Green Cove Electric

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If you are interested maybe Mike Kelter GCS City Council member will blog all the reasons it is impossible to switch. It all about the money $$$$.

Yesterday I was interviewed by Cathi Carson (FOX News 30) regarding the high cost of electricity.  Cathi is the consumer news reporter and she was responding to a customer with a high electric bill.  When we sorted things out in the interview, it was clear to me that the customer was using 78 kilowatt hours per day, which seems like a pretty heft usage for a new, supposedly energy efficient home. 

FOX News erroneously reported the water, sewer, and electric bill as being only the cost of electricity.  They also commented extensively on the energy efficiency of the new home. 

This morning I sent the following e-mail to Cathi regarding her report (which is shown in bold italics).  I also forwarded an e-mail from a discontented Clay Electric customer who appears to be consuming 119 kilowatt hours of electricity per day. 

Cathi, 

Attached is an e-mail that was sent to Commissioner Rutledge last week regarding Clay Electric rates.  In this case, the Clay Electric customer’s bill only reflected the electric charges—not the water, sewer, and electric charges on the Green Cove Springs bill that you erroneously showed on your report last night. 

You proudly noted in your report that Clay Electric costs were much cheaper without noting electric consumption, which is a pretty important variable when discussing household electric costs.  The customer obviously doesn’t think that Clay Electric is very inexpensive. 

Notice that this bill was $391.   That represents nearly 3700 kilowatt hours of electricity used in a single month.  That’s equivalent to eighty-six 60-watt incandescent bulbs burning in the customer’s house 24/7.    

Fox News 30 does not do any electric consumer any favors by singling out electric rates charged by the utilities.  The responsibility of the high cost of our residential and business electric bills can be shared by many.  Politicians at the state and national level have a very large impact on the cost of fuels as a result of the taxing, environmental and permitting rules they create.  Local utilities bear responsibility for the efficiency of their distribution systems.  Consumers bear responsibility for conservation.   

Contrary to what you said to me yesterday, and what you implied in your report last night, new homes are not necessarily energy efficient.   Contractors often build homes to the minimum standards prescribed by the building code, which is a lower-end category of energy efficiency.   

Yesterday, I told you about my personal experience with electric consumption.  I run my business from my home.  I have lots of high-end computers running engineering calculations nearly 18-hours per day.  All summer long I watched as my energy consumption climbed due to my heat-pump system crapping out.  Last month the system failed.  Last month we consumed 68 Kilowatt Hours per day which was the peak consumption that we have experienced in our 53-year-old home.  We installed a new SEER 19-rated heat pump and air handling system.  As I track my usage this month, I am expecting my daily usage to drop below 30 Kilowatt Hours per day as a result of the improvements we made. 

Cathi, you don’t work for CBS, NBC, ABC, or CNN.  You’re Fox News for godsakes.  We expect you to tell it like it is.  High cost of fuel is a part of the problem.  How we, as consumers, use electricity is another large part of the problem.

Energy costs will be a major issue for the next decade for all utilities.  Last week Progress Energy requested a 31% rate increase.  Next week Florida Power and Light will request a rate increase of unknown size.  Recently JEA did an 8% increase with another 8% increase on tap for January.  Utilities that generate electricity from Coal will likely see major cost increases, especially if the Democrats control Congress and the White House and implement stringent Greenhouse Gas Emission regulations.  Utilties, such as Seminole Electric and Clay Electric which use large amounts of coal, will not be immune from the increase in fuel costs.

Mike Kelter, PE

Mayor, City of Green Cove Springs

Mayor sometime when you have "nothing to do" will you explain the contract the city has that make it almost impossible to change to another electric company.

Another thing I would like to point out is that we had first class service during Fay. I dont know how Clay Electric handled their customers but our city guys were running back and forth all night long. Those guys were patrolling the streets as well as the police dept. 

During the Tropical Storm Faye customers north of town lost power for 8 hours. They are serviced by Green Cove Springs Electric. I guess since they can’t vote in the city election those folks take a back seat. During the 2004 storms one storm knocked the power out for 17 days. Yep they have fine service. Like I said one time before in a blog a wind speed of 40 mph is good for a power failure if GCS. Isn’t that the reason Johns Manville packed up because of power failures and the city was not able t provide them adequate power so their machines would operate properly? I believe so.  Ok Mikeeee lets hear the excuses.

I will say a few short things. I was standing on Hyw 17 at Governors Creek the evening the power went out on the North side. A line man went up in a bucket truck 30+ feet in the air w/ 40 mph winds, while the Cheif of Police directed traffic, The Electric utility director gave instructions w/ the city manager supervising. We all agreed it was unsafe for that mans life to be in that position. So it was decided to wait until morning. For those of you without power I'm sorry, but it's not worth a persons life. Consider it a camping night with the family and be grateful it wasn't Katrina or Gustof. People complaining about 1 night without power, lets lighten up a bit. The cities emploees work very hard to provide good service.

