[{"_1":2,"_135":-5,"_136":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111,123],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6369946,"mediaKeyId","2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9","parentId",2153285,"title","Votes at a glance: Glendale Water & Power Commission, Jan. 22, 2025","audioSeconds",9406,"startMs",236000,"endMs",9642000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9&start=236&end=9642","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9/thumbnail_236000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6369946/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Glendale-Water-Power-Commission-Jan-22-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369946-3a2b156e2a11cba43fe59164a6914d23/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588608&Signature=AJssO8Qh8694-YKKf4xcTqUVnduoHddTgXBCl4uUksguHxCXSd5GdOzjhbXzArzPgugtSPGg7N67QVtFmeSfGVAqLBrP0OiAoVuxxhxYQPZaRXa54xERIaZwm2FYswYrXVsBipRYS6CQqVMjtQgZ8~zGhLDI3EIRi5CpRX6R9t7j0HBxwKp1dLi3m4gxcFS7COG2ZaMrEf5y9BJm5pqyRLeiOlWgzYC0aqESivGYG~z9rFCH8iBREYAmtZPhYantsdrqEG1F3cx5mdjOd0T06B0s1S4eNz34nHl8qr4EGgQCv49M1i0wzp0hsxyk9JJIlfcFSiLUfh8JewlwNEUYxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MyGlendale, CA","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","Two formal motions were recorded during the Glendale Water and Power Commission meeting on January 22, 2025.

1) Consent: Approval of November 4, 2024 meeting minutes.
Motion: Approve the November 4, 2024 meeting minutes.
Mover: not specified.
Second: not specified.
Vote (as recorded on the record): Commissioner Koudicien — Yes; Commissioner Faye — Yes; Commissioner Lawrie — Yes; Commissioner Flanagan — Abstain. Outcome: Approved (tally recorded in meeting).

2) Adjournment.
Motion: Adjourn the meeting.
Mover: not specified.
Second: not specified.
Vote: Not recorded; meeting was adjourned by voice after the motion and second.

Ending: The commission adjourned following the motions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Glendale Water and Power Commission Meeting - 1/22/25","oneSentenceSummary","Commission approved the November 4, 2024 meeting minutes and later approved adjournment; vote tallies are recorded as announced in the meeting.","taxTitle","Glendale, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369951,"Commission reviews staffing, customer‑service and safety metrics",531,7796000,8327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9&start=7796&end=8327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9/thumbnail_7796000.jpg","/articles/6369951/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-reviews-staffing-customerservice-and-safety-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369951-0874d6987583bc19dcb347acded8eab6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588608&Signature=Mw59h1JXlgWnaG4Ys5MpqmbswKKRRO6~lR1VVJY4JBTJA87-hMVgFeI-vbvA6F9Rn7JnB4RBUAdIUWjRAHpYtzFKGDaimJ43-cJVUAJJO4RBZ8J2-cwPCZppzd7xncjTDWdKTnpWV9JRgAW5km~MODU2UxSTJIUVT6Shxz9n3XkYN6VAJY-~l-qJ16scLUSbCGJZtZecGBVJW~TOHYfA-zJjGn-kdExDW7stJQWbS~F1YSn8tSH1JXwq6Ey9o2bMX3NDM8BqJHOAtJk2t7OAXHI8w9IfAPc-scNVizMrH1UUmpkPX-bzvvUUvhDm2XCH9WBYMC6xQL-PL1rzpc1SkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glendale Water and Power support services told the commission January 22 that recruitment remains a national challenge, customer‑service response improved in 2024 and safety incidents and lost days dropped materially year over year.

Why it matters: staffing affects the utility’s ability to perform valve exercises, plan checks, outage response and other core services; customer‑service performance shapes public experience during outages and billing cycles.

Steve Nersesian, assistant general manager for support services, summarized personnel and customer‑service KPIs. He said the utility filled a number of vacancies but continues to compete in a tight labor market; the division ran 77 recruitments in 2024 with 33 separations. Nersesian said the utility is using succession planning, outside recruiters and outreach to expand the candidate pool.

Customer service: the utility handled about 80,000 phone calls that were answered in 2024 (out of ~87,900 calls received) and substantially increased web‑contact responses within 24 hours versus 2023. Nersesian said a new, city‑wide phone system with callbacks and language support is in progress.

Safety: Nersesian said safety is a proactive priority: “safety is not something you do reactive. It's proactive.” He reported a decline in incidents (from 18 in 2023 to 14 in 2024), a fall in lost days (from 1,059 to 310) and lower associated costs. Commissioners asked staff to return with hiring‑time metrics and to track any delays attributable to centralized city HR so the utility can identify process bottlenecks.

