May 4, 2018
Contact: Ben Kerr, Public Information Officer
Phone: 561.586.1631
Email: BKerr@lakeworth.org
Lake Worth, FL – As part of the ongoing Downtown Watermain Improvements Project substantial road works will be taking place on M Street between 1st Ave S and 2nd Ave N from May 7 to May 21. Residents are advised to follow the detour signs during the work which will be occurring between 9:00am – 3:00pm each day. Contractors will work to minimize disruption and at least one lane will remain open on Lake Ave and Lucerne Ave during this time however residents should prepare for travel delays on these routes in the vicinity of the construction.
For more information please call Ben Kerr, Public Information Officer at 561.586.1631
Showing posts with label Utilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utilities. Show all posts
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Power Outage
City of Lake Worth
Utilities Power Outage
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
The 26.4kv Utility Upgrade is back on the table - De je vu all over again
The 26.4kv upgrade was supposed to be discussed back in February but it got pulled from the agenda. However, tonight it is back on and the city wants to proceed with the 26.4kv voltage that is non-standard. Jack Borsch, our Utility director has said that "looking at the industry it is moving to the 26K systems more and more. It has grown to about 20+ % of the companies having made the conversion over to 26K."
Back in the Fall of 2014, the city went out on two RFQ's:
RFQ-13-14-403 to get the economic and financial value of our Electric Utility System.
RFQ 13-14-402 to ascertain the fair market value/appraisal of our Electric Utility System. Normally ones does this when they are contemplating a sale.
Back in May 2015:
RFP 15-201 to get the specifications for a new power plant anywhere from 65MW to 150MW. According to the city's web site, it was cancelled on November 20, 2015. Was the entire idea scratched?
9-2-15 Minutes from the EUAB to proceed with RFP 15-201.
12-2-15 Minutes from the EUAB where a presentation was given on the 26.4kv upgrade and recommended by that board to proceed to the commission.
Basically, we were all over the place back then--no one knew what to do with our electric utility other than just us regular citizens who were never asked. Staff wanted to ascertain the value of our asset, including analyses of what total sale price the City would have to receive for its Electric Utility System in order to be as well off, economically and financially, as if we were still the owner and operating the System. I agree that we should know what our assets are worth.
But now there are some on staff who want to bring back the upgrade of our voltage to 26.4kv. Is this January 2006 all over again? How about 2010? Nothing ever changes. This is what happens. New administrations, new staff, new utility directors, old plans, new commissions--and no one remembers anything or what all we went through to stay on the path to "standard." Did we now find out that that value of our utility is far less than hoped?
Why are we even thinking of discussing a 26.4kv upgrade again?
We failed to complete the 13.2 kv upgrade project approved and funded by the 2004 Utility Bond.
Work on the 13.2 kV upgrade project was suspended in June of 2005, well before completion, after spending millions in material and man hours. The City Commission never approved halting the 13.2 conversion, nor was the public ever informed.
The standard is a 13.2kv. In 2001, a capital improvements program was put into effect for the electric utility. Per the former chair of the Electric Utility Task Force, Garrison Electric did the feasibility study and two PE engineers signed off on a standard upgrade path that would be compatible with all the surrounding utility companies and 99% of the rest of the country. Taxpayers invested about 5 million into the upgrade.
Then there was a Black and Veatch Study that confirmed the findings of the Garrison report which recommended a standard distribution voltage for Lake Worth. Somewhere around 2003, there was a study done by RW Beck on the feasibility
of a second tie line. That "study" mysteriously disappeared just like the Garrison Report...the utility staff couldn't find this $325,000 RW Beck
study which concluded that a second tie line was not feasible.
Back in 2010, the city wanted to do the following:
- 138 kv Tie Line Addition:$4,041,150 over the next 2 years
- 4kv system upgrade: $13,522,000 over next 4 years
- Hand held Meter reading devices: $65,000 next budget
- 26kv OCB Replacement:$368,000 next budget
The original bond amount was $69,975,000 An expert on our Utility said, "FPL refuses to permit another tie, either to their line on Military Trail or north of 18th Avenue North." This new proposal puts the new 138 kv tie-line at the Canal Sub-Station. A full explanation is in order here.
A former contract employee at the Utility said, "The manual labor required to convert to 26kv is approx 5 - 10 times as much money as the conversion to 13.2kv. And that increase in labor will far outweigh the cost of new substation transformers." We have no idea what they are doing at our Utility but at the time, our former Utility Director, Becky Mattey said that the Commission will have no say on whether they go with 4kv, 13.2 or 26kv.
