About Us

Our Mission 

The Mission of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District is to provide reliable, high quality utility and customer services while managing District resources in a safe, open, responsible, and environmentally sound manner at the lowest practical cost.

Goals

  1. Responsibly serve the public.
    1. Conduct the District's business in a legal, ethical, open, and transparent manner
    2. Implement a proactive public outreach program.
    3. Promote communication and cooperation with other public and private agencies.
    4. Develop and implement high standards of customer service.
    5. Develop and implement high operational standards, procedures and Codes of Conduct.
  3. Provide a healthy and safe work environment for all District employees.
    1. Reduce the OSHA reportable injury frequency and severity rates relative to previous reporting year.
    2. Comply with all State and Federal regulations regarding worker safety.
    3. Maintain the District's wellness program.
    4. Reduce employee injuries by maintaining an active and effective safety program.
  5. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution systems to meet current and future needs.
    1. Maintain and implement a current Urban Water Management Plan which includes current and future projections of water quality, demand, and supply.
    2. Maintain and implement a current Water Master Plan, including the required facilities to meet current and future demand and supply.
    3. Secure the necessary water rights and other legally required documentation.
    4. Conduct effective and efficient operations, maintenance, and replacement programs.
  7. Provide reliable and high quality electric supply and distribution system to meet current and future needs.
    1. Develop and implement Risk Management Policy that considers quality and quantity of all energy supply and transmission contracts and facilities.
    2. Maintain and implement a long-term energy and load forecast consistent with Risk Management Policy.
    3. Procure and contract for low cost electric power supplies to reliably meet current and future loads, consistent with the Renewable Portfolio Standard and Risk Management Policy.
  9. Manage in an environmentally sound manner
    1. Seek power supply from energy resource mix to satisfy Renewable Portfolio Standard.
    2. Develop and implement a program of water and electric power use efficiency and conservation.
    3. Support a program of distributed generation within the District's service area.
    4. Conduct District business in an environmentally lawful manner. 
    5. Minimize negative impact of District operations on the environment.
    6. Provide key leadership in the stewardship of the District's aquifer, watershed, and natural infrastructure.
  11. Manage the District in an effective, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
    1. Utilize modern, cost effective work methods and equipment.
    2. Employ a qualified and productive workforce.
    3. Provide safe work conditions and procedures that encourage employee growth, productivity and retention.
    4. Control the growth of the District's discretional-operational spending to a rate less than the rate of inflation.
    5. Review and update the Financial Goals policy to achieve a stable financial condition to include planning, revenue, debt and reserve goals.
    6. Develop appropriate financial procedures to assure responsible financial management. 

History of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District

The Truckee Electric Company, owned by Cecil E. Edmunds, a private generation with electric services to a small number of people in the downtown area, operated by a water wheel on the Truckee River. Following a five-year drought, the Truckee River had limited water to turn the water wheel.  Coupled with a desire to expand services, residents drew up a petition calling for a special district formation to buy electricity from the downstream generators owned by Sierra Pacific Power Company. In 1927, Nevada County received the incorporated paper from the State of California. In accordance with the provisions in the Public Utility District Act, Truckee Public Utility District was formed, with Cecil E. Edmunds filling the first General Manager's role.

In the first 20 years, the Truckee Public Utility District served a few dozen houses and shops in the downtown area contracting with Sierra Pacific Power Company to maintain lines. Not long after, Truckee's evolving community looked to the Truckee PUD to support other local government needs. During the 1940s, the District began purchasing private water companies that purveyed water from surrounding underground springs, supplying water to Truckee residents. 

As Truckee grew, so did the newer generations of families with a need for water and power. As the most significant government landowner of the time, Truckee PUD provided essential community resources like public school sites and recreational activities. Using the proceeds to expand the water and electric services and environmental conservation for public resources, the District embarked on drilling wells to provide water.  In the late 1950s, the District helped to develop and organize recreation for the community.  The General Manager, several Board of Directors, and community members planned and built a community golf course on the property south of the Truckee River. Today, known as Ponderosa Golf Course, was a private/public partnership that has stood the test of time.  In the 1960s, the District supported residents in forming a separate recreation and park district.

With the completion of Interstate 80 (I-80) in 1964, and a new agriculture station moving from the Lincoln Highway (Donner Pass Road) to I-80, Truckee PUD identified the old agriculture station for the administrative and operating headquarters.  With expansion and tourism evident, the District borrowed money from Rural Electrification Administration during the 1960s to expand the electric system and to build the Truckee substation. Truckee substation is still in operation in the heart of Truckee. The District purchased the Donner Lake distribution facilities from Sierra Pacific Power Company and changed its name to the Truckee Donner Public Utility District.

Of notable interest in the 1970s, the Tahoe Donner developed with its water and electric infrastructure amounted to five times the lines; both water and electric customers doubled.

Since 1980, the District has sought alternative energy sources and pursued hydroelectric plants at Boca and Stampeded dams and joining UAMPS to secure the Public Power Model. The community of Hirschdale was annexed and welcomed to the District.  Glenshire Mutual and the Donner Lake Water system were incorporated into the Truckee Main Water system, connecting all Truckee communities.

The District occupies 45.5 square miles, beginning four miles from the northern border just beyond Alder Creek Road, south to Placer County, and 11 miles from the western shore of Donner Lake eastward to the rim of Boca Dam and the Hirschdale community.  

Authorizing Statute

Electric Territory

Water Territory

Our Core Values

Safety

Safety is our way

Safety is our first priority. We are committed to health and safety of our employees, customers, and community through the continuous practice of prevention, education, and awareness.

Communication

Send and receive

Foster positive engagement by creating a strong communicative environment that includes; active listening, transparency, clear, concise, and timely transmission of information, with empathy and respect. This also includes providing and receiving honest feedback.

Integrity

Honest and ethical

Highest quality service to the public and employees, utilizing honest and ethics as our base principles.

Accountability

Own It

A strong performing team with the obligation and willingness to accept responsibility for our actions, maintain a sense of humility and inclusiveness.

Timeliness

Meet our goals and commitments

A highly effective agency and responsive organization meeting goals and expectations in a timely manner.

Work-Life Balance

Work hard, play hard

We value every employee and foster a healthy work life balance culture, allowing employees to bring their best selves to work every day.