2013 Lamar Light Plant Budget Approved

Lamar Light and Power Plant

Lamar Utility Board members approved the 2013 budget for the Lamar Light Plant after a brief review of questions several members had voiced at the previous board meeting on October 9.  There were no changes in the budget, but some aspects of it were highlighted with regard to some of the financial responsibilities that will fall to ARPA next year.  Plant employees will receive a 4% increase in salaries for next year and of the 47 employees on hand, 22 are paid for by ARPA, which will also reimburse the plant for the increases.  The 12% ECA, Electric Cost Adjustment will be discontinued in the 2013 budget and the recommended, Phase 4 rate increase of 2.5% will go into effect in November.  This has been discussed and approved by board members earlier in the year.  On that note, Nebraska Municipal Power Pool, NMPP, which conducted the rate study for the Light Plant will have representatives in Lamar for the November 13 board meeting.  ARPA is conducting its monthly meeting in member city Holly, this Thursday, October 25.

 Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh noted that representatives from the boiler manufacturer, Babcock & Wilcox, had been on site to inspect the boiler location and to review with light plant staff, the modifications that have been blueprinted for improving the boiler’s performance.  He also noted that wind production from light plant turbines has increased by 10% above power generation from the same time period last year.  The turbine located in Springfield is still the group leader with 48.8% per kilowatt hour power production noted from the last performance readings.

 The board members went into executive session at the conclusion of the regular meeting to discuss legal issues pertaining to the WildEarth Guardian lawsuits.

By Russ Baldwin