Twin cities face power rate hike
 
By Patrice St. Germain
patrices@thespectrum.com
 
HILDALE - Twin City Power users may be looking at a substantial rate increase in electric rates as wholesale prices for summer power climb.

Residential customers in Hildale and Colorado City now pay 11.2 cents per kilowatt hour, the highest power rate in the area. Power department superintendent Lorin Fischer said the wholesale rates may be up to 12.5 cents a kilowatt hour this summer.

"The fuel crunch is felt by every sector," Fischer told the Hildale City Council during its regular meeting Tuesday morning. "We may be looking at raising power rates as high as 15 cents (per kilowatt hour).

If the prices of electricity go up to 15 cents for Twin City Power customers, it will be a 34 percent rate increase.

Hurricane Power customers pay between 7 and 9 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on the usage.

Mayor David Zitting said the power company has about 700 hookups and although the number of those in arrears has gone down, the percentage is still high.

Fischer also told the council that the cause of power outages over the years was recently determined.

Twin City Power and Hurricane Power had lines near each other and in high winds, the Hurricane line would swing like a jump rope and hit the Twin City line, causing an outage.

Fischer said that should have been noticed by engineers when the line was installed but said the problem has been corrected.

The council also discussed upcoming work meeting plans to adopt the Washington County subdivision ordinance and make revisions as the town now needs to adopt a similar ordinance.

Before the council makes any changes to the general master plan and adopt a subdivision ordinance, a public hearing would need to be conducted to gather public comment.

The council received an update from Joel Heaton on the El Capitan School's plans to possibly expand its sports program.

Now, the school only offers basketball, but Heaton said it may be adding additional sports and said the school, which isn't very old, needs a larger gymnasium.

Heaton also told the council that a Chamber of Commerce is forming in the area and asked if the council had any preference for names.

Heaton said the chamber was being formed to help promote the area and said right now, the chamber has the participation of four businesses and would like the city to participate as well.

During staff reports, Hildale Police Chief Jonathan Roundy said the police received several child protection services calls and upon investigation, all were unfounded.

Roundy said the police also responded to a home invasion call, something that had not happened before.

"We've had burglaries in the industrial park but nothing like this," Roundy said.

Although the burglar, who was wearing a ski mask, was not caught, Roundy believes the person is local.

Roundy said the police also did two reports on notices that had been pulled down.

Councilmember Edson Holm remarked that he had pulled one off his door.

The council also ratified a resolution approving the sale of excess goats used at the wastewater treatment facility for weed control.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published April 16, 2008
 
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