Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mayor: Electric bills are correct

Electric bills that seemed higher than normal in July were apparently correct. Thats the word from Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor who said the city has been looking into the issue for the past couple of weeks.

The higher bills had been blamed on a computer error, but Taylor said that is not likely.

Theres nothing wrong with out billing, Taylor said. Its July, August and September. Youre just going to have a higher bill. Billy House, former city councilman and newly hired as the citys office manager, had told those gathered at the July city council meeting that it appeared the fuel adjustment part of the bills were incorrect.

The people that service our program can tap into our computer and they said its doing what its supposed to do, Taylor said. To be safe, we are talking to some suppliers about a new program.

Taylor said a new program would likely cost $20,000 to $25,000, but said the existing programs have been in use for several years and may need to be upgraded.

The city recently signed a contract with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives for supplying electricity. Taylor said the billing for the city is made more complicated because the city is also billed by Entergy for use of the lines.

The electricity goes through their lines and substation and theyre going to charge you for it, Taylor said. Were never sure of that charge until we get the bill.

He said the city is also working on that aspect of the electric billing.