RECC Customers See $9.10 Increase in Monthly Bills
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TheThe LickingLicking ValleyValley CourierCourier Morgan County’s HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER Speaking Of and For Morgan, the Bluegrass County of the Mountains Since 1910 (USPS 312-040) Morgan County Courthouse - Built 1907 Per $25.50 Year In County Volume 99 — No. 14 WEST LIBERTY, KENTUCKY 41472, THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 2009 ¢ $28.00 Year In Kentucky 50 Copy $30.00 Year Outside Kentucky Candidate list RECC customers for primaries stands at 23 see $9.10 increase As of Tuesday, 23 candidates had filed for nomination to elected office in Morgan, subject to the May 18, 2010, primary in monthly bills election. The latest to file: Roger 9.4 percent. Benton (R), for Sheriff, and Co-op ordered to The base monthly rate figure Danny Peyton (D), for Constable explain unusually does not include fuel cost adjust- in Dist. 5. ments or environmental sur- Others who have filed in- high line losses charges, which also are passed on clude: to Licking Valley by East Ken- Stanley Riggsby (D) (incum- FRANKFORT, Ky. — The tucky Power Company. bent), Magistrate, Dist. 3; Darby Kentucky Public Service Com- The rates Licking Valley Franklin (D) (incumbent), Prop- mission (PSC) has accepted a sought in its application would erty Valuation Administrator; settlement that permits Licking have increased the base monthly Steve Keeton (D), (Magistrate, Valley Rural Electric Coopera- bill for a typical residential cus- Dist. 3; Mickey Whitt (D) (in- tive Corp. to raise its rates in or- tomer to $106.66, an increase of cumbent), Sheriff; Kenny Perry der to increase its annual reserve 10.1 percent. (D), Sheriff; Jimmy Darrell by $1.94 million, or about 7.7 The December 11 order also Easterling (D) (incumbent), percent. directs Licking Valley to report Jailer; Ben Castle (D), Sheriff; Monthly bills for a typical to the PSC in 90 days the results Tim Conley (R) (incumbent), residential customer will increase of its investigation into excessive Judge Executive; Denzil Potter by about $9.10. line loss it has experienced re- (D) (incumbent), Magistrate, Licking Valley negotiated the cently. Line loss is the difference Dist. 1; Darris Smith (D), Mag- settlement—which gives the ru- between the amount of electric- istrate, Dist. 2; Shannon Elam Democrat State Rep. John Will Stacy, left, House Majority Whip, of West Liberty, and Republican ral electric cooperative about ity Licking Valley purchases (D), Magistrate, Dist. 5; Joseph Sen. Robert Stivers, right, of Manchester, Senate Majority Floor Leader, were guests at a reception $130,000 less in annual revenue from EKPC and the amount re- B. Curd (D) (incumbent), County held in their honor on Dec. 8 by the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce at MSU at West Liberty. than it requested—with the Ken- corded as provided to its custom- Surveyor; Elba Goodpaster, Jr., Both pledged their continued cooperation in working for the interests of Morgan County and reiter- tucky Office of Attorney Gen- ers. Masgistrate, Dist. 4; Raymond ated their support for the coal industry in Eastern Kentucky. eral. The unusually high line losses Vancleve, Coroner; Frankie Licking Valley applied to the — nearly 10 percent in 2008 — Spencer (incumbent), Magis- PSC for the rate increase in July came to light during the rate case. trate, Dist. 4; Kim Gevedon, 2009. During the course of the Licking Valley was unable to ex- County Attorney; D. Joleen Legislative leaders Stacy and PSC examination of the applica- plain the line losses. Frederick, County Attorney; tion, the utility and the Attorney While some electricity loss is Randy Williams (incumbent), General began settlement nego- natural due to resistance in the County Clerk; Carl Dean Smith, tiations. The final settlement was lines, the high percentage of loss Magistrate, Dist. 2; Everett D. Stivers honored by Chamber submitted to the PSC for review leads to suspicions of power Elliott, Jr., Constable Dist. 3; on October 27. thefts. An RECC spokesman con- Frankie Kemplin, Magistrate, By Miranda Cantrell A public hearing on the pro- tacted Tuesday had no comment Dist. 4. James posed settlement was held No- on the PSC’s order pending a re- The deadline for filing as a The Morgan County Chamber vember 24. view by co-op officials. candidate in the May 2010 pri- of Commerce held a reception on In its order, issued December The PSC also encouraged mary is Tuesday, Jan. 26. Dec. 8 at MSU at West Liberty 11, the PSC said that it had de- Licking Valley to step up its ef- to honor local legislators Rep. termined that the rates contained forts in the areas of energy effi- John Will Stacy (D) and Sen. in the settlement are fair, just and ciency and energy conservation, Cops for Kids