LUB Continues Metering Equipment Upgrades

 

Wind Turbines

 

The Lamar Utility Board voted to extend an earlier agreement with AMI, Automated Metering Infrastructure, which was approved by the board in June, 2016 for a one-year pilot project. The more recent action was taken during the Tuesday, June 27th meeting which continued the agreement for two more years.  Last year, the board selected Sensus USA, Inc. out of four vendors which submitted bids for new meter monitoring devices to replace the aging equipment used by Lamar Light and Power.  The initial cost for the first year of installation and switch-over was $100,174.

Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, said the company will mount an FCC approved hub antenna on top of one of the city’s wind turbines, T-1, at 260 feet in height, sufficient for the company’s monitoring needs. He noted that two additional antennas will be installed over the next two years to offer stronger communications and redundancy as a back-up.

The monthly system operating report shows that through the end of May, the plant’s three wind turbines have generated 4,621 MWH of electricity, about 351 MWH or 7% less than the same period last year.   Hourieh told the board that the plant’s crew, along with KoneCrane are conducting annual crane inspections including the five turbines and will submit their findings in a report.

The May financial report indicated that cash is up $399,479 from April and accounts receivable decreased $178,618. Total operating revenue for the month is $1,089,447 against operating costs of $862,093 for a gross operating income of $227,353.  When non-operating revenues and expenses are factored, there is a net monthly income of $162,176.  Total operating revenues for the year are $5,655,471 and total operating costs are $4,529,199 resulting in gross operating income of $1,126,273.  When non-operating revenues and expenses are factored there is a net income of $508,030 year-to-date.  The Lamar Utility Board will meet in July on the 11th and the 25th.

By Russ Baldwin

Filed Under: City of LamarConsumer IssuesEconomyFeaturedUtilities

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