Lamar Utilities Board Reschedules Meeting with Solar Customers

The Lamar Utility Board will reschedule a planned meeting with solar customers, tentatively set for March 12^th at the Light Plant offices at 100 North Second Street.  The customers have been meeting with members of the Prowers Economic Prosperity board and will make a full presentation of their concerns regarding solar interconnect with LUB.  The solar panel users have questioned the regulations defining net metering practices by the Lamar Utilities Board.

The board approved purchase orders totaling $144,899.04 and payment of bills amounting to $755,218.99. The systems operating report shows sales of electricity through December 2018 are up approximately 2.72% when compared to the same period of time in 2017.  Residential sales were up approximately 5.22%, commercial/industrial sales were down approximately 0.69% and irrigation sales were up approximately 22.81%.  These three customer classes represent an estimated 95% of the total system sales for the year.  Revenue is up 5.38% during this time frame.

Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, informed board members, ARPA member, La Junta, has requested from 60 to 90 days to discuss the latest proposal to have Tri State G & T assume responsibility for ARPA’s operations including power supply, transmission and debt service through 2050. At this point in the negotiations, the electric rates would be fairly steady until 2035 and at this point, only La Junta of the six municipal ARPA members has not signed off on the proposal.  The next ARPA meeting is set for 10am on Thursday, March 28^th at 10am in Las Animas.

The board went into executive session to discuss matters of negotiation with the board attorney, Don Steerman.

By Russ Baldwin