"I'VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU" bee gees

Well January Prairie State invoices are out. Three communities in Ohio have the same charges. Painesville, Galion, and Tipp City. Now the invoices aren't classified so any resident can request them.

Something strange in the first invoice of the year.

1) Debt Service INCREASED from $222,052.00 in January 2013 to $236,517.40 in January 20134. Why? is this like a variable rate mortgage?

2) Net Congestive Costs $21,257.63 January 2013. INCREASED  to $154,110.01 in 2014. This was the item Councilwoman DiNallo was concerned about in the November meeting with AMP-OHIO in Painesville. I hope she inquires why.

3) Demand Charge in 2013 $85,322.00 January 2013 INCREASED to $88,759.54 in 2014.

I hope someone on council or in the administration ask WHY?

Also even though the plant ran above 80% efficiency in January Painesville still paid $89.00MW more than double the power cost on the open market. And another $68,000 to Painesville's "Levelization" Bill. Council was informed at Monday's work session that the Painesville power plant is still being manned by thirty employees. Due to demand for power in January Painesville could have produced power and saved some money rather than make outside purchases. BUT we didn't because we were doing maintenance on something at the Electric Museum. What are we the American Motors of the electric industry? Gremlins, and Pacer's remember them?

Let me share this with you.

The federal Securities and Exchange Commission  (SEC) has subpoenaed both Peabody Energy, the developer of Prairie State, and AMP in regards to the development of the plant. Such investigations are rare, and the municipalities participating in Prairie State plant have a very legitimate interest in any findings of the SEC's investigation. However, the SEC's focus is primarily on protecting the investment community- the institutions who purchased the bonds for Prairie State. This is a different set of interests than the ratepayers and the municipalities. Because AMP-OHIO is not subject to regulations by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the state Attorney General  is the public official who is responsible for protecting the interests of the ratepayers and the municipalities. 

Something to think about.  Who's watching the Hen House?