Perhaps the Electric Utility Advisory Board has called for a full accounting of the 2004 Bond money--where did it go? There should be millions. Why hasn't the Internal Auditor ever been directed to do an audit of our Utility?
We need to know what's going on and why some are hell bent on resurrecting a 26.4 kv upgrade when it was proven years ago that this was NOT the way to proceed and it could/would bankrupt our city. Why are some pushing this system? Is the $14 plus million dollars (remaining bond proceeds) burning a hole in their pocket?
Where I live, I am on the 4.16kv and it is always reliable. Tonight, in spite of years of testimony against the 26.4kv, it will be voted in.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Lake Worth water might smell funny for a few weeks
November 28, 2016
Contact: Timothy Sloan
Phone: 561.586.1710
Phone: 561.586.1710
Email: tsloan@lakeworth.org
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOR CITY OF LAKE WORTH TO ALTER WATER CHLORINATION PROCESS
NOVEMBER 30, 2016 THROUGH DECEMBER 18, 2016
Este contiene información importante sobre su agua potable. Traducir, o hablar con alguien que entiende bien.
To
maintain high water quality in the City of Lake Worth water
distribution system, the City of Lake Worth Water Treatment Plant will
temporarily change the water chlorination methods
for two weeks from November 30, 2016 through December 18, 2016. The City of Lake Worth will also increase hydrant flushing during this time.
This is a preventive maintenance process.
Starting
November 30, 2016 a “free chlorine residual” water treatment
method will be used to provide a somewhat stronger disinfection process
than the “combined chlorine or Chloramines” treatment which is normally
used. The City of Lake Worth will revert back
to the “combined chlorine” method by December 18, 2016. As part
of this process, the City of Lake Worth will be flushing fire hydrants.
This flushing will cause temporary water in the swales of the
roadways. Please do not be alarmed by this water
as it will dissipate within a few hours.
..........................
It will be safe folks but what I do to eliminate the bleach smell from the water is filling a container of tap water and then cover it and put it in the refrigerator. I seldom buy bottled water...Lake Worth water is just too good even in spite of the chlorination.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Quote of the Day - Scott Maxwell - Solar in our Landfill
Comment Up
“We have committed to lowering our carbon footprint - which is a major contributor to global warming -with real investments. We are replacing city owned street lights with energy efficient ones. This may be a small step – but if this were done by every city in the Nation, the impact would be substantial.
A major commitment taken by the City is the installation of a photovoltaic solar system at the old landfill. The new system will generate 2 megawatt of electricity and make Lake Worth a leader in the “green” energy field in Florida.”
~ Scott Maxwell
Read about it... and the recent Global Warming seminar attended by the three M's--Maxwell, McVoy and Maier.
As one person said to me who is in the know,
"Personally I believe that much of this "green energy" is a huge fraud being perpetrated on the utility consumers. It shouldn't be difficult to compare the cost of purchasing 2 MWH of power from OUC and the cost of the same from the solar project. Of course we are talking about LW, they will obfuscate the information to support their ideologic perspective. There is no way that solar is comparable in cost, but they will promote the political correctness of the project. They have many other initiatives that should be addressed to the benefit the ratepayers. Short answer it is a waste of money, but a windfall for the people who sold LW a bill of goods."
“We have committed to lowering our carbon footprint - which is a major contributor to global warming -with real investments. We are replacing city owned street lights with energy efficient ones. This may be a small step – but if this were done by every city in the Nation, the impact would be substantial.A major commitment taken by the City is the installation of a photovoltaic solar system at the old landfill. The new system will generate 2 megawatt of electricity and make Lake Worth a leader in the “green” energy field in Florida.”
~ Scott Maxwell
Read about it... and the recent Global Warming seminar attended by the three M's--Maxwell, McVoy and Maier.
As one person said to me who is in the know,
"Personally I believe that much of this "green energy" is a huge fraud being perpetrated on the utility consumers. It shouldn't be difficult to compare the cost of purchasing 2 MWH of power from OUC and the cost of the same from the solar project. Of course we are talking about LW, they will obfuscate the information to support their ideologic perspective. There is no way that solar is comparable in cost, but they will promote the political correctness of the project. They have many other initiatives that should be addressed to the benefit the ratepayers. Short answer it is a waste of money, but a windfall for the people who sold LW a bill of goods."