Ending: Staff agreed to add recruitment‑cycle metrics (days-to-fill, open positions count), provide a callback and IVR update for the commission and return with a plan showing how customer‑service contacts could be reduced through outreach or self‑service.","Support services reported recruitment challenges, improvements in web contact response and a sharp decline in safety incidents and lost days in 2024 compared with 2023.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369956,"Water division reports low main‑break rate, begins recycled‑water master plan",309,6818000,7127000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9&start=6818&end=7127","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9/thumbnail_6818000.jpg","/articles/6369956/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Water-division-reports-low-mainbreak-rate-begins-recycledwater-master-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369956-6a2251b6dcee6ee9681742b0f93f0046/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588608&Signature=SP2gosqAx~cl353ddWPUmvquzi-DwpukzB2mDEosfSKqpxWmmTHBE25mr8Qh-b8o6CmeMnkmTOdP3gkQB4jWDfHvrPiEM2hhA09EyPeU~OWcs8MQlkIguP8h0CSQlx84gfHrUg63mXPHfOyqnvObpXNEhxasnUB7MjK-gVAEPikbnneUmDw~lLjUdcuiEoc7tBm2vdXRCZDH1JII~LMjirsA2sGPDi-FWl-QWeT0ohvYxzp~H9s~7OxhPkqqWET8ly2RYL033RsdSDPtMPy8UuQDIoa4Pbe-9tvxj5nBswngyHG~WvYwUBV-80lvrJB8HqYl-FhD8u-oqqJOGzux8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glendale’s water division told the commission January 22 that system performance remains strong on key reliability metrics even as the utility advances a recycled‑water master plan and pipeline replacement projects.

Why it matters: water supply and distribution reliability directly affect firefighting capability, residential service and long‑term resilience as imported supplies face climate variability.

Assistant General Manager Chisholm Abigolu said about 65% of the city’s water supply is imported and roughly 35% is local groundwater and recycled water. He said the recently approved recycled‑water master plan will kick off shortly and help define specific and numeric targets for reducing imported supply dependence.

Abigolu described pipeline replacement and main‑break performance: Glendale has a goal of no more than 20 main breaks per year (about five per 100 miles of pipe, per the plan) and reported roughly 2.5 main breaks per 100 miles — well below the national average of about 14 per 100 miles. He noted replacement work varies year to year; the Chilton‑Kenneth pipeline (about 2.2 miles) is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2025.

Valves and operations: staff said the utility maintains about 10,500 valves and aims to exercise each valve every three years (roughly 3,500 valves per year). Managers acknowledged that staffing gaps had limited exercises in prior years but said new hires should let the division close the gap; staff committed to returning with a staffing‑informed valve exercise ramp plan.

Water quality: managers said Glendale met all state and federal regulatory requirements during the period under review and that the utility is participating with Metropolitan Water District studies on emerging contaminants (including PFAS). Abigolu said the division has monitored wildfire impacts and worked with public safety during recent regional fires to maintain adequate water for response.

Ending: Staff will return with the recycled‑water master plan implementation timeline, projected pipeline replacement schedules and a prioritized valve‑exercise plan tied to staffing and contractor use.","Water managers told the commission that Glendale’s main‑break rate remains well below national averages, described pipeline replacement work and said a recycled‑water master plan — just approved by council — will guide future reductions in imported water.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369960,"Commission hears update on renewables, EV chargers and storage planning",174,2862000,3036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9&start=2862&end=3036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9/thumbnail_2862000.jpg","/articles/6369960/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-hears-update-on-renewables-EV-chargers-and-storage-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369960-c6b9431afa1d72b28781269a8d2bc1ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588608&Signature=f2NbOIO~tmAJIbp766OHVwVgQKHlrBfVHpPE4R154pK-NP3DuE~J6beS2CUgk8cjNc7bpIXxiNi~QjYTkJrKLMNcUTuwYQ5NrsC3kiG-uiLvZ0rpj1Et8ofWASQKD2XnInIlF13jn2XoCfQBDOjcMclcz56nLAipxLvQToXLZ71uFkWvFgdp1zayNk02g9NhHBHy5pluz6B0bAoT-5FaM~2bvZOGBPS1AdI9IDBnoq5rpcUKoSVlrQtY17h-hliUYkWQUlYJVUBi~67d5SjFfzgCuC9yn38SE0l4DSvCgJXUO5SnppYCI42pcPlxSCBrbN1Wu578I-lNxsQOb1mumw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glendale Water and Power’s power management team updated the commission on renewable targets, customer solar, electric vehicle charging and storage design on January 22.

