Lamar Utility Board Holds Regular Meeting

The Lamar Utility Board members held a brief, general meeting on Tuesday, November 26,  before going into executive session to discuss legal advice on specific legal questions. 

The September 2013 financial report was given by Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh, noting operating revenue for September was $1,400,201 with operating costs of $994,536 for a gross operating profit of $405,665.  With non-operating revenues and expenses considered the net income for the month was $226,562. 

Year to date operating revenues for 2013 are $10,150,083 and total operating costs are $8,745,925 for gross operating income of $1,404,158.  Non operating revenues and expenses show a net loss, year to date of $81,567.  Compared with last year, year to date retail sales are down 12%, or $1,333,200. 

Board members voted to replenish stock inventory of power poles, purchasing 38, 40 foot iron ductile poles from Stuart Irby for $31,730, the lowest bidder of four submitted.  Hourieh noted that these poles are a little heavier than the steel poles sometimes purchase by the power plant, and also $100 less expensive per pole than steel.  He said they are used in high burn, agricultural areas in the spring and are used to replace wooden poles that have burned to a point where they are no longer safe to use. 

Through October, the Light Plant’s three turbines generated 10,606 MWH of electricity, about 6.6% less than the same period last year, attributable to there being less wind.  The turbines have an average capacity factor of 32.92% which is just a fraction less than 1% lower than 2012.  T-1 was used the least due to problems with a failed gearbox.  The Springfield turbine, because of constant strong winds, continues to outperform the others at a capacity of 39.91%.

By Russ Baldwin