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Correcting the Myth
Comment Up
To correct the bully blogger blaming certain past commissioners for a gas line that we pay for in the amount of $64,000 a month, I have posted this in order to get the facts out there again.
The gas line was installed for the explicit purpose of the generator that was originally Enron that went bankrupt in December 2001.
Please read my blog entitled Reply to the other guy on gas line--The Noodle Mentality. This explains the matter.
Our attorney did not require a performance bond should the project fail. We all know what happened to Enron. We were a part of FMPA and when we gave notice to exit FMPA, they did not honor their agreement to pay for this gas line.
It had nothing to do with the commission. They have no control over a corporation going belly-up. We can blame it on bad legal advice and another lousy Lake Worth contract.
To correct the bully blogger blaming certain past commissioners for a gas line that we pay for in the amount of $64,000 a month, I have posted this in order to get the facts out there again.
The gas line was installed for the explicit purpose of the generator that was originally Enron that went bankrupt in December 2001.
Please read my blog entitled Reply to the other guy on gas line--The Noodle Mentality. This explains the matter.
Our attorney did not require a performance bond should the project fail. We all know what happened to Enron. We were a part of FMPA and when we gave notice to exit FMPA, they did not honor their agreement to pay for this gas line.
It had nothing to do with the commission. They have no control over a corporation going belly-up. We can blame it on bad legal advice and another lousy Lake Worth contract.
Friday, November 28, 2014
How the next War will be Won - The Mighty Dragon
Comment Up
(Reuters)- "China and "probably one or two" other countries have the ability to invade and possibly shut down computer systems of U.S. power utilities, aviation networks and financial companies," said Admiral Mike Rogers, the director of the U.S. National Security Agency. China can damage our power grids and other critical systems and bring us to our knees.
For all the pacifists who don't want the U.S. to have any more boots on the ground, this is how the war will be won or they could use this mighty dragon. Now that the Congress and Senate have been changed and conservatives are in power, we might have a prayer to reverse this revolting and unthinkable situation. Of course, the possibility of terrorists just walking across our borders is great.
(Reuters)- "China and "probably one or two" other countries have the ability to invade and possibly shut down computer systems of U.S. power utilities, aviation networks and financial companies," said Admiral Mike Rogers, the director of the U.S. National Security Agency. China can damage our power grids and other critical systems and bring us to our knees.
For all the pacifists who don't want the U.S. to have any more boots on the ground, this is how the war will be won or they could use this mighty dragon. Now that the Congress and Senate have been changed and conservatives are in power, we might have a prayer to reverse this revolting and unthinkable situation. Of course, the possibility of terrorists just walking across our borders is great.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Rain, Reliability, and Smarty Plants
Comment Up
The Post article says, "As of 11 p.m. Monday, fewer than 200 customers in Palm Beach County remained without power, according to Florida Power & Light. Earlier in the evening, nearly 2,800 customers had lost power." But guess what? Lake Worth Utilities NEVER lost power--our electricity is the most reliable. Read about it...
But what better weather for new plantings and new trees. A few weeks ago, and just in time for all this rain, one of our Foxtail palms that had been struggling to survive over the past few years finally saw its last day. I was told that the new tree would need to be watered every day for the first 30 days and boy have we been getting rain.
Thanks to the suggestion of our former Tree Board chair, Gael Silverblatt, I drove to Amelia's Smarty Plants at 1515 N. Dixie Highway, picked out a tree, and they were here the very next day. It will take this little tree several years to catch up with the others but it looks healthy and happy.
If I hadn't read Smarty Plants' web site I never would have known that the Rugose Spiraling White Fly has subsided and no longer a problem. This will save me $1,160 a year treating trees that no longer need it. If you haven't been to Smarty Plants yet, drop by. The business is situated on 2 acres and you will be amazed at all the inventory and special items that they sell.
The Post article says, "As of 11 p.m. Monday, fewer than 200 customers in Palm Beach County remained without power, according to Florida Power & Light. Earlier in the evening, nearly 2,800 customers had lost power." But guess what? Lake Worth Utilities NEVER lost power--our electricity is the most reliable. Read about it...
