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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes May 24, 2004
The meeting was called to order by Larry Kelly.
The opening prayer was given by J. B. Meyers.
Minutes were not available for the April 26, 2004 meeting.
Janna Lehman gave the Treasurer’s report, stating the current balance is $1885.33. We have 2 more organization members paid for this year making a total of 17, and 15 associate members. Jana listed about six organizations that have not paid for this year. There have been no bills paid. Motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the Treasurer’s report.
Larry asked the members and visitors in attendance to introduce themselves and tell where they are from.
Old Business:
East Texas Regional Water Planning Committee Report: Bill Huegel, representative was not present.
Lake Level Efforts:
Larry reviewed information about the agreement reached by the Lake Level Advisory Council and the power companies in Louisiana, stating that power generation would stop when the lake level reached 168 msl. The SRA engineer came up with an operating guide that moved power production forward into the early months of the peaking season, and spread it out more equally. CLECO even published in their newsletter that they had agreed to the terms. Larry read a copy of a letter that was received on Thursday prior to the Toledo Bend Project Joint Operation Board meeting at the SRA of Texas Office at the Dam Site on May 21, 2004. The letter was written by a Mr. Hertzel of the Woodlands to Jerry Clark, Project Manager and Executive V.P. of the Texas SRA, who forwarded a copy to Jim Pratt of Louisiana. The subject was Toledo Bend Project Power Sales Agreement Enforcement, and dealt with the recent passage of LA Act 295 and the proposed SRA of LA Resolution regarding that legislation. The letter went on to state that Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Entergy Louisiana, Inc. as parties to the Power Sales Agreement wish to clarify their position with regard to attempts to limit power generation at the Toledo Bend Project. The letter also stated that the power companies will expect all parties to the Power Sales Agreement to continue to maintain the integrity of the agreement and continue to abide by its terms and conditions. Should the FERC issue a final ‘non-appealable’ order amending the current operating guide and project license to reflect the minimal reservoir elevation level set forth in LA Act 295, and should all regulatory bodies, including the LA PSC and the PSC of TX, and the FERC issue ‘non-appealable’ orders allowing for the full recovery of all purchase power costs resulting from the revised reservoir elevation levels, Entergy will be willing to meet to discuss modifying the contract to comply with Act 295 and the regulatory orders issued therewith. The letter went on to say Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana take very seriously their obligations as set forth in the Power Sales Agreement and they expect other parties to the Agreement to do the same. Larry said Larry Slocum and Ron Talbot were at the meeting and could elaborate more on what was said at the meeting. After reading the letter, Larry noted that this is not a new operating guide or minimal level, it is simply an adjustment of the present operating guide, and the two SRAs have made adjustments before, while operating within the guidelines of the operating guide. Larry feels it is certainly a requirement that the PSC of LA and the PUC of TX approve the pass-through of costs to the customers in order for the power companies to continue to operate, and the PSC of LA has said that can be done and are working toward that. Larry said Texas members are going to have to get their legislators involved in backing LA in this effort. It was reported that Mayor Freeman of Many made it very clear to the Joint Board of the SRAs that LA has a law to quit generating power if the lake level reaches 168 and they intend to follow that law. This may require going to court, if contested. Larry and Ron having been in contact with their LA legislators about meeting again, and reminded us that we are too close to our goal to not make a “push”. Larry feels we need to meet with Sen. Staples and also with the PUC of TX. Larry Slocum said the proposed change of the Operating Guide Rule Curve needs to be in writing so there could be no misunderstanding of proposed changes. Larry Kelly agreed and said we need to get with Gov. Perry, Sen. Staples and other Texas legislators to show them how this will help the state, and get them motivated to help our cause. Frank Davis said there seems to be about three activities that need to be happening: 1) the documentation of the proposed changes to the Operating Guide Rule Curve, 2) getting the LA Gov. communicating with the TX Gov., and 3) someone from the PSC talking with the PUC. Harry Johnson will again try to contact Sen. Todd Staples. Stan Verret will contact Robin Moore of Nacogdoches and invite her to our next meeting. Betty will contact Henri Trabuc and ask him to invite Roy Blake, Mayor of Nacogdoches, to our next meeting. Robin Moore is the Democratic candidate and Roy Blake is the Republican candidate for State Representative from our area.
New Business:
Stan Verret said Gene Nethery of the former DETDA organization (now known as Pineywoods Economical Partnerships) would like to address our organization. Betty will call Gene Nethery and invite him to our June meeting.
Harry Johnson says he has given application forms to Richard Tillery to apply for the next opening on the Texas SRA. We need someone from this area to represent us on the TX SRA Board.
Approve New Members: None
Approve payment of outstanding bills: None
Next meeting date: June 28, 2004
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