MOU Signed For Reston Water-Chilling Service

RESTON, VA — Directors of Reston RELAC LLC, the service entity RELAC, and Simon McKeown, acting as the Steering Committee Chair representing Reston homeowners, signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday afternoon to establish the foundation for a carefully structured community-owned entity to manage the chilled-water service for about 900 customers in Reston during the 2024 cooling season.

"RELAC provided chilled water service to our customers for 11 years after purchasing from Aqua Virginia," said RELAC President Waddell, in an exclusive statement to Patch. "Under the current operational model we were not able to get the capital needed for any major upgrade to the system. It was decided that the only option was to end the service. We were then approached by an individual who thought it possible to turn the service into a co-op company, which would have other options to raise capital."

Patch broke the news earlier this month that the company was canceling its service at the end of the 2023 season.

Related: RELAC Cancels Water Chilling For A/C Service To Reston Customers

The following letter, which provides details about the new community-owned entity that will assume responsibility for the management and operation of the RELAC service, was sent to the presidents of the Reston Homeowners Associations:

Dear Board Presidents of Reston Homeowners Associations:

We trust this message finds you well. As Board members of HOA’s under RELAC services, we are pleased to announce a significant development that holds great promise for our community. Yesterday, an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding between the Directors of Reston RELAC LLC, the service entity RELAC, and Simon McKeown as Steering Committee Chair was signed, marking a crucial step towards addressing the operational and managerial concerns related to the service currently known as RELAC. This follows the notification last week from Mark Waddell regarding RELAC’s intention to end its services.

The MOU establishes the foundation for a carefully structured community-owned entity that will assume responsibility for the management and operation of the RELAC service. This cooperative model is designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and community engagement, ensuring that the RELAC service will remain operational and provide a service designed in the best interests of all residents, as well as commercial clients.

Key highlights of the MOU and the upcoming cooperative include:

1. Collaborative Governance: The cooperative will be governed by a board consisting of representatives elected by the community members from each participating HOA. This structure ensures that decisions are made collectively, with input from all segments of our diverse community as well as guidance from technical experts on enhancements and new infrastructure.
2. Financial Stability: The cooperative will work diligently to establish a sustainable financial model that ensures the long-term stability of the cooling service. Efforts will be made to balance affordability for residents while improving the necessary infrastructure and service standards.
3. Improved Efficiency: By centralizing the management of RELAC, the cooperative aims to streamline operations, optimize resource utilization, and enhance the overall efficiency of the RELAC service. This, in turn, will contribute to a more reliable and cost-effective solution with adequate funding for required maintenance and a new chiller for our community.
   4. Enhanced Community Engagement: The cooperative will prioritize open communication and community involvement in decision-making processes. Regular town hall/ Zoom meetings as required, utilizing feedback channels, collaborative initiatives will be implemented to ensure that the HOA Boards and community voices are influential, heard, and implemented wherever it makes sense.
   5. Environmental Responsibility: With a commitment to environmental stewardship, the cooperative will explore opportunities to implement eco-friendly practices and technologies, aligning with Reston's values of sustainability.

As we embark on this transformative journey, we are confident that the cooperative model will bring about positive changes and improvements to the services in Reston. We anticipate your support and collaboration throughout this process, and we look forward to working together to ensure the success of this initiative for the benefit of our entire community.

We will be scheduling a series of town hall meetings, with remote and in-person access options in the coming weeks to the community to provide more details, answer questions, and gather valuable feedback. In the interim, we would like to meet in person with all or some of your committee/Board Members ASAP in-person or via Zoom call.
Please call 202-807-7884 or schedule an appointment via Calendly [https://calendly.com/simon08880] with any immediate questions.

Thank you for your individual and collective dedication to the well-being of our vibrant and special community.

Warm regards,

Simon McKeown
Steering Committee Chair
Resident Hickory, Cluster
simon08880@gmail.com

Mark Waddell
President, Reston RELAC LLC