But what better weather for new plantings and new trees. A few weeks ago, and just in time for all this rain, one of our Foxtail palms that had been struggling to survive over the past few years finally saw its last day. I was told that the new tree would need to be watered every day for the first 30 days and boy have we been getting rain.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
New Lake Worth utility bill
Comment Up
Has anyone seen the new utility bill format yet? Unbelievable. There was NOTHING wrong with the old format. In fact, it was better. We were supposed to have a bill that compared in style to FPL's. (We are always comparing everything to FPL). How do you compare a municipal utility with one owned by a billion dollar conglomerate? Why change things that are NOT broken. What did this idea cost the rate payers?
On top of all of Lake Worth's problems, the total does not add up correctly...this time it is in the consumer's favor. Obviously someone programmed the calculations WRONG. I have a call into the Electric Utility.
Has anyone seen the new utility bill format yet? Unbelievable. There was NOTHING wrong with the old format. In fact, it was better. We were supposed to have a bill that compared in style to FPL's. (We are always comparing everything to FPL). How do you compare a municipal utility with one owned by a billion dollar conglomerate? Why change things that are NOT broken. What did this idea cost the rate payers?
On top of all of Lake Worth's problems, the total does not add up correctly...this time it is in the consumer's favor. Obviously someone programmed the calculations WRONG. I have a call into the Electric Utility.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Electricity turned off in Lake Worth and handicapped renters left to sweat
This is what you should be jumping on, Vice Mayor--not private property at the Park of Commerce.
Handicapped renters had electricity turned off
Handicapped renters had electricity turned off
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Lake Worth Utility Department
The crew arrived about 9:20pm changing out the transformer that blew during yesterday afternoon's storm. By that time, the rain had stopped and power resumed within hours.
Friday, June 13, 2014
After the Storm
Comment Up
And what a storm it was! One-half of the transformers blew that provides the current for buildings 4 and 5. It is affecting one-half of their electricity: refrigerator, air-conditioning and even television. Lightening was so loud, I thought it had struck my building and I literally jumped off the couch. We were told that lightning was not the cause.
A transformer on top of a utility pole as seen in the photo below transforms the approximate 7,200 volts or so into 220-240 volts. This is then sent into the home over wires. The wires go through the electric meter, which measures how much electricity you use. One of the three wires is the ground, and the other two are the positives. After Lake Worth Utilities gets here, it will take approximately three hours to change it out.
And what a storm it was! One-half of the transformers blew that provides the current for buildings 4 and 5. It is affecting one-half of their electricity: refrigerator, air-conditioning and even television. Lightening was so loud, I thought it had struck my building and I literally jumped off the couch. We were told that lightning was not the cause.
A transformer on top of a utility pole as seen in the photo below transforms the approximate 7,200 volts or so into 220-240 volts. This is then sent into the home over wires. The wires go through the electric meter, which measures how much electricity you use. One of the three wires is the ground, and the other two are the positives. After Lake Worth Utilities gets here, it will take approximately three hours to change it out.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Utility companies, Smart Meters and Agenda 21
Comment Up
FPL submitted a plan to the Florida Public Service Commission. It was modified--Don't try and opt out-- people who don't allow smart meters on their property will be charged by FPL. They will charge you a $95 enrollment fee and you will also have to pay them a $13 monthly surcharge. See Channel 5 for report
FPL submitted a plan to the Florida Public Service Commission. It was modified--Don't try and opt out-- people who don't allow smart meters on their property will be charged by FPL. They will charge you a $95 enrollment fee and you will also have to pay them a $13 monthly surcharge. See Channel 5 for report
Monday, September 16, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Tonight's agenda - Lake Worth
Comment Up
PUBLIC HEARINGS
An Ordinance to amend the alcoholic beverages regulations for special city events and to allow open containers of alcoholic beverages. Honky Tonk Time.
NEW BUSINESS
An Ordinance to amend the beach parking regulations. There is no mention of the fee schedule for the various infractions. Backing into a spot is unnecessary and backs-up traffic even more.
LAKE WORTH ELECTRIC UTILITY
D-1. Purchase of a new Bar Code system
They want to take monies from the unfilled utilities director position and has $150000 in the account. As someone pointed out to me, this is a LW utilities practice of spending money just because it wasn't used for its intended budgeted purpose. This purchase isn't of a critical nature that it couldn't be built into the upcoming budget. They have indicated they want to bring LW rates in line with FPL. This is a good time to place some fiscal restraint to the business and demonstrate the same to the ratepayers. This is a capital purchase and SHOULD be planned through the budget, not just spending on someone's wish list because they have some dollars unspent.
