The Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the salary of CEO and General Manager Lena Wittler from $267,000 to $292,000.
The increase went into effect on July 1 and was voted on after the board reviewed Wittler’s performance, stated a news release.
A car allowance of $400 per month and other benefits remain unchanged.
Wittler has served as the CEO and general manager since 2019.
“In spite of unprecedented challenges, Ms. Wittler’s leadership has remained focused on our unwavering priorities of service reliability, fiscal discipline, customer service, and responsible and ambitious forward planning,” said President of the Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners Nancy Barnes. “Our consistently high customer satisfaction and recognized best-in-class operations are results that speak for themselves.”
In 2021, the board approved a $13,000 salary increase for Wittler which brought her salary from $254,000 to $267,000.
According to the news release, the utility distributed nearly $5 million in 2021 in utility bill assistance to families who were financially impacted by the pandemic. CPU also launched an electric vehicle incentive program and restored outages during historic weather events, while developing integrated plans to meet state emissions reductions standards ahead of schedule “all without raising rates for the 12th year in a row.”
“Ms. Wittler’s recommendation to invest $30 million 2021 surplus dollars in beginning a transition to Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and her work with the utility staff on forecasting for future demand puts the utility on a path to achieve clean energy targets while meeting customer needs today and in the years to come,” said Clark Public Utilities Commission Vice President Jane Van Dyke.
CPU provides electric service to about 225,000 customers throughout Clark County. It also provides water service to more than 38,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas.