Why it matters: the city is simultaneously expanding clean energy resources and preparing distribution infrastructure to serve growing electrification demand.

Assistant General Manager Scott Mellon gave the power briefing. He said Glendale’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) share rose from 39.4% (calendar 2022) to an estimated 45% in 2024 and that the utility’s Power Content Label (which counts large hydro and other zero‑carbon sources) was affected by a reduction in available hydro generation. Mellon said staff target at least 55% zero‑carbon content for 2025 but cautioned renewables procurement faces market pressures and project closings can be delayed.

Mellon said Glendale’s projected total energy use showed a preliminary estimate of about 20% growth year over year; he described that number as subject to verification and attributed it to electrification and EV uptake. The commission pressed for a follow‑up with detailed drivers and historical comparisons.

On distributed resources, Mellon said customer‑owned solar capacity rose from about 23.7 megawatts in 2022 to just over 29 megawatts in the most recent fiscal year, despite the removal of solar incentives in 2022; staff noted federal tax incentives and higher retail rates may be driving continued adoption. He said the Shoal Canyon biogas project is expected to come online next year and was described as “around the clock” capacity of roughly 11 MW.

On EV infrastructure, staff reported 78 city‑owned charging ports in 2024, with goals to add at least a dozen more in 2025. Mellon and commissioners discussed different charger types, the pros and cons of curbside “bring‑your‑own‑cord” Level‑2 installations versus Level‑3 fast chargers, and the prospect of outsourcing charger ownership to private operators via an RFP.

Ending: Staff will return with verified load growth detail, the RFP timeline for private EV charger operators and procurement status for renewable contracts that support 2025 zero‑carbon targets.","Power management reported RPS progress, a projected 20% year‑over‑year energy growth estimate, EV‑charging rollouts and a near‑term addition of an 11‑MW Shoal Canyon biogas project.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369965,"Glendale utility reports strong cash reserves, flags future water rate work",177,2187000,2364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9&start=2187&end=2364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9/thumbnail_2187000.jpg","/articles/6369965/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Glendale-utility-reports-strong-cash-reserves-flags-future-water-rate-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369965-852aa3c65e7c33220cc5cfb2e25e0ea2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588608&Signature=VxIlJYrgw-IFHT8Ye~pPuyK4-HgDEpREYCkfRlveWZ0Q4w2zOXw7glrqJrVt4SK5f2zb1m69DsNzWI2u~cv1S7rJzzd2Phrsne06RPjiaoJLX7whTqhLUfg5B8jHG7mRM3pwOUNrV4piJyk6ILZDorj-0Xl8HWD66ow2d9LbciHMSWjXyup0PfGYZsK~tvnOYE~Ti77rJFIwO~wWuhr5t4gpGQdGjXPl4IrjhxJ10F-ko5F1PtJNyDmn3uX9Dvx7wQOO~vdvli4ycXi2xdjGAOWAB3mIebL7TZBbFrOKudYyuFw7cgqan56sJwsFhj7gku5EqXXoa3VD7380gAap~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glendale Water and Power staff reported January 22 that both electric and water funds ended fiscal 2023–24 with cash reserves well above policy targets, but managers said they have planned analyses and rate work to address future capital needs.

Why it matters: commissioners pressed staff to explain how high reserves, upcoming rate increases and capital projects interact so the public understands why rates may rise even as reserves appear large.

Adriana Essayen, assistant general manager for Utility Finance and Risk Management, presented the fiscal summary. She said the utility’s electric reserves stood at \"about $328,000,000\" at the end of FY23‑24 against a reserve policy target of $124,100,000, and water cash reserves were about $46,400,000 against a policy requirement of $11,300,000. Essayen said the electric reserves include bond proceeds for big capital projects and that cash-on-hand figures reflect timing of those capital outlays.

Staff noted that some reserves are earmarked for ongoing projects (including the Grayson repowering and Shoal Canyon biogas project) and bond tranches, and that the water fund is expected to fall below the reserve policy in FY25‑26 without rate adjustments. Essayen said a water cost‑of‑service analysis (COSA) and water master plan are underway to determine rates that support the capital improvement program.

Commissioners asked whether unspent appropriations roll into the utility funds; Essayen answered that funds remain in the respective enterprise utilities and are invested by the city treasurer. Commissioners also discussed optics: one commissioner said the city should clearly communicate that higher reserves reflect planned multi‑year capital programs rather than uncommitted surplus.