Rates stink- we know rates stink. We did not sign up for this contract and if it made sence I would get out but we can't. It will cost millions to get out. We are working to make the best of it by improving the system. Keep in mind over 1 million dollars comes out of the electrical fund to help pay for the police department every year. That's tax revenue we would not be able to get from the county school board, jail, sheriffs office, court house, property appraiser, health department, etc. If we get rid of the electric department, property taxes WILL (not might) go up. Orange park is asking for an increase in taxes (6 mills) while the city of Green Cove just lowered ours to 2.57 mills.

We need to revidalize the downtown area to encourage developement which will bring move revenue. If we can stop funding the police department of the rate payers of the electric, it will help but other solutions still need to be adressed, like self generation.

 John E. Buchanan City Council Seat 2 Green Cove Springs

Magnum,

I had to scramble into my engineering archives to answer your comment.

I was not on the City Council in 2004.  During the 2004 hurricane season I helped the City file FEMA applications for reimbursement for storm damages.  As such, I keep pretty good records on what was spent and when it was spent. 

According to records filed with FEMA and the State Department of Community Affairs, the lights went out in Green Cove Springs on Sunday evening, September 5, 2004 during Hurricane Frances.  Everybody was turned off as a safety precaution.  Most customer service was restored on the morning of September 6, 2004.  The exception was electrical service for customers on CR 209.  The majority of these services were restored during daylight hours on September 6.  There were some customers along the river who had to wait until September 10 to be restored.  In most cases, these customers had to wait for County Public Works crews to clear County road debris before City electric crews and our contractor (C&C Powerline) could get in and make repairs.  All electricity was fully restored by September 10, 2004.  All final repair were completed by September 13, 2004.

When you were talking about "being out of power for 17 days" I think you were mistaking Green Cove Springs Electric with Clay Electric or FPL.

From my recollections of meetings between John-Mansfield and the City of Green Cove Springs, the major issue driving movement of that facility to Georgia was labor unions.  Quality and cost of electrical services was a minor issue.  Cost ceased to be an issue when the Council approved an industrial rate very comparable to that of JEA, which had the lowest industrial electric rates at the time. 

Quality of electrical service is a major issue and has been a major issue in the two years as the majority of the Council has pushed to make improvements to the system that were identified by electrical experts and staff over ten years ago.  The City is just completing its first upgrade to the system in nearly a decade.  There are many other upgrades that need to be completed.

As a result of TS Fay, we have identified another weak link in the system that needs to be fixed ASAP.  That weak link is the span of electric lines between Palmetto Avenue and Harbor Road, especially at the crossing over Governor's Creek.  That stretch of wire is high and is the only source of power north of Governor's Creek.  It is exposed to the most wind, and when it breaks, it is hard to fix quickly.  I will be proposing to our staff and to the City Council to harden this segment of the distribution system to reduce the possibility of outage.  The City Manager has already been authorized the funds to create a connection on the north end of the grid to provide back up power.  I will be asking Council to push the City Manager to get this job done.

The businesses, residents and customers of the City Electric Utility do not need to be out of power for 21 hours.

Mike Kelter PE

Mayor, City of Green Cove Springs 

If the electric department is such first class then consider this situation.

Two residents that live north of town built or renovated homes and ran the power underground to the city electric pole. The electric department installed the wire provided by the homeowner to the pole and provided an over size PVC shield. By using the over size PVC shield, this allowed rodents to access the top of the pipe and chew through the wires. Then to top it off the homeowners had to pay for new wire a second time due to incompetence on the part of the electric department. The city manager was consulted and provided photographs and stuck his head in the sand. At one time I had a lot of respect for him but not after this situation. As I said earlier, the folks north of town are serviced by the electric department but take a back seat. I bet if they could vote for the council things would be different.

The top line of the span over Governors Creek, that's the 23KV line lost tension and the insulator was affected.  The line lowered and was hitting the live 13KV line, which was a safety issue.  The decision was made to cut power from the substation feeding these lines for the safety of the customers. 

This shut down power to Magnolia Layne Shopping Center, Magnolia Point, an area of C.R. 209N near Black Creek and a neighborhood off Palm St.

Mayor Mike has already addressed the issue of lineman safety.

When a crane with a 110 foot reach and a steel basket arrived with its outriggers from a private contractor, and winds lowered, linemen from the GreenCove Springs Electric Department went up and restored power to citizens in Magnolia Point and C.R. 209 North, as well as a neighborhood off Palm St that is serviced by the same substation.

Sorry, but the electric department bucket trucks are not designed to work in higher winds.  I guess we could buy a couple, but we'd probably have to raise the electric rates to pay for them.

I agree the electric system was neglected for years, but the current city council, who had nothing to do with that, are doing what they can to better the system within budget and not indebting the city for years.

It is obvious from your past posts that you have a personal agenda with the Green Cove Electric Department.  Maybe you should check your objectivity or abstain from commenting altogether.

I had previously regarded your comments with respect concerning matters within the sheriff's office.  This type of vindictiveness brings you to a lower level.

