[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6326253,"mediