Table 3. Utility Context Setting Information
| General Utility Information | |
|---|---|
| Service Territory Size (square miles) | 2,693 |
| Service Territory Make-up [ ]% Urban [ ]% Agriculture [ ]% Barren/Other [ ]% Conifer Forest [ ]% Conifer Woodland [ ]% Desert | [ ]% Hardwood Forest [ ]% Hardwood Woodland [ ]% Herbaceous [ ]% Shrub [ ]% Water [X] NA / Not tracked (see section 3.2) |
| Service Territory Wildland Urban Interface | 2.11% Wildland Urban Interface 2.54% Wildland Urban Intermix |
| Consumers Served | 22,000 meters |
| Account Demographic [provide as % of total customers served] | [51 ]% Residential [10 ]% Agricultural [39 ]% Commercial/Industrial [] NA / Not tracked |
| Utility Equipment Make-up Calculated using GIS data | Overhead Distribution: 1,384 Overhead Transmission: 131 Underground Distribution:506 Underground Transmission:0 Substations: 17 |
| Have customers ever been notified of a potential loss of service due to a forecasted utility de-energization event? | Yes: [ ] No: [X] |
| Has the utility developed protocols to preemptively shut off electricity in response to elevated wildfire risks? | Yes: [ ] No: [X] |
| Has the utility previously implemented a PSPS in response to elevated wildfire risk? | Yes: [ ] No: [X] |
3.1 Utility Description and Context Setting
Founded in 1936, OKPUD serves approximately 22,000 residential, commercial, and agricultural, and industrial customers in approximately half of Okanogan County. The electric system comprises roughly 1,384 miles of overhead and 506 miles of underground distribution lines and located primarily along the many river valleys and creeks of east county. A transmission system is also owned consisting of about 131 miles of 115kV line and 17 substations. Additionally, wholesale, cost-based broadband service is offered to retail providers, who then supply it to the residents and businesses of Okanogan County. This system also supports the District's communication and SCADA needs.
The main office is located in the city of Okanogan, with additional offices in the towns of Oroville, Tonasket, and Brewster.
The primary power sources are hydro and wind. The district currently receives 10% of the output from the Wells Hydro Project, 16% from the Nine Canyon Wind Farm, and is a BPA block customer. Additional power is provided by Douglas PUD, and Energy NW. The District is exploring additional power sources to address future demand growth and comply with I-937 (Energy Independence Act) and the Clean Energy Transformation Act.
3.2 The Service Area
The 2,693 square mile service territory (Figure 1) spans ~73 miles north to south and ~80 miles east to west. Roughly 46% of Okanogan County is owned and managed by federal agencies; only 30% of the land is in private ownership. Federal lands are primarily managed by the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation occupies about 1,054 square miles, or 20% of the county.
Elevation ranges from ~1,000 feet to ~4,000 feet above sea level. Located on the drier side of east of the Cascade Range, geography consists of forested highlands, shrub, and grass-covered rolling hills, and river valleys dominated by irrigated farmlands. Vegetation is a mix of forestland and agricultural ecosystems. The primary natural vegetative cover types are Douglas-fir, herbaceous, shrub, subalpine forest mix, ponderosa pine, and lodgepole pine. Many rivers and creeks crisscross the landscape with the major body of water being the Okanogan River running north to south from Canada to the Columbia river.
During the summers, the plains experience sunny, warm, and dry weather with some hot days. In the lower elevations, extreme highs may reach 100°F or more for 4 to 5 months, while in higher elevations, temperatures above 90°F are common for a few months.
Precipitation is generally light in the summer and heaviest in the winter. Valleys and lowlands receive an average of 10 to 14 inches of precipitation, while in the mountains, precipitation increases with elevation. Higher ridges can expect 25 to 30 inches per year, with the majority occurring as snow.