As for your friends on C.R. 209, it's one side of the story.  Not doubting you!  Understand that.  But a thorough investigation cannot be done without obtaining both sides of the story.  So far you only have one.  Did you talk to Don?

During Katrina, my family was out for nearly 2 weeks.  By the way, we're Clay Electric customers.  Almost made me wish I lived in Green Cove as I would have had power much sooner.

And yes, our electric bill was pretty low that month.  But the fuel bill for the generator was huge!  Good golly Miss Molly!

Mikey, keep up the good fight and do not allow yourself to be lowered into the depths that recent political races were fought in.

You've got the facts.  You've got the documentation.  Stay on the right path.

God speed to you and the rest of the council. 

It's late and I'm going to bed now.

Snookie

Magnum, I think you're wrongSubmitted by Snookie on Sun, 08/31/2008 - 9:49pm...It is obvious from your past posts that you have a personal agenda with the Green Cove Electric Department.  Maybe you should check your objectivity or abstain from commenting altogether...Hey Snookie, I don't think you need to ask anyone to abstain from commenting altogether on anything.  I was wondering, who died and left you boss???  Why don't you think before you come to a public forum and make comments like that?  What are you?  The My Clay Sun Mafia?  Good Grief !

I won't sink to your level.  If I explained the meaning of your copy and paste, I don't think you'd understand anyway.

Try and stay on topic.  Comments on the electric situation.

Good Golly Miss Molly  is there a subject that we can discuss with out the name calling starting?A quote"can's we just all get along"

Snookie,

I own one of the homes that I referenced. I photographed the problem and provide photograph documentation to Don Bowles in his office of three other residences in the neighborhood that improper sized PVC shields were installed. He said he would look in to it and get back to me. I called his office after about a month twice to speak with him and could not get past the secretary. After about three months he sent one of the guys out from the electric department to strong arm my 70 year old mother that lives in the home to purchase the wire or they would turn the power off. I know you may not believe this but guess what happen just six months ago? One of the other homes that I photographed the improperly installed PVC electric shield had the same problem. This time the city furnished the wire for this neighbor. Yes I am not happy with how the electric department is run or the performance of the city manager. I am the one out $250 for electric wire for their incompetence. Would you be happy if you were in my shoes?

I believe that when I am out and about I may just document addresses and photograph these problems and tell the residents of what to expect in the future and maybe they will line up at the next city council meeting and raise a little heck down there. I am a taxpayer too Snookie and I expect better servecie than what I received from the city. I did everything they asked when I ran the electirc underground. I furnished and pulled the wire in PVC from the meter can to the pole with enough coiled at the pole to reach the top. They said once it got to the pole they were responsible. Well I guess they don’t hold up their end of the deal.

P.S. If you live in the city and your electric is ran under ground you might better go check the PVC shield to see if it is the right size.

My statement was based on your past posts regarding the electric department and saying that you use to be a customer.  I grew up in the city and am use to power outages.  My mother is in her 70s as well, so, yeah, I grew up here pulling a metal Tonka truck through the mud during th rain.

From those past posts, it seemed like axe grinding. 

From the additional information you have provided, I can see your point.

I'm no expert on PVC sizes for wiring.  However, I cannot excuse promises unanswered.  And yes, once you get it to the pole, it's the City's problem. 

Documentation is the key to a conviction, right?  So document everything you can.  Hopefully the powers that be will do the right thing.  Maybe you'll get your $250 back, but I doubt it.

If we have another outage that is unavoidable (Not trying to start a fight here), I know of at least 2 locations where you and your mother could go with generators where you would be welcome.  Nice beds, no mats or cots.  Safe locations where I'd let my children stay, and that is saying something. I know that may not be the answer you are looking for, but it would be a port in the storm. 

At your mother's age, especially is she has special needs that require electricity, it would be a god send. (sp)

City electric crews who do not make policy worked very long hours to keep things running as well as they could.  The wind was the main hold up that kept your and other areas out of electricity.

Magnum,

If you or your mother would call me (904) 284-8103, or send me an e-mail I will look into this further. 

Mike Kelter

mkelter@bellsouth.net

My mother comes to my home when we are under a Hurricane warning or watch. My home is brick and I have a generator that will run the entire home. Mike I will e-mail you the information on your city e-mail. Hopefully, you will receive it. Your I.T. folks have the security set so high I can’t even send a document from my agency to your police department. At this point I am not looking for a refund I just want to make sure that in the future another resident is not put in the same predicament as me. There are some residents that live on a fixed income and $250 means no food or medicine for the month.

Please call him.  It's the best way to get a hold of him.  Due to someone at city hall sending numerous large pic files, the system gets clogged.

Just a suggestion. 

 Good Luck!

Snookie,

I e-mailed his personal account with the information. The information is quite lengthy and detailed. I am sure it will take some time to check out the facts presented.

One more thing I lived in the city from 1981-1989 and those were not good years for electirc in the city. I sure hope it has improved.