The Fort Collins electric board met on Wednesday to discuss philosophies that are expected to help provide better and cheaper utility rates for residents next year.
Fort Collins utilities hired R.W. Beck, an SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure LLC company to spearhead the project.
Scott Dave, on official with SAIC, said studying these philosophies would help develop an understanding of how existing policies and strategy will support future rate changes.
“Before dealing with rate changes, it is important to understand what we are doing today at a principle level that can take us to the next level,” Dave said.
The first phase of the project which is currently on-going, cost Fort Collins Utilities $135,000, a price which board member, Steve Yurash said he was concerned about.
“I think that we definitely do need to analyze these principles; however, I feel like we might be spending a little too much,” Yurash said. “That’s all I’m saying.”
Dave said he was certain the long term benefits of the project would help erase any doubts Yurash had about the program.
“These principles would comply with council policy, as well as applicable laws and regulations and existing obligations,” Dave said. “Preparing unbundled cost of services doesn’t mean unbundled rate services but determining where the costs of services are coming from.”
Vice president with R.W. Beck, Lynn Adams, said the first step to achieving the goals of the project was enhancing communication between Fort Collins Utilities and its customers.
“Communication is very important. We are currently working on ways to fully entertain people in dialogue,” Adams said. “We are organizing polls, focus groups and also internet communication systems to get people’s opinions and better get them involved.”
Board member, John Graham said he was excited about the prospects of the project but that he would like to see the quantified risk access of the project at some point in time.
R.W. Beck will present its second phase of the project, Specific Rate Design Options, to the electric board on May 4.
Good work getting all the info about what happens next. but it almost reads more like a press release... what does it mean for everyday people? Why should someone care?
ReplyDeleteI think you did a really good job explaining what the meeting was about, but I agree with Jason. I think it would have been cool to see what everyday people think of this and how it will affect them personally. But your story was very informative and well-written.
ReplyDeleteGood information and reporting on the financial numbers. Try and have some information on what the new stuff will cost taxpayers. People generally don't care the total price of these projects, rather what it will cost them personally.
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