Truckee Donner Public Utility District
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"Where Does Our Water Come From?" TDPUD's Communications Team talks with Truckee-Tahoe Radio about all things Truckee water—where it comes from, how we deliver it to you, and the upcoming water rate public process.
"Truckee Donner PUD modernizes bill pay methods" In April, TDPUD's Board of Directors approved new account management tools for customers, accepted new funding from grants and insurance reimbursement for training and operations, and recognized staff for their hard work, both on the job and at the recent Lineworkers Rodeo. Read more here.
"TDPUD Approves Power Cost Adjustment Credit" TDPUD's Board of Directors approved several key initiatives at its March meeting, including a power cost adjustment credit to electric customers, a new bill round-up program, and a resolution outlining the impacts that federal funding cuts will have locally on wildfire mitigation and readiness. Read more here.
"Truckee Donner PUD recognized for transparent financial reporting for fourth year in a row" TDPUD's Financial Reporting Team was honored by a government finance industry group for its excellence in financial reporting. Read more here.
"Truckee Donner PUD Launches New Scholarship Program" TDPUD has launched a new scholarship program that targets both college-bound high school seniors and local students interested in pursuing the trade and vocational skills that make electric and water utilities function. Read more here.
"Martis Valley Groundwater Basin: A Vital Resource for the Region" Do you know where Truckee's drinking water comes from? The Sierra Sun dove deep into our unique underground resource. Read more here.
"TDPUD Board Advances Groundwater Plan Update and Broadband Expansion" Exciting projects were approved by the TDPUD board at the February meeting. Read more here.
"Truckee Donner PUD Board Kicks Off 2025" The TDPUD board held its first meeting of the year. Read more here.
"Truckee Donner PUD Reflects on a Transformative 2024, Plans for a Resilient Future," General Manager Brian Wright spoke to the Sierra Sun about TDPUD's successes in 2024 and trajectory going into 2025. Read more here.
"TDPUD Recaps its 2024," TDPUD's Communications Team talks with Truckee-Tahoe Radio about what the agency accomplished in 2024, and its plans for the future.
"Truckee Donner PUD awarded Transparency Certificate of Excellence," Truckee Donner Public Utility District has been awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from the Special District Leadership Foundation, in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance. Read more here.
"Resource Planning Efforts, Battery Storage Assessment Detailed by Truckee Donner PUD GM," In the latest episode of APPA's podcast, Public Power Now, Brian Wright, General Manager for California public power utility Truckee Donner Public Utility District, discusses the utility’s resource planning efforts and details a battery energy storage system assessment. Listen here
"Truckee Donner PUD Honors Board Member Joe Aguera's 37 Years of Service," Truckee Donner Public Utility District named a newly-built water pump station the Joseph “Joe” R. Aguera Pump Station, in recognition of Aguera’s 37 years of commendable service. A ceremony was held at the pump station on Aug. 28, which included Director Aguera’s family, friends, colleagues and local agency leaders. Read more
"Truckee Water Agencies Celebrate 8th Annual Water Professionals Appreciation Week," Truckee Sanitary District, Truckee Donner Public Utility District and Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency express their gratitude for the community’s great water professionals and everyone who supports them. Read more
"Beat the Heat Without Breaking the Budget," TDPUD shares tips for staying cool while limiting energy use. Read more
"TDPUD Fire Season and the Possibility of Power Loss," TDPUD staff speak with KTKE Truckee-Tahoe Radio about preparing for wildfire safety outages and TDPUD's wildfire mitigation efforts. Read more and listen below.
"Finding the Pieces for the Resource Adequacy Puzzle," TDPUD Electric Utility Director Jared Carpenter spoke to the American Public Power Association about the challenges the district faces in procuring the energy needed to power Truckee, and how our IRP addresses these obstacles. Read more
TDPUD Press Releases
TDPUD Board Approves Infrastructure Investment and Local Partnership Project
TDPUD continues to prioritize projects that enhance the community, both through system upgrades and local collaborations.
Truckee, Calif. (March 7, 2022) – The Truckee Donner Public Utility District’s board of directors met last Wednesday for its March meeting. The board considered and approved water infrastructure upgrades, electric vehicle purchases, and pursuing a partnership with local agencies on a fueling station for essential services.
In General Manager Brian Wright’s update to the board, he first thanked TDPUD staff for its dedicated efforts during the recent major snowstorms Truckee has been experiencing. Due to favorable storm conditions (cold weather creating lighter snow) and recent resiliency work on the electrical system, TDPUD got through the last two major snowstorms without any significant outages. The board echoed the gratitude for TDPUD staff’s hard work.
Wright also gave an update on the substantial cost increase for electric resources that is currently affecting the Western U.S. A combination of low hydroelectric output during fall and early winter, repeated spikes in the cost of natural gas and extended periods of cold across the West has created a strain on the electric market that all electric utilities in California will need to address. While costs are receding month over month, they are still nearly double what they were this time last year. TDPUD is working diligently to reduce the impacts to customers, and taking steps to reduce its exposure to market volatility in the future.
The board took action to expand the local fueling facility partnership with the Town of Truckee and the Truckee Fire Protection District. Truckee’s essential service agencies require an accessible and reliable fuel source in order to accomplish the crucial work they do. When the interstate shuts down and local gas stations run low on gasoline during severe winter storms, that’s when town plows, emergency services, and utility trucks need fuel the most. Recognizing this need, these agencies have already partnered on the creation of a pilot fuel station, and will now expand the program and increase on-site fuel storage capacity. The fuel station also utilizes renewable diesel, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the fleets of all three public agencies.
The board also approved necessary water pipeline replacements in Tahoe Donner, continuing its commitment to upgrading TDPUD’s aging infrastructure to best serve the community and provide high-quality water services. It also approved the purchase of two electric pickup trucks to replace existing internal combustion engine vehicles in the fleet. The state is requesting public agencies to begin electrifying their fleets, which can be difficult to accomplish in an industry that utilizes specialized equipment. TDPUD is committed to responsibly electrifying its fleet as zero-emission vehicles become commercially available, which is now an option for some of its less-specialized transit vehicles. The board also awarded a contract for an electric cost of service analysis, in order to ensure that electric rates are sufficient to reliably operate the utility, as well as administered equitably according to usage.
Information about TDPUD board meetings and access to agendas, minutes, live streaming and archived video can be found at tdpud.org/boardmeetings.
About Truckee Donner PUD:
TDPUD is a public utility district created in 1927 and overseen by a locally-elected board of directors. TDPUD is a not-for-profit entity that provides the greater Truckee area with reliable and high-quality water and power services, while guiding the community to conserve resources. For more information about TDPUD, call 530-587-3896 or visit tdpud.org.
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Media Contact: Steven Poncelet, Truckee Donner PUD, 530-582-3951, stevenponcelet@tdpud.org
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Media Contacts
Steven Poncelet, Strategic Affairs & Public Information Director | stevenponcelet@tdpud.org, 530-582-3951
Alex Spychalsky, Communications Program Manager | alex@tdpud.org, 530-582-3986