D-2. Coming before the commission tonight is a huge expense. All sealed bids had to be into the city by May 29, 2013. The Electric Utility wants the commission to approve the purchases of what they say are "necessary transformers."
Overhead distribution transformers: 161 - $446,058
Single phase pad mount distribution transformers: 40 - $81,260
Nine, three pad mount distribution transformers: 9 - $93,945
Four, three phase pad mount transformers: 4 - $52,280
TOTAL: $673,543
The Electric Utility says that the transformers in this purchase are for routine replenishment. Perhaps they are.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
An Ordinance to amend the alcoholic beverages regulations for special city events and to allow open containers of alcoholic beverages. Honky Tonk Time.
NEW BUSINESS
An Ordinance to amend the beach parking regulations. There is no mention of the fee schedule for the various infractions. Backing into a spot is unnecessary and backs-up traffic even more.
LAKE WORTH ELECTRIC UTILITY
D-1. Purchase of a new Bar Code system
They want to take monies from the unfilled utilities director position and has $150000 in the account. As someone pointed out to me, this is a LW utilities practice of spending money just because it wasn't used for its intended budgeted purpose. This purchase isn't of a critical nature that it couldn't be built into the upcoming budget. They have indicated they want to bring LW rates in line with FPL. This is a good time to place some fiscal restraint to the business and demonstrate the same to the ratepayers. This is a capital purchase and SHOULD be planned through the budget, not just spending on someone's wish list because they have some dollars unspent.
D-2. Coming before the commission tonight is a huge expense. All sealed bids had to be into the city by May 29, 2013. The Electric Utility wants the commission to approve the purchases of what they say are "necessary transformers."
Overhead distribution transformers: 161 - $446,058
Single phase pad mount distribution transformers: 40 - $81,260
Nine, three pad mount distribution transformers: 9 - $93,945
Four, three phase pad mount transformers: 4 - $52,280
TOTAL: $673,543
The Electric Utility says that the transformers in this purchase are for routine replenishment. Perhaps they are.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Lake Worth Budget Summary tonight
Tonight's the night for the electric fund discussion along with the comparables between Lake Worth Utilities and Florida Power and Light as well as projections. This will be followed by a summary of the entire 2014 Budget that includes the Roads Improvement Plan.
Meeting 6pm at City Hall.
Meeting 6pm at City Hall.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sell or not to sell - Lake Worth Electric Utility
Comment Up
There is a vocal segment of people in our city (a lot of the developer crowd) who continue to push the sale of Lake Worth Utilities. On August 6th at 6pm, there will be a joint meeting with the City Commission and the Electric Utility Advisory Board whose chair, Lisa Maxwell, is eager to sell our utilities. She ran on that platform a few years ago for District 4 and lost. Others have run on the same platform and lost like Tom Ramiccio and Jim Stafford.
They have invited Vero Beach City Manager to the city commission meeting tomorrow night at 6pm in order to get information regarding Vero's sale of its electric utility system and the facts and process surrounding that sale to Florida Power & Light.
The sale negotiations had been taking place for almost two years in Vero, a city of little over 15,000 people, and the city council approved a purchase and sale agreement earlier this year. The vote was 2,335 in favor and 1,328 opposed. You won't be seeing "sell to FPL" advocates questioning the turnout numbers at the polls regarding this vote because of how many showed up at the polls.
**FPL bid on Lake Worth Electric Utility in 1994 for $60 million. Who knows what it's worth today but we do know that we have a humongous unfunded liability and massive debt of $484,392,433 over 30 years, according to our finance director. With the potential revenue over the same time period, it would bring the amount needed from a sale to $373, 891,173. to replace income streams...a pipe dream.**
Vero Beach has the same problem as Lake Worth regarding their utility and using profits to help with the general fund. Vero will have to find a way to make due without the approximately $7.3 million the utility system provides to fund other operations. Lake Worth has several millions more to worry about that goes into its general fund. Vero says that some of this shortfall can be made up from money the city makes off the sale, cuts in expenses and implementation of a franchise fee as well as a utility tax on city electric users.
Instead of a few citizens talking about selling and a volunteer board doing the same and putting all of their energy into a possible sale of our valuable utility because they feel our rates are too high, perhaps they should be putting the same amount into making it the best little utility around, with Lake Worth producing its own energy.
