LUB, ARPA Member Cities Conduct Safety Procedures

Lamar Light and Power Safety Training Session

Work crews from the Arkansas River Power Authority, ARPA, conducted pole top and bucket rescue operations over two, half-day sessions in La Junta April 22nd. Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, said work crews took turns extricating an injured worker from a live wire situation.  A practice dummy was used in the rescue operations and of course, the wires were not hot.  A new safety belt required by OSHA was also tested and used in the exercise.   Crews from ARPA member cities periodically go through various rescue operation procedures.

The Lamar Utility Board had a brief agenda during their April 26^th meeting.  The financial report showed total operating revenue for the first quarter the year at $936,598 and total operating costs were $879,753 for a gross operating profit of $56,844.  With non-operating revenues and expenses put into consideration, the net loss was $41,689 for the month.

Total operating revenues for the year are $3,035,873 and total operating costs are $2,515,582 for a gross operating profit of $520,290 and when non-operating revenues and expenses are factored in, there is a net loss of $43,954 year-to-date. Retail sales are down approximately 3% comparing March 2015 to March 2016.  Overall operating expenses are up 1%, or $10,360.

Wind production is up, due to more wind and less turbine down time, said Hourieh. Three of the turbines have generated 3,156.7MWH of electricity with an average capacity of 32.7%.  The 2016 first quarter power production is approximately 45% higher than the same time frame in 2015 and the capacity factor was 10% higher.

The LUB/ARPA 2016 Scholarship deadline for applications was Friday, April 22^nd.  The $1,000 combined scholarship was open to students from customer towns and there were four applications from McClave, one from Wiley and two from Lamar.  Students are assigned a theme detailing aspects of power production and use in the country or locally and four board members volunteered to judge the essays which are submitted anonymously.  The students are judged each year on their academic achievements and community support.

By Russ Baldwin