Mike Klaus joined the NWPPA Board of Trustees in May. He is the city administrator and engineer for Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and has been in the utility industry for 28 years. Before joining the City of Bonners Ferry, Klaus worked as an engineer for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and as a consultant engineer. He is a University of Idaho graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

What are the current challenges at your utility?
Increasing regulation and project cost escalation are the largest challenges to the success of our utility.

What do you see as the current challenges in the industry?
Project and power cost escalation, and the increased need for new generation with the steady influx of people into the Northwest.

How does NWPPA help your utility and the industry with these challenges?
NWPPA does a great job in advocating for hydropower, which is critical to long-term power cost control. NWPPA also provides great training within every job class for electric utilities.

Any hobbies outside of the public power world?
Spending time with my family, cycling, and building.