Beard Steps Down from LUB, Board Position Remains Open

Houssin Hourieh and Rick Beard

The Lamar Utillity Board approved a resolution in recognition of Rick Beard’s service to the LUB, both as a board member and as the board chairman. Beard submitted his resignation several weeks ago as he has accepted a new ministry in Garden City, Kansas.  That leaves a vacancy that has yet to be filled.  Interested parties, who reside within the service area of Lamar Light and Power, are urged to apply.  The board meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the noon hour.  Doug Thrall will serve as the interim chairman until a vote of the board is taken.

The June financial statement shows cash is up $25,593 from May and accounts receivable increased by $77,224. The utility’s three wind turbines generated 5,517.9 MWH of electricity for the first half of  2016 at an average capacity of 28.99% which is 11.11% higher than the same time period last year.  The Springfield turbine, which out produces the other turbines in electricity generated 1,364.17 MWH which is a 50% drop for an average capacity factor of 21.04%.  Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh noted the drop was due to being offline for two months to replace a transformer.

He provided an annual update on residential and commercial electric meters for which records have been kept since 1999. May was chosen as a generic indicator because of meter number fluctuations.  There were 5,614 customers connected this past May while 2003 showed a high of 5,836 meters.  2016 would rank the second lowest meter count after 2015 since 1999.

A record was broken in electric power generation to meet customer demand last week. “We generated 27.5 megawatts of power which is a record, and an indication of just how hot it has been,” explained Hourieh, noting the recent summer temperature climb accounted for a lot of electric usage, as well as this being irrigation season and those pumps have been at full usage.

Members went through a short agenda during the July 26^th meeting and met in executive session to discuss legal questions regarding the Lamar Repowering Project.

By Russ Baldwin