Poole questions electric rate

By Staff, 03/21/17 1:24 PM

PRESCOTT – Councilman Tommy Poole asked some interesting questions at the March meeting of the Prescott City Council Monday night.

He began by asking why the council hasn’t been discussing the electric rates because people in the community keep asking him about them.

Prescott City Attorney Glenn Vasser said the city hasn’t been idle on the topic, but has had to wait for SWEPCO and another provider to make proposals. The problem, he said, is Prescott needs to get out of the double transmission costs.

The situation, he continued, is being analyzed at this time, but there’s no time frame on when there will be an answer. He assured the council all options are being considered.

A large part of the problem, he added, has been getting the providers to respond. “I hope we have something to present at next month’s meeting, but it may be in May.”

Rena Brown asked why businesses are charged more for electricity than residential customers. Larry Jones, Jr., superintendent of the electric department, said it’s because of how things were set up.

Vasser chimed in saying Prescott in unique in the state as it’s being charged two transmission fees. Solving this, he said, will save Prescott a million dollars a year. Once this is done, the fee structure can be revisited.

Jones added there are multiple players in this situation and multiple aspects.

Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver said one of the reason there hasn’t been any discussion on the issue is the city had to sign a confidentiality statement and can’t talk about it.

Councilman Bobbie Brown asked if the council would have to decide what to do after the problem is resolved. Vasser responded saying there would be several meetings, and no decision would be made after one meeting. The council, he said, would need to deliberate.

Jones said the first meeting would be a question and answer session for the council, with other attorney’s present.

Poole asked when the contract to bush hog the Potlatch property is let for bid. Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, said it isn’t. The city has part-time employees who handle it.

He followed by asking Godwin what her job description was. She replied it was to do what others didn’t want to do. Godwin said she’s not a city employee, but is contracted to the EDO. “I’ve been charged with a lot of duties by the city and am at the disposal of what the mayor and council want me to do.” She said her duties include writing grants, beautification and any other area she’s instructed to work on.

Councilman Jerry Hightower suggested going into executive session to discuss the situation, but was informed this wasn’t an employee matter and no executive session could be held.