In the back-up there is a good article from Florida Trend that gives the pros and cons of owning your own utility versus its sale. Click here to read the article.
There is a vocal segment of people in our city (a lot of the developer crowd) who continue to push the sale of Lake Worth Utilities. On August 6th at 6pm, there will be a joint meeting with the City Commission and the Electric Utility Advisory Board whose chair, Lisa Maxwell, is eager to sell our utilities. She ran on that platform a few years ago for District 4 and lost. Others have run on the same platform and lost like Tom Ramiccio and Jim Stafford.
They have invited Vero Beach City Manager to the city commission meeting tomorrow night at 6pm in order to get information regarding Vero's sale of its electric utility system and the facts and process surrounding that sale to Florida Power & Light.
The sale negotiations had been taking place for almost two years in Vero, a city of little over 15,000 people, and the city council approved a purchase and sale agreement earlier this year. The vote was 2,335 in favor and 1,328 opposed. You won't be seeing "sell to FPL" advocates questioning the turnout numbers at the polls regarding this vote because of how many showed up at the polls.
**FPL bid on Lake Worth Electric Utility in 1994 for $60 million. Who knows what it's worth today but we do know that we have a humongous unfunded liability and massive debt of $484,392,433 over 30 years, according to our finance director. With the potential revenue over the same time period, it would bring the amount needed from a sale to $373, 891,173. to replace income streams...a pipe dream.**
Vero Beach has the same problem as Lake Worth regarding their utility and using profits to help with the general fund. Vero will have to find a way to make due without the approximately $7.3 million the utility system provides to fund other operations. Lake Worth has several millions more to worry about that goes into its general fund. Vero says that some of this shortfall can be made up from money the city makes off the sale, cuts in expenses and implementation of a franchise fee as well as a utility tax on city electric users.
Instead of a few citizens talking about selling and a volunteer board doing the same and putting all of their energy into a possible sale of our valuable utility because they feel our rates are too high, perhaps they should be putting the same amount into making it the best little utility around, with Lake Worth producing its own energy.
In the back-up there is a good article from Florida Trend that gives the pros and cons of owning your own utility versus its sale. Click here to read the article.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
And the winner is...FPL's Lewis Hay
Comment Up
The winner of the top greedy CEO goes to Lewis Hay of FPL.
Being a defender of American capitalism, I find it impossible to defend greed especially from a public corporation that has a monopoly on life sustaining services--FPL's executive salaries and benefits are truly obnoxious.This is a main reason why liberals continue to come after big business.
There is nothing inherently wrong with executives getting bigger houses and the use of jets ($31 million went for a new jet at FPL just a few years ago) especially if they’re not gaining at the expense of others in a monopolistic business supported by government in that they are allowed to take gigantic tax breaks. When you have a company that votes to pay its top executive, Lewis Hay, $33 million in salary and benefits, it is a stark reminder of the average American worker who must have and can't live without their product. The average working stiffs' salary is $34,645 with CEO's, on an average, make a whopping 354% more than the average worker.
The Palm Beach Post reported today that FPL's CEO is the top paid utility executive in the country and he is right in our own back yard. Other utility CEO's highest paid executives:
William Johnson, Duke energey---$28.7 million
Gale Klappa, Wisconsin Energy---$26.7 million
John Rowe, Exelon--- $23 million
Anthony Alexander, FirstEnergy---$19.8 million
Sure, FPL has the lowest residential rates in Florida. Who wouldn't, when they can buy things much cheaper than can the small utility. They have the synergies that can provide efficiency and get better rates for virtually everything, even their cost of money. They buy in gigantic bulk that lowers prices. They have people in their pockets and lobbyists (5 lobbyist firms made an average of $500,000 a piece...source Wikipedia) up the wazoo and they are driving out competition with their advantages. With money, especially the rate payer's, you can do just about anything. Hell, they even have some Lake Worth residents pushing for FPL to buy our Lake Worth utility. They continually ask for rate increases, all in the name of long-term investment. FPL continues to rake in the profits while those who need their product can't find jobs or feed their families and many have lost their homes. Last year FPL reported $14 BILLION in revenue.
Florida Power & Light, whose service territory stretches from South Florida to the southern borders of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, charges just $93.23--add on the 6% franchise fee and it brings up the residential rate to $98.82 for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 1000 kilowatt hours used as a benchmark of what a small residence uses in an average month. Lake Worth's comparable rate is $119.55 but we need to charge $20 more in order to operate our city and to fill in the pot-holes.
