The
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Climate change solutions?
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George Willis / Contributed photo
Ugly sweaters combat waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4
County pays 22K
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Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 35, NUMBER 47 • DECEMBER 8, 2015
What you need to know about OPALCO’s rate increase By Leslie Kelly
Special to the Weekly
Get ready to pay more for electricity if you are a member of the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative. But the increase is projected to be minimal – about $6 a month for the average customer. The board of directors of OPALCO approved its 2016
budget Nov. 20, opting for an increase in electric rates of about 5 percent. “We want to keep measures in place that keep our co-op financially healthy, following two years of declining energy sales,” said General Manager Foster Hildreth. “Member’s bills will go up about 5 percent beginning in January.” Currently, the average
Stanley Greenthal & SeaMuse Winter Solstice Concert
LOPEZ CENTER SUN, DEC. 20, 7:30 PM Tickets: Adult $15, Youth $6 at PSR, Blossoms, Lopez Bookshop & lopezcenter.org
monthly bill is $116. It’s expected to increase to $122 beginning in January. The decline in energy sales for the co-op is related to the weather, Hildreth said. But the 5 percent increase includes the co-ops costs of doing business, including energy costs and capital outlay costs, said Suzanne Olson, OPALCO spokeswoman. She said rates the co-op pays to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) which supplies energy, have gone up about 6 percent annually. According to the budget document, the total budget for the energy co-op will increase from the current year at $23.3 million to $24.8 million. The budget is based on a 3 percent inflation projection for 2016. Budget forecasts for 2017 to 2020 were also approved and the rate of
inflation is expected to jump to 4 percent in years 2019 and 2020. The co-op doesn’t plan any new hires through 2020 and will remain operational with 51 full time employees. Wages are forecast to increase 2 percent in 2016, 3 percent in 2017 and 2018, and 4 percent in 2019 and 2020, as allowed by the current collective bargaining agreement with union employees. The budget also reflects a projection that power costs from BPA are expected to drop in November and December 2016 by about 2 percent. Olson said that is expected to happen because forecasters say the current El Nino weather pattern will end and temperatures will become colder; thus meaning more energy sales and a drop in price.
Poetry in Motion Saturday, December 12th
A lyrical blend of poetry and a variety of dance styles Lopez Center Matinee 2 pm
Evening Performance 7:30 pm Suggested Donation: Adult $10, Youth $5
Concerned about Growler jet noise? Concerned about their emissions of 12.5 metric tons of CO2/hour?
www.quietskies.info
Presented as Readers Theatre Lopez Center for Community and the Arts
yrical blen A lSaturday, 12/19 atd7:30 o pm & poetry Sunday, 12/20 at 1:30fpm
Tickets are Adults $10.00 / Students $8.00
Available at Paper Scissors on the Rock and the Lopez Bookshop and at the door before the performances.
As for capital projects, OPALCO has budgeted $3 million for the submarine cable replacement project. About $4.4 million was spent in 2015 and $7.4 million is planned for 2017. The project will finish up in 2018 with $200,000 allotted. Other projects are outlined in the construction work plan which has a goal of achieving voltage stability, and a greater system reliability and overall system efficiency. In 2016, there is $2.28 million for replacement based on age, cable type, neutral degradation and outage frequency. Another $2.4 million is allotted for grid control communications infrastructure. One of the programs that the co-op is initiating in 2016 is the energy assistance program. The 2016 budget includes $90,000 for the program, which is just half of what was requested. Although specifics of the program are still being worked out, those who qualify will get a $10 credit each month to their $39 facilities charge. Additionally each consumer will pay .0005 cents per kilowatt hour, or for the average customer, 45 cents per month to help fund the program. Awards will be based on income and household size. The program stems from a survey in which members voiced concerns about their neighbors who are low income or on fixed incomes and cannot afford their energy bills. The survey showed that 1,500 of the co-ops mem-
A FestivAl oF lessons & CArols
bers fall below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. “OPALCO is doing its part and setting an example for other county agencies by creating an energy assistance program in 2016,” said Hildreth. Olson said the board did not fully fund the program at the level requested by staff because it was “trying to keep expenses down” for the utility and for its members. “Even 45 cents a month will feel like a lot to some of our members,” she said. The 2016 budget also includes staff time for development and preparation for future community solar projects. Activities in 2016 will include exploring sites, design and loan funding possibilities. OPALCO is a nonprofit member-owned electric utility co-op providing services to San Juan County since 1937. Most of its energy is generated from hydro power by BPA and is delivered to about 20 islands by way of submarine cables. It has 11,198 members, 1,339 miles of power lines and 11 substations. Its subsidiary, Rock Island Communications, deploys fiber optic communications throughout the area. “The marriage of energy and communications lays a compelling foundation that enables co-op members to make a better living through internet-enabled businesses that lifts the area beyond a tourism economy,” the budget narrative stated. To see the entire budget document go to www.opalco. com.
Holiday Art Sale Polly Ham Ceramics and Sculpture
GrACe episCopAl ChurCh sundAy, deCember 13th
4:00 PM
Donations will be gratefully accepted to the Lopez Food Bank and the Grace Church Organ Fund.
Steve Horn Photography Sat, Dec 12 10 am -3 pm
Steve’s studio Lopez Village
Stop by and visit!