Holden Municipal Light Department projects revenue increase
By George Barnes
Telegram & Gazette Staff
HOLDEN - Revenues for the Holden Municipal Light Department are projected to continue a trend of steady growth over the last seven years.
James Robinson, general manager of the town's Municipal Light Department, said energy sales have been growing since 2008 when the town, like many communities in Central Massachusetts were hit with a devastating ice storm. Mr. Robinson said he is projecting 0.25 percent growth in energy sales for 2017 for the department, which uses the calendar year as its fiscal year.
"I expect a modest increase next year," he told selectmen. "I tend to be a little conservative about what our growth is going to be."
Monday night, selectmen approved a budget for the Light Department, projecting net income of $71,570 on revenues of $14,087,265 and expenses of $14,015,695.
Mr. Robinson said the department gets its power from multiple sources. The largest amount, 40 percent, comes from nuclear energy, the bulk of which comes from the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire. Other large amounts are from locked-in energy contracts representing various sources of energy and purchases from the regularly changing energy markets, with smaller amounts from fossil fuels, water power, wind and solar.
At present solar represents just 1 percent of the energy used in the town, but Mr. Robinson said there are a growing number of small systems going on-line. The town has 65 small photovoltaic systems generating energy in the community.
"If your drive around town you see them on roofs all over the place," he said.
Among the objectives for next year are to maintain a safe and reliable power delivery system, maintain rates at current levels, hire a new forestry apprentice to enhance the tree tripping program to reduce the number of power outages, enhance the conservation program, replace aging equipment and make other upgrades to strengthen the electric system.
As part of its budget, the department will pay the town $146,058 in lieu of taxes, spend $40,000 replacing holiday wreaths on light poles around town, continue to host the CodeRED emergency notification system and spend $140,000 on services from other town departments.
My, oh my, how does this Town get these things accomplished ? Could it be that they do not suck up every penny for their own use ? Do you think it could be good leadership ? With our Town having very little industry, it sure would help if our Municipal Light Plant would contribute their fair share.
ReplyDeleteThe Department has expanded to provide reliable and efficient electric power and services to over 7,600 customers within the Town with annual sales exceeding $13 million and about 100 million KWH. The Board of Selectmen acts as Light Commissioners and is assisted by the Municipal Electric Power Advisory Board, which is consulted on various Department matters.
ReplyDeleteThe Board of Selectmen acts as Light Commissioners!
The Board of Selectmen acts as Light Commissioners!
The Board of Selectmen acts as Light Commissioners!
The Board of Selectmen acts as Light Commissioners!
Our Light department may only be half the size but offer none of the benefits Holden gets.
Should we contact the Municipal Electric Power Advisory Board and see why the Pilot payment gets overlooked in Templeton.
Should we get advise for the sale of the TMLP?
This Jewel may be the only way Templeton can survive.
The Board of Selectmen acts as Light Commissioners!
That just has a nice ring to it. Cha ching.
Could you imagine THIS bos running anything
ReplyDeleteDO, they seem to be running this town into the ground pretty quick.............
ReplyDeleteOur Mr. Columbus, would like you and the taxpayers in this town to believe every thing is the Advisory Boards fault. The present board is not the only Advisory Board that tried to get the Selectmen to do things right. The only thing is, no one would listen then. TAb is not a go along to get along board. That is pretty much why we are getting so much crap handed to us. After we lost a small fortune in tax money from Temple Stuart and Baldwinville Products leaving town, there was/is nothing to replace those tax dollars. We relied heavily on money from Templeton Municipal Light. The Light Co. Pulling the rug out from under the Town's feet has been the straw that has broken this Town's back. I can not see how the town can function if we add more debt, when we can barely make it financially now. Something has to change ! Maybe the people in this town would look at the Light Co. difrently if they really understood how they have affected the Town and it's finances in the past 5 or 6 years.
Deleteas I have mentioned in this blog in the past, we have three light commissioners that are nothing but butt kissers to the manager. they care not for the ratepayers, as he doesn't. that is one of the main reasons we have the highest water rate of any town in ma our size and no pilot program. until we get rid of the board, we can do nothing !!!
ReplyDelete