Editorial from October 1, 2006

A penny wise and a dollar foolish

By Danielle Seckler

   After the lengthy BBARWA meeting, where what seems like a never ending discussion about the natural gas generator has gone on for a year now, it seems that the split among the board is still there;  left over from the water recharge investigation of the last 2 years. I have sat through so much discussion, that every time I think about it, my butt hurts.

  Both the cannibal system and the natural gas generator were nixed last year by Rick Ollila and John Day, as a political shot across the bow of those three BBARWA board members who had wanted to continue researching the water recharge program and to find more outside funding. The recharge project died and the research information was put on the shelf, maybe never to see light again. The recharge program was a complicated issue and it seemed liked that valley was split in half over it.

   At that time, BBARWA was offered a sweetheart deal from the manufacturer of the cannibal system and by putting the decision off to 2006, will cost BBARWA and the taxpayers more money. No matter, the cannibal system will save the taxpayer money and no one knows how hazmat will restrict the disposal of the sludge in the future. I can’t believe that it will get easier nor cheaper in the future, so installing the cannibal system as soon as possible seems like the best alternative.

   Now the camp against the recharge project, specifically Rick Ollila, is looking to cut the expenditures and especially any new borrowed money. In fact, Ollila is trying to get a rate survey done (which will cost money) to see if the current sewage charge on our property tax bills can be cut. Great, save the taxpayers money. Taxes are high enough. However, sometimes being a penny wise is a dollar foolish!

   The staff has put in a lot of time and energy in trying to come up with ways to get the natural gas generator, while trying to cut the cost of financing a much higher cost for the natural gas generator compared to the diesel generator and to balance what the electricity savings could be. For more than a year, the staff has presented it every way to doomsday; to no avail. Ollila has always come up with more and more investigation and questions to say no to the project. Some of Ollila’s ‘Scottish’ requests have proven to make the staff think outside of the box. This is a good thing. Now, Ollila says that it would be ‘gambling’ with the taxpayer’s money to think that there will be any saving of using natural gas instead of electricity. Well, here’s my question; why not ask the staff to come up with the costs of creating a solar powered plant on their land? Dump both Bear Valley Electric and the natural gas companies. Now that would be thinking out of the box. However, Ollila has set his course in a different direction.

   Trying to sort this out in my mind, I’ve had to whittle down the whole thing into something I can equate to; like our own home. In the winter of 2000-2001, everyone in this valley got hit hard with unregulated utility bills; which included Enron in Texas having their hands in the mix. Needless to say, sticker shock was the least of my problems, while I scurried around trying to pay the bills. Southwest Gas mellowed out, however back before the ‘Winter of Gouging’ as I call it; I was paying about $65 for two months to Bear Valley Electric. Today, I’m paying over $150 for two months. Ouch! Compared to my gas bill ran about $10 a month in the summer and about $90 a month in the winter before 2002, it runs about $14 a month in the summer and about $125 a month in the winter. I don’t know about anyone else, but I sometimes sit and dream about how I can get out from under their utility thumb.

   All I know is that if I could get any financing that would eliminate from being held hostage to Bear Valley Electric, I would. If it was up to me I would put off the other projects, spend the extra money now, knowing that the savings would offset the cost of the financing. I will never forget what happened in 2000-2001, nor that the electric costs have not come down. The stats prove it, since 2000 Bear Valley Electric up 103%, while BBARWA’s cost for natural gas have gone on “Only” 19%. If BBARWA is not willing to invest in solar power and get off all other utilities, then a natural gas generator makes good ‘cents’.

   It was clear at the BBARWA meeting that Ollila believed that John Day would fall into line behind him. For my vote, I hope that Day does not on this issue and the funding for the natural gas generator finally gets installed.

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