outcomes
- Work Schedule Concerns: Union president’s concerns about schedule changes are noted but not acted upon.
- Policy Approvals: Community Relations Policy (Revision 6) and Green Communities agreement approved unanimously, with Greg Phipps authorized to execute the latter.
- Procurement: Transformer purchases (pole-mounted and pad-mounted) approved unanimously within the $1.372M budget.
- NEPA Conference: Travel and attendance approved for all interested board/CAB members.
- Future Actions:
- Greg Phipps to develop an AMI communication plan for review.
- Greg Phipps to research the wood-burning power plant regulatory change, consult Energy New England, and propose MLCA discussion.
- Schedule a joint presentation with Reading’s town planning director on economic development and load growth.
- Plan a July session on the enterprise software platform, emphasizing cybersecurity.
- Reliability and Safety: RMLD recognized for reliability (Diamond Award, fifth-year award). Mixed safety trends, with “near miss” reporting praised as proactive.
