The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors recently voted to establish an Infrastructure Committee, signaling a proactive approach to ensuring investment in the region’s water and power infrastructure, IID said.
California-based public power utility IID delivers water and power to communities spanning nearly a 6,500 square mile service area.
The immense scale of IID's infrastructure, encompassing 7,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines, 37 internal generators, 3,000 miles of canals and drains, 12 reservoirs, Imperial Dam, and the All-American Canal, “underpins its mission to serve the needs of over 160,000 power customers and deliver water to nearly 450,000 acres of land,” it said.
The newly established Infrastructure Committee, composed of IID Vice President JB Hamby and member of the utility’s Board of Directors, Gina Dockstader, also a member of the utility’s Board of Directors, and district staff, will address ongoing challenges, future needs, and provide strategic recommendations and oversight.
IID said it is strategically exploring funding opportunities, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and water conservation grants and funding under the Inflation Reduction Act.
IID General Manager Jamie Asbury has been directed to assess energy system conditions and prioritize critical projects.
In conjunction with the board’s new biennial planning process, IID has identified significant infrastructure projects to modernize aging energy assets, enhance water conveyance system efficiency, and improve service to water users over the next thirty years.
