| Today's Feature Competitive Edge for CW&EP.
Carthage Water & Electric
Plant General Manager Bob Williams responded to
questions Tuesday evening from the City Council
concerning the utility’s proposal to modify
meter charges for heavy users of electricity.
The plan would allow those with
multiple meters to combine the total usage on one
bill. Actual energy rates would not change, but
the practice would mean that volume price breaks
would be attained sooner, thus reducing the
overall electric bill for those using the plan.
Williams told the Mornin’
Mail yesterday afternoon that the utility
expects the overall reduction in revenue for
CW&EP to total about $100,000 per year if the
three largest industries take advantage of the
program. During an earlier CW&EP Board
meeting, Board member Claud Dickens opposed the
plan before a rate study was completed and more
was known about proposed deregulation statutes.
Council members were mainly
concerned that the practice would not affect
residential users. Williams said that proposed
deregulation of the electric industry will make
big users the target of outside power brokers. He
feels that this proposal will place CW&EP in
better position to stay competitive. He said that
other municipal utilities he has spoken with have
been using a similar policy for some time.
The City Council has to approve
any rate changes proposed by the public utility.
There was some discussion as to whether the
Council approval was necessary for a change in
meter charges. Public Works Committee member Bill
Fortune advised the Council that City Attorney
Dave Mouton felt a voice vote on the matter would
be sufficient. The Council voted to postpone any
decision on the matter until the next regular
Council meeting.
According to Williams, the City
demand for electricity reached 53,200 mega watts
on Wednesday. The record peak for the community
is 54,000. The demand for power has meant the
City power plant has been utilized on a regular
basis this summer. The plant averaged about 22
mega watts of production for an eight hour period
Tuesday. Of that, it sold 5 mega watts for some
time for a price of $250 per mega watt. Fuel
costs average around $35 mega watt for CW&EP.
Empire District Electric is one utility that
contracts to purchase power from CW&EP on
occasion.
Williams also is watching the
demand for water increase as the hot temperatures
continue (see water notice below). The two new
water towers have been a big factor in the
ability of the community have adequate water this
summer. The tanks were filled before the hot
spell as a reserve, but the current wells are not
able to completely replenish daily usage. The 2.5
million gallon tanks’ water level is
dropping approximately a foot a day. A new well,
scheduled to go on line in the next few days is
believed to be enough to bring the reserve levels
back to capacity.
The towers and additional wells
are part of the expansion partially funded by a
$6 million bond issue approved by voters.
Water Alert.
news release CW&EP
As the Summer heat continues,
Carthage Water & Electric Plant's water
supply continues to be adequate to serve the
City, but we are running at capacity. We ask that
you keep conservation in mind as you turnon the
faucet. We suggest watering late in the day when
there is less chance of evaporation by direct
sunlight.
We have 2 new water towers in
service which have greatly increased our storage
capacity. Two new wells that were scheduled to be
online by now have been delayed because of
earlier wet weather. One of the wells should be
online within the next week, with the second
coming online later in August. We are taking
other steps to increase the production level.
In the meantime, a little help
from all the citizens will make a big difference
in the total amount of water needed to serve the
City. Thanks!!
artCamp 99
Full !!
by Robin Putnam
news release from
artCentral
We are very happy to tell you
that our artCamp scheduled for August 2-7 is FULL
!! We have 15 kids per day for 6 days !! And are
they going to have fun...or what ! We’ve had
a lot of interest fron Kansas thanks to the
public radio station in Pittsburg !!
Those last few spots were
filled when two dads were called out of work to
race over here and sign their little darlings up
for the available classes.........they were here
johnny-on-the-spot last Fri-day morning !!
We want to tell the parents
that we appreciate their being soooo
understanding once the camp was full. We hope to
have a longer camp next year and hope they will
consider being the first to sign up for...artCamp
2000 !! Sounds like someone should start planning
!!
Speaking of planning........we
are going to be having our annual membership
drive and while discussing it the other day it
was brought up that why would we need to raise
funds when we were being "taken care
of" by the Hdye estate. The estate has
graciously offered to house our
organization........which gives us a permanent
home (and quite a lovley one at that) and a
chance to con-centrate on art instead of always
looking for a building to rent. We have to
support ourselves financially just like before we
moved here. Alas the need for a membership drive.
We like to have our members come out to our
events and feel more a part of the whole thing
because they are members and can have a say so in
what goes on around here.
Members get to vote on stuff !
Members get invited to a very nice evening of
fine art, fine food and fine friends...........of
course the public is always welcome and
encouraged to come, too.
AND for a short time new
members (in the Individual, Student, Senior and
Family levels) get a Lowell Davis print (while
the supply lasts) and renewing members will get a
set of our postcards !! What a deal !! There are
other premiums at the other levels including a
Jerry Ellis print of the Geranium House, a signed
cookbook and more. Sign up and see !!
More.........next week.
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