Robert Stivers (R) for their elec- reasonable. The new rates took often referred to as demand-side tions to leadership positions in effect December 13. management, noting that Gov. needs info for the Kentucky General Assembly. The PSC also ordered Licking Steve Beshear’s energy plan calls Rep. Stacy, of West Liberty, Valley to investigate why so for an increase in demand-side currently serves as his party’s much of the electricity it buys management by 2025. gift program majority whip, while Sen. never gets to paying customers. In its order, the PSC stated, Again this year, Morgan Stivers, of Manchester, is Senate A report is due to the PSC in 90 “The commission believes that County Cops for Kids is work- majority floor leader. days. conservation, energy efficiency ing in conjunction with the Judge Executive Tim Conley Licking Valley has about and demand-side management School Santa Program to help welcomed approximately 50 lo- 17,500 residential and commer- will become more important and needy children have a joyful cal officials and civic leaders to cial customers in Breathitt, cost-effective as there will likely Christmas. the event. Elliott, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, be more constraints placed upon Families with pre-school-age “Morgan County is in a Morgan, Rowan and Wolfe coun- utilities whose main source of children that have experienced unique position,” Conley said. ties. It is one of 16 distribution supply is coal-based generation. financial hardship are asked to “Most counties don’t have this These local officials, business, government, and school leaders cooperatives that both own and write a brief letter to Cops for “Although Licking Valley has many legislators in leadership were among some 50 who turned out to help honor Stacy and purchase power from the East a number of energy efficiency Kids, P.O. Box 935, West Liberty, positions. I am glad that Rep. Stivers. Kentucky Power Cooperative Ky. 41472, listing your name, programs in place, the commis- Stacy and Sen. Stivers are work- (EKPC). sion believes that it is appropri- phone number, the names and ing together for their constitu- goes beyond finances. We have serve with him, because he is al- This is Licking Valley’s first ages of pre-school children as been able to help people in their ways looking out for the best in- ate to encourage Licking Valley, ents, and I would like to thank general rate increase since 1998. and all other electric energy pro- well as other children in your them for their assistance in secur- personal lives, and really make a terests of his constituents. In its application, Licking Val- family, why you are in need of difference. At least for the next “Sen. Stivers and I will prob- viders, to make a greater effort ing funds for our new courthouse. ley proposed to increase its an- to offer cost- effective demand- help, and how Cops for Kids can This project is going to change 13 months, we will both be in ma- ably be criticized for our support nual revenue by $2.07 million. help. jority parties in our respective of coal and other issues, but don’t side management and other en- the future of West Liberty and The cooperative proposed to in- ergy efficiency programs.” The number of families and Morgan County.” chambers holding substantial believe the criticism. He and I crease its monthly customer their children that can be helped Chamber of Commerce Presi- leadership positions, and that will represent you regardless, be- charges for residential customers The settlement agreement also will depend on the funds raised dent Hank Allen concurred. bodes well for our district.” cause now is the time to build from $7.65 to $10.00. The usage adopts changes proposed by by Cops for Kids by year’s end, “We would be remiss not to Rep. Stacy also addressed the communities and invest in our charge was proposed to increase Licking Valley for non-residen- so letters will be reviewed and recognize this unprecedented importance of non-partisan lead- commonwealth. We both appre- from 8.92 cents per kilowatt hour tial rates and for cable television approved as they are received. leadership,” Allen said. “Rep. ership. ciate the opportunity to work for (kwh) to 9.67 cents per kwh. attachment charges. Families in distress with Stacy and Sen. Stivers differ a bit “I am a Democrat, and Sen. Morgan Countians.” The settlement calls for school-age children should apply politically. However, when it Stivers is a Republican,” Rep. To contact Sen. Stivers, call monthly customer charge of through their schools to be in- comes to supporting Morgan Stacy said. “ We don’t always 502-564-2450 or e-mail $9.00 and a usage charge of 9.70 Inside This cluded in the School Santa Pro- County, I am sure they are uni- subscribe to the same politics or [email protected]. To cents per kwh. for a total increase gram.