Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Electric customer to receive $2,000 back

The Prescott Board of Directors has granted a $2,000 refund on a mans electric bill, but the board is now being asked to consider a resolution that will eliminate that particular scenario in the future.

Board members heard from local resident Rudy Preston who has asked for a reimbursement for his stepson for several years. Preston has based his request on the per kilowatt hour charged beginning in 1998.

Under the current city electric policy, any resident who has an electric water heater is charged less per kilowatt hour than a resident who a gas water heater. Prestons argument was that the city charged his stepson for the higher rate without asking if the home was all-electric.

No one asked if he had a gas water heater, Preston said. All this is based on an assumption that he had gas.

Preston described his attempts to reach those who could correct the issue, including Prescott City Mayor Howard Taylor, and calls that were not returned. He said hed also addressed the city council prior to his Nov. 20 meeting with council members.

I think its time that other people in town be aware of situations like this, Preston said. I dont want any more undue publicity, but I have that at my disposal, too.

Taylor said the duty to report the all-electric status falls on the individual and that the city doesnt go around checking peoples homes.

But you assumed that he had gas, Preston said. Why didnt you assume that other people had gas? He was overcharged. You can put all kinds of spins on this thing.

Dont you think you have a little responsibility? Taylor asked.

You did make a profit off the discrepancy, Preston said. It never entered my mind that I should come down here and tell you how to run your business.

Preston said the amount overcharged was around $2,500. He said the windows that were unnecessarily added in an effort to cut utility bills cost $4,400.

Two thousand dollars worth of credit on his electric bill, Preston said. Thats what Im asking. I know the council will do the right thing.

Preston said that his stepson is retarded, a factor the council apparently took into consideration.

Council member Jerry Wilson said, Ill make a motion ... that we give him $2,000 worth of credit.

Wilson said his motion was because I know how handicapped he is, and that Prestons stepson wasnt capable of going to the city to inform them of the fact that he didnt have a gas water heater.

Council member Robert Loe seconded the measure and the council unanimously approved the refund.

While the council members approved this particular refund, an ordinance slated for the Dec. city council meeting will eliminate the situation in the future. The ordinance states that citizens on the citys electric system are responsible for telling the city that they have an electric water heater or an all electric residence in order to receive the lower per kilowatt hour rating. The ordinance indicates that customers are responsible for notifying the city electric company if theres a change of status.

The ordinance also addresses separate meters for businesses in residential areas. According to the ordinance, anyone who constructs a separate building or shop that will be used for business purposes must have a separate meter for that building. Anyone who fails to notify the city is subject to the higher commercial rate for both the residence and the business from the date of construction... On the subject of commercial meters, the ordinance also allows the city to combine bills if one person owns more than one business and falls behind on the electric bills. That provision allows the city to terminate a current businesss electric service if the owner of the business is delinquent on another account.

The ordinance addresses payment arrangements for residential customers with medical deferments. According to the ordinance, a person with a medical hardship waiver must still make a reasonable effort to pay the city for services by entering into a written payment agreement.

Finally, the ordinance includes an emergency clause. As a matter of law, a city council must read the ordinance over a period of three meetings. However, the fact that the ordinance includes an emergency clause allows the council to read the ordinance three times and to approve or deny the measure at a single meeting. The emergency clause states, in part, This ordinance being necessary for the public health, welfare and support of the citizens of Prescott, Ark., an emergency is hereby declared and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon the date of the adoption ...

The next regularly scheduled board meeting is Dec. 18 at 7 p.m