Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Electric issue sparks again

The City of Prescott received the annual report from the citys auditors during the Sept. 18 meeting, but that audit report took second seat to the electric issue yet again.

Board member James Cornelius won a round of applause from the packed city council meeting room when he made a motion that the city would absorb the outstanding bill to Entergy. That bill is about $16,000, according to information from the city at that meeting, and represents the amount Entergy billed the city this month for transmission of electricity. Those charges, passed on to city electric customers in the form of fuel adjustments, have come under fire for the past several months.

Henry Thompson, city consultant for matters related to the electric department, has said one problem with the electric billing is that he has only some of the necessary information before bills are sent out. One piece of missing information is the amount being charged by Entergy on any given month for the transmission fees. Thompson said he gives that his best guess and makes adjustments on the following months bill.

Cornelius said that by having the city pay this months cost of transmission fees up front, the city can charge customers fuel adjustment charges each month based on last months actual transmission fee from Entergy.

Theres no longer the word guess in this, said board member Jerry Wilson. I second it.

The motion passed, then the council voted to purchase a new billing system for the citys electric company. The system selected comes with a $36,000 price tag and includes hardware, software, installation, training, technical support and backup. The new system will have advanced capabilities, including levelized billing.

There was a split vote for the purchase of the equipment with three board members - Cornelius, Ann Stockton and Larry Baker - voting against the measure.

The discussion during the meeting turned heated at several points as members of the audience questioned the citys practice of allowing some people to pay partial bills while turning others away. Monica Williams said she understands that there must be limits, but said she doesnt feel those are being applied fairly.

Several cited a city statement that was delivered to the Nevada County Picayune and printed in part. A portion of that statement indicated that there would be no shut-offs during this transition time.

Vasser said the city has an ordinance and that the council couldnt simply decide to change the policy, ad hoc.

Well work a payment agreement in accordance with the ordinance, Vasser said. He said he couldnt recall the details of the ordinance, but promised to have it available at the October city council meeting.

At one point, Williams was asking questions of city attorney Glenn Vasser who left the room without answering.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor said city representatives are working on the issue.

Were working day and night to resolve this, Taylor said.

He said the summer heat has played a large role in the higher bills.

Its nothing but the hot weather, Taylor said, though that statement got no support from the audience.

This town is nothing but a promise and a promise and a promise and you dont get nothing done, one man said.

Obviously, your bill is not as high because youre too relaxed about it, another said, addressing the council.

Taylor said anyone who has issues with the bills should go to the city hall.

If you talk to the girls and you dont like what theyre saying, see Billy (House), Taylor said.

Taylor said he is also willing to hear complaints, though several people questioned whether either House or Taylor would be available.

A final issue in the form of receipts was discussed with several members of the audience questioning the citys practice of receipts when the customer doesnt have a bill with them. Several said the electric department staff refuse to write receipts, and cited a sign hanging in the office that indicated that to be the policy. House said every payment would be confirmed with a written receipt, whether or not the customer had a copy of the bill.