Wednesday, February 26, 2020

NU electric rates to increase
Customers of Newport Utilities will see an increase in their electric bills effective April 1. At the board meeting on Tuesday, members approved a 4.4 percent hike in rates, which General Manager Mike Williford says will translate into an average increase of $5.66 cents on the average residential bill. The board also approved other increases which Williford says are aimed at capturing costs as they occur instead of passing them on to all the customers of the utility. Effective April 1, new service connections for residential customers will increase from the current $115 up to $130. And commercial customers will see an increase from the current $115 up to $250. In addition, the customer will pay 100 percent of any construction cost. All of the costs associated with line extensions and subdivision development also will be reimbursed by the customer. Other utility fees will increase as well to reflect the initial cost rather than passing some of the costs along to all of the utility customers. "This will be better for the utility as a whole," Williford told the board. He said surrounding utilities have fees that are higher than the fees implemented locally. Water Works Manager Clint Hammonds also asked the board to approve fees for water and wastewater that reflect the actual cost. That will mean a higher charge for non-payment shut-off and re-connection after hours. during working hours the charge will be $60 and $100 after hours. The board was told 3,197 customers have signed up for broadband service. , including nearly 50 percent of all customers in the Del Rio community. Wireless installation of broadband is expected to begin in April in the northern section of the service area. Free wifi soon will be offered in downtown Newport, thanks to a grant recently obtained by the City of Newport. At the suggestion of Williford, the board agreed to a restructuring of the utility management, including renaming the position of General Manager, as President/CEO. Legal Counsel James McSween pointed out that the utility operates under a Private Act and so he will research whether such a management change would conflict with the wording in the Private Act, before any change is made. Williford reported he expects the former RGE building in the industrial park soon will be leased. And the board recognized the retirement of David Balch, who has been with the utility for 46 years.


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