Water Resources
After several employee recognitions, the Board approved a request from staff to apply for a $500,000 forgivable loan from the state to help offset the cost of removing PFAS substances from GUC’s drinking water. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been used since the 1950’s to produce thousands of everyday products and can be found in the water, ground, and air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed significantly lower standards for PFAS levels in water systems. The Board also voted to approve increasing a capital project budget to replace two existing pump stations and to make collection system point repairs in the Town of Bethel.

Check out this month’s Employees in Action, United Way, and Electricities Awards articles.

Electric
Electric staff made two solar-related informational presentations to the Board. The first was a proposal for a community-solar project that would meet a growing interest from electric customers to have a carbon-reducing program they can voluntarily participate in. Customers who want to opt-in would pay an extra charge each month to offset the cost of GUC building a 500-kW solar project with 1,562 panels. The second presentation was a proposal for a third residential solar rate (customers can choose which rate would work best them). Customers with rooftop solar panels would be able to use the energy they produce with GUC purchasing the excess energy at a buyback rate. The remaining energy the customers consume would be purchased from GUC at our regular retail rate. The Board is expected to take action on those two solar items at the October meeting.