Click here to read about the obnoxious corporate CEO salaries of greedy executives, the only real winners, along with their shareholders, of these companies.
Being a defender of American capitalism, I find it impossible to defend greed especially from a public corporation that has a monopoly on life sustaining services--FPL's executive salaries and benefits are truly obnoxious.This is a main reason why liberals continue to come after big business.
There is nothing inherently wrong with executives getting bigger houses and the use of jets ($31 million went for a new jet at FPL just a few years ago) especially if they’re not gaining at the expense of others in a monopolistic business supported by government in that they are allowed to take gigantic tax breaks. When you have a company that votes to pay its top executive, Lewis Hay, $33 million in salary and benefits, it is a stark reminder of the average American worker who must have and can't live without their product. The average working stiffs' salary is $34,645 with CEO's, on an average, make a whopping 354% more than the average worker.
The Palm Beach Post reported today that FPL's CEO is the top paid utility executive in the country and he is right in our own back yard. Other utility CEO's highest paid executives:
William Johnson, Duke energey---$28.7 million
Gale Klappa, Wisconsin Energy---$26.7 million
John Rowe, Exelon--- $23 million
Anthony Alexander, FirstEnergy---$19.8 million
Sure, FPL has the lowest residential rates in Florida. Who wouldn't, when they can buy things much cheaper than can the small utility. They have the synergies that can provide efficiency and get better rates for virtually everything, even their cost of money. They buy in gigantic bulk that lowers prices. They have people in their pockets and lobbyists (5 lobbyist firms made an average of $500,000 a piece...source Wikipedia) up the wazoo and they are driving out competition with their advantages. With money, especially the rate payer's, you can do just about anything. Hell, they even have some Lake Worth residents pushing for FPL to buy our Lake Worth utility. They continually ask for rate increases, all in the name of long-term investment. FPL continues to rake in the profits while those who need their product can't find jobs or feed their families and many have lost their homes. Last year FPL reported $14 BILLION in revenue.
Florida Power & Light, whose service territory stretches from South Florida to the southern borders of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, charges just $93.23--add on the 6% franchise fee and it brings up the residential rate to $98.82 for 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 1000 kilowatt hours used as a benchmark of what a small residence uses in an average month. Lake Worth's comparable rate is $119.55 but we need to charge $20 more in order to operate our city and to fill in the pot-holes.
Click here to read about the obnoxious corporate CEO salaries of greedy executives, the only real winners, along with their shareholders, of these companies.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Lake Worth deserves better deal
Comment Up
Palm Beach Post
May 23, 2013
Lake Worth deserves better deal
Regarding The Post’s coverage of Lake Worth’s electric utility: For too long we in Lake Worth have wanted to see our rates as low as FPL’s. I am encouraged by our elected officials taking a public stand to bring down our rates to what our neighbors pay FPL. That’s something no other city-owned electric company in the state is now able to do.
We all want to believe that it could happen. We’ve been promised that before. Let us all hope we have the unified will to make the sacrifices to wean ourselves off the cash fix our electric utility has hooked us on, to make up for our depressed property values. Small cites never can attract experts to compete with a company like FPL. Our government-owned electric utility is a big drag on our local economy. Lake Worth is a special place, but not special enough to charge us higher rates for lesser service, especially when there’s a better option all around us.
GREG RICE
Lake Worth
Note: All comments by Mr. Rice are not necessarily the view of this blog but everyone deserves the right to be heard.
Palm Beach Post May 23, 2013
Lake Worth deserves better deal
Regarding The Post’s coverage of Lake Worth’s electric utility: For too long we in Lake Worth have wanted to see our rates as low as FPL’s. I am encouraged by our elected officials taking a public stand to bring down our rates to what our neighbors pay FPL. That’s something no other city-owned electric company in the state is now able to do.
We all want to believe that it could happen. We’ve been promised that before. Let us all hope we have the unified will to make the sacrifices to wean ourselves off the cash fix our electric utility has hooked us on, to make up for our depressed property values. Small cites never can attract experts to compete with a company like FPL. Our government-owned electric utility is a big drag on our local economy. Lake Worth is a special place, but not special enough to charge us higher rates for lesser service, especially when there’s a better option all around us.
GREG RICE
Lake Worth
Note: All comments by Mr. Rice are not necessarily the view of this blog but everyone deserves the right to be heard.
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