Ending: Staff agreed to provide follow-up material showing projected capital draws, the planned COSA timeline and clearer charts tying reserve levels to expected project spending.","Finance staff told the commission that electric and water reserves exceeded policy targets at fiscal‑year end and that a water cost‑of‑service analysis will be completed to address an anticipated reserve shortfall by FY25‑26.",{"_33":124,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":125,"_41":126,"_43":127,"_45":128,"_47":129,"_49":130,"_51":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":133,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":134,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369970,"Glendale utility reviews windstorm response, battery storage safety after regional wildfires",1180,331000,1511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9&start=331&end=1511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2153285-7e9490697083ef0feab05293017328d9/thumbnail_331000.jpg","/articles/6369970/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Glendale-utility-reviews-windstorm-response-battery-storage-safety-after-regional-wildfires","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369970-9f179ab5246d3f13208227d7a0b97a9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588608&Signature=XBEBcdr8Kp5N1TUP4tfDCf-QEvjT57DQcr9mtU7NXA6Axikb1Gkg-fGfwC2r7g4M0vma3yUQQj4N~c-nrWJVIjAMHf2hU~jBfrzsIFsc-6yHvV3sluw0p5Es7gy4YG~oQJNk3OjAWjLmeYwwiuKNQKayyJqo~YRwr5a7CCqOo8g3bCNDO8Yl-TM3UIPrdrhuF8LAb2ba1w0L4RdDowvTPnC-NeFSaV2sHPQQaza3vVLwHM8hV8ofO5zBibdrFjL1V74X8dC8SkVcSXLBVQuS4t2k14lcGBuCCc3ZDuiVVPA9lFpK33vO9MEDWnZIxz-rYUYFFarqw9oPjDEaoCc6kA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glendale Water and Power officials reported on January 22 that crews restored service after a severe windstorm and described steps the utility has taken to reduce fire risk and limit battery-storage hazards following the Moss Landing battery incident.

The report by Interim General Manager Manny Robledo said the utility experienced widespread overhead damage during high winds, with a maximum of about 12,000 customers out at once and more than 700 system incidents. Robledo said crews worked continuously and that “All Glendale Water and Power customers were restored on 14th, which was exactly 1 week later.”

Why it matters: the commission framed the briefing as both an immediate after-action and a prompt to examine whether planned projects and wildfire-prevention measures remain adequate as weather extremes and new energy infrastructure increase risk.

Robledo told the commission the utility de-energized a subtransmission line across the hill to La Crescenta during red-flag warnings and disabled automatic reclosers so crews could patrol circuits before reclosing them. He described vegetation-management spending of “over $4,000,000 a year” on clearing around high‑voltage lines and said drone inspections and a five‑year facility inspection cycle are part of prevention work.

Commissioners and staff also discussed a separate battery-storage fire at Moss Landing as a point of comparison. Scott Mellon, assistant general manager for power management, described differences between the Moss Landing site and Glendale’s planned storage design. He said Moss Landing used NMC (nickel‑manganese‑cobalt) cells in a rack‑mounted building and that the chemistry is more prone to cascade fires in that configuration. By contrast, Mellon said Glendale’s design uses LFP chemistry and includes spacing, individual enclosures for battery sets and deluge systems intended to prevent fire spread: “LFP…is more stable, less likely to catch fire and, have a sustained burn or cause a cascade effect.”

Mellon cautioned that water deluge systems are intended to limit spread rather than immediately extinguish a battery cell’s internal hot core, and he said Glendale’s design decisions were coordinated with the fire department.

Commission direction and follow-up: Commissioners asked staff to compile a targeted follow-up report on utility preparedness, including differences between the Moss Landing incident and Glendale’s designs, the resilience of key pump stations and reservoirs, and any near‑term steps—such as additional patrols or valve checks—before the next fire season. Several commissioners said they would also invite the fire department to brief the commission about operational needs during large wildfire incidents.

Ending: Staff said they will return with details and recommended actions so the commission can evaluate whether changes to timing or scope of maintenance and construction are warranted before high‑risk weather windows.","Glendale Water & Power officials reviewed damage and restoration from a recent windstorm, discussed wildfire preparedness and described design differences meant to reduce battery storage fire risk after the Moss Landing incident.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Glendale Water & Power Commission, Jan. 22, 2025

Commission reviews staffing, customer‑service and safety metrics

Water division reports low main‑break rate, begins recycled‑water master plan

Commission hears update on renewables, EV chargers and storage planning

Glendale utility reports strong cash reserves, flags future water rate work

Glendale utility reviews windstorm response, battery storage safety after regional wildfires