TID Water & Power Podcast

On Episode 36 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we're joined by TID  Assistant General Manager, Power Supply, Dan Severson, to discuss the value of hydropower.Since 1923, when TID entered the retail electric business, clean, reliable hydropower has been part of our generation portfolio. Even as electric demand continues to rise, and more regulatory constraints have been put on TID’s operations, hydropower remains a very valuable resource – and may be getting even more valuable.On this episode we discuss our hydropower fleet, the role those plants play in our portfolio, and the value hydropower brings the District. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 35 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we're joined by TID Surveying and Right-of-Way Manager, Tristan Higgins, to discuss land surveying.While you may be able to spot surveyors and their equipment at an intersection or construction project, a lot of folks might not understand what they do. At TID, the Surveying Department plays an especially important role in a variety of areas around the District.On this episode we discuss the areas the Surveying team covers, the exciting projects the department is working on, and how the department has changed over the years. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 34 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we're joined by TID Supervising Engineering Technician, Wes Miller, to discuss groundwater recharge projects.The 2022-23 Water Year was the third wettest on record and, thanks for quick action and innovative solutions, TID was able to pilot several groundwater recharge projects using that flood water.However, with ever changing hydrological conditions and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (or SGMA), the District will need to continue innovate and implement new recharge projects. On this episode we discuss the District’s relationship with groundwater, projects we were able to successfully pilot last year, and what types of recharge projects are coming down the pipe.Interested in participating in groundwater recharge projects within TID? Take our survey here or email us at GWrecharge@tid.org. Click here to read the On-Farm Recharge Methods Manual.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 33 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we welcome back author and historian Dr. Alan Paterson to discuss the TID's history and how the District entered the retail electric business.For 100 years, TID has served safe, reliable, and affordable power to our community – which is still vital to our region’s wellbeing today. But getting to that point was no easy task. It took visionaries, legal battles, and monumental decisions – and votes – to bring what we know as TID to fruition.On this episode we discuss the District’s struggles in the early 20th Century, the construction of Old Don Pedro, and how TID came to be the electric utility in our region.Want to purchase a copy of Dr. Paterson's book on TID's history, "Land, Water and Power: A History of the Turlock Irrigation District 1887-1987"? Email TID here.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 32 of the TID Water & Power Podcast, TID Communications Specialist, and producer of the podcast, Brandon McMillan moves behind the mic to take a look behind the scenes of the podcast.As we round out the year, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at what is now more than two and half years of the TID Water & Podcast. Maybe you’re a new listener, or maybe you’ve been with us since Episode 1. Either way, we hope you enjoy learning a little more about how the TID Water & Power podcast is created, recorded and delivered to you each month.On this episode we discuss the origin of the podcast, talk about what goes into releasing each episode, and take a look back at some of our favorite moments on the podcast.Past episodes we mentioned (in order of mention):Episode 1 – TID General Manager Michelle ReimersEpisode 26 – Water Rights and an Uncertain FutureEpisode 4 – Where Your Power Comes FromEpisode 5 – DroughtEpisode 7 – Water RightsEpisode 14 – How TID Became the First Irrigation District in CaliforniaEpisode 13 – Dam SafetyEpisode 12 – Hydrological Modeling and ForecastingEpisode 25 – Water and Energy Regulatory UpdateEpisode 23 – Irrigation Season and OperationsEpisode 9 – Maintaining TID’s System and FacilitiesEpisode 2 – Don Pedro - 50 Years of Water and PowerEpisode 29 – Regulating Reservoirs (Part 1 and Part 2)Episode 3 – Don Pedro RelicensingEpisode 15 – Energy Imbalance Market and Summer ReadinessEpisode 18 – CybersecurityEpisode 19 – Power Control CenterTID Short Stories – Part 1Episode 11 – Project NexusLet’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 31 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we're joined by TID Chief Financial Officer and Assistant General Manager, Financial Services, Brian Stubbert, to discuss the budgeting process.As a not-for-profit, community-owned utility, the District is funded by our customers. And keeping rates affordable is a top priority. As such, there is a lot of planning and tough decisions that go into setting and approving the District’s budget each year.On this episode we discuss what costs go into developing our annual budget, what factors specific to utilities must be considered and how the budget is funded each year. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 30 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we're joined by American Public Power Association President and CEO, Scott Corwin, to discuss the public power.  Community-owned utilities across the nation, including TID, celebrated Public Power Week the first full week of October – a weeklong celebration of all things public power. Much like the region TID serves, the communities served by community-owned power rely on lower rates, more reliable service, and continued investment in their community.On this episode we discuss the importance and value of public power and APPA’s role in promoting public power.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Part 1 of Episode 29 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Chief Operating Officer, Brad Koehn, and Water Distribution Department Manager, Mike Kavarian, to discuss the District's regulating reservoirs.Unlike Don Pedro, which has a storage capacity of more than 2 million acre-feet, TID’s regulating reservoirs are more like ponds – storing just a couple hundred acre-feet. However, despite their relative size, they are crucial to the District’s efforts to modernize and increase efficiency within our more than century-old irrigation system. On this episode, we discuss the benefits and operations of these regulating reservoirs.In Part 2, available now in our podcast feed, we're joined by Senior Civil Engineer, Matt Hazen, Construction and Maintenance Department Manager, Chris Hardin, to discuss the reservoirs' in-house design and construction.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Part 2 of Episode 29 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we're joined by Senior Civil Engineer, Matt Hazen, Construction and Maintenance Department Manager, Chris Hardin, to discuss the in-house design and construction of our regulating reservoirs.Unlike Don Pedro, which has a storage capacity of more than 2 million acre-feet, TID’s regulating reservoirs are more like ponds – storing just a couple hundred acre-feet. However, despite their relative size, they are crucial to the District’s efforts to modernize and increase efficiency within our more than century-old irrigation system. If you haven't, recommend listening to Part 1 of this episode where we sat down with TID Chief Operating Officer, Brad Koehn, and Water Distribution Department Manager, Mike Kavarian, to discuss the benefits and operations of the regulating reservoirs.  Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 28 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Communications Specialist, Lisa McMullen, to discuss the District's education programs.  Students are preparing to head back to the classroom as a new school year begins. But for TID, education is a year-round endeavor.  From community events, classroom activities, and multi-media programming like video tours or this podcast, the District is happy to share resources and help educate the community we serve on how we work with power and water, and how to be safe around both.On this episode we discuss the various education programs available for students, teachers, and the general public.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 27 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Combustion Turbine Department Manager, Mike Tehada, to discuss the District's combustion turbine generation fleet .  California has set a goal of 100 percent carbon-free retail energy by 2045 and, as such, natural gas power plants have come under fire. But with extreme heatwaves, like we experienced across the state the last few summers, and will again this summer, the need for reliability and available generation capacity remains. On this episode we discuss the District’s combustion turbine power plants and the role these power plants play to ensure reliable and cost effective power for our customers.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 26 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID External Affairs Manager, Josh Weimer, to discuss the California Water Rights system and current proposed legislation trying to change it.  Water Rights in California provide certainty for the availability of water for cities and towns throughout the state – especially for the fertile ag land within TID. That certainty  allows for continued investment in infrastructure and the ability of TID to reliably store and deliver water, even in dry years. However, as the water rights system continues to be scrutinized, recent legislative proposals to change the water rights system would remove that certainty. On this episode we discuss the California Water Rights system, potential issues and improvements for the current system, and the bills proposing to change the system. Learn more about TID Water Rights at www.tid.org/waterrights.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 25 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Regulatory Analysts, Herb Smart and Austin Avery, to discuss the regulatory process. We know how bills become laws, but what happens next? The law then goes through a regulatory process that determines HOW it will be implemented. Tasked with tracking this process and the potential positive and negative impacts of each regulation are TID’s Regulatory Analysts, who are working to ensure the District, and its customers, are protected from unfair regulations. On this episode we discuss the role of a regulatory analyst, how regulations and the regulatory process impact the District, and some of the key regulatory proceedings they are tracking now.  Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 24 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Hydrologist, Olivia Cramer, to discuss the current water year and the District’s wet year operations operations . Just a year ago, the District – and much of California – was experiencing a three year drought that impacted water supply across the state and was especially threatening for local growers. Now, in the midst of one of the wettest years ever, the outlook is completely different. Don Pedro is full and with a historic snowpack in the watershed, TID has shifted from Drought Operations to Flood Operations in just one winter.On this episode we discuss the current water year, the shift to flood operations, and how TID is leveraging technology to make the most informed decisions for both water supply and flood control. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 23 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Water Operations Managers, Chris Rocha and Seth Aldrich to discuss TID’s irrigation operations. TID was the first irrigation district formed in California and, today, provides safe and reliable irrigation water to more than 4,700 growers. More impressively, TID does so through 250 miles of gravity-fed canals – many of which are the original canals, built more than 120 years ago.On this episode we discuss the 2023 Irrigation Season, how the District operates a more than 120 year old irrigation system, and the how that system and operations have been modernized over the years to perform with increased efficiency and better service for our irrigation customers. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 22 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID Assistant General Manager of Electrical Engineering and Operations, Manjot Gill to discuss TID’s investments in its electric infrastructure .TID’s mission is to serve safe and RELIABLE water and power. And ensuring that our electrical infrastructure is properly maintained to preserve reliability is vital. But there is a balance planning for current reliability and future growth, especially with new, large customers, new subdivisions, and the push toward electrification.On this episode we discuss how we plan for future load growth, the considerations made for capital projects, and what projects the District is current working on to maintain reliability. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 21 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID's General Manager, Michelle Reimers, to look back at 2022 and look forward to 2023.2022 was a big year for the District – from anniversaries to milestones, and the challenges in between, 2022 will be seen as a momentous year in TID’s history. And there’s much more to come in 2023. We’re going to talk about new innovations and forward thinking that will help us power into and through the new year!On this episode we discuss the important projects that defined the year, the challenges overcome, and a look forward at some of the exciting things 2023 holds.  Let’s get social!Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockidFind out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 20 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID's Jason Hicks to discuss the District's safety, security, and emergency preparedness efforts.One of TID’s core values is Safety – ensuring a safe environment for customers and employees. Leading this charge at the District is the Security and Emergency Preparedness Department. In recent years, historic rain events, fires in our service territory, and global pandemics, have illustrated the value of the work of the Department.On this episode we discuss the importance of safety and security, how TID prepares for emergencies, and the role of the District when responding to an incident. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

TID Short Stories is a mini-series by the TID Water & Power Podcast. Every episode you’ll hear a short, unique – and often lesser known – story from TID’s rich 135-year history. Join us on the first and third Friday of the month for new episodes and stories!On today’s episode TID Customer Service Division Manager, Tracy Jones, tells the story of how the District took control of its energy future and became a Balancing Authority following the California Energy Crisis in the early 2000s.Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.

On Episode 19 of the TID Water & Power Podcast we sit down with TID's Adam Labuga to discuss the District's Power Control Center.TID’s mission is to deliver safe and reliable irrigation water and power, and while all District departments are working towards this mission, there is one area of TID that is central to making these essential services happen – the Power Control Center. 24/7, 365, holidays, and weekends, the Power Control Center is managing our local power grid, monitoring irrigation flows, and more – ensuring reliability for our customers. And when an outage occurs, they’re the first to respond to assist in restoration.On this episode we discuss the role of the Power Control Center and its operators, the PCC’s response in an outage, and how operations have changed with emerging technologies.Let’s get social!Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockidFind out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast. Let’s get social! Facebook: @TurlockIDInstagram: @TurlockIDTwitter: @TurlockIDLinkedIn: /company/turlockid Find out more about TID at https://www.TID.org/podcast.