**Pre-Utility Sounding Board (USB) Meeting Summary**

**July 20, 2005**

**[Future Sounding Board Meetings]{.underline}**

-   When should the next meeting, the first of this "Utility Sounding
    Board" be held?

-   Potential agenda items:

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Pick priorities/tools

-   Conference call with this group

-   Needs/focus areas

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   In-person, conference call?

-   Face to face is more effective -- after Labor Day, early to
    mid-September

-   At the first meeting of the Utility Sounding Board, we'll lay out
    the charter: who, how long, how many, roles. The USB will provide
    *guidance* to BPA so we develop resource and tools that are useful
    to utilities in implementation.

-   It's important to have people who decide what to implement included
    in the discussion.

**[Discussion of Potential 2006 Utility Workshop]{.underline}**

-   We're considering sending a survey out to solicit interest. \[BPA\]

-   We'd be willing to share our program ideas.

-   If we narrow the priorities down and bring everyone who's interested
    together, BPA could do research on what's out there and bring
    everyone together for an "event." How do we do this?

-   Have the meeting by category; maybe have through EERs.

-   Wouldn't the EERs be the best representatives?

-   We could use video-conferencing or have multiple topics in break out
    sessions where you could attend the ones that interest you.

-   Or have one day with several topics in a specific sector.

-   They can be targeted to the west/eastside. Most of the commercial is
    in the west, while most of the ag is in the eastside.

-   Have a meeting somewhere, but have it available through video
    conferencing for those who can't travel.

-   We're introducing people to topics; training is also needed. Bring
    the training to the Northwest. That gives the utility engineering
    staff more opportunities.

-   How many topics would be reasonable to do in a day?

-   Gather information from the utilities who are heavily involved in
    certain programs/sectors.

-   We could survey utilities for programs that could be topics for
    discussion.

-   Maybe there could be a "relaunch" of our conservation initiative --
    kick off of new efforts in Spring 2006. Have a two-day forum people
    can come to and see things they're not familiar with. Include
    utilities, vendors, and regional representatives.

-   The complaint I have about the Conservation or Crisis Conference is
    that the sessions were too short and allowed no time for interaction
    with the panel speakers.

-   It needs to be a smaller event.

-   Specifically for utilities.

-   Implementation focus.

-   Invite selected contractors and experts.

-   Showcase providers of services.

-   Late fall 2005 might be better.

-   It would probably be February at the earliest, maybe March.

-   Pull in residential ideas for a conference.

-   Have one day focus on commercial; one day on residential.

-   Grocery is easy to do -- it's already out there.

-   We need an array of things, because not everyone will do the same
    thing.

-   Pre-rinse spray washers are predominantly restaurants \[and
    institutional\].

-   Sequencing of tool kits -- before or after this event?

-   Need to set up PTCS infrastructure. The information is out there --
    let utilities know what's available.

-   Part of what guides this is the Power Plan.

-   You should go back to the Plan and incorporate it into the
    priorities spreadsheet.

**[Other]{.underline}**

-   I don't always get the information from the EER, such as with the
    Economizer. A lot of people asked me about it, and I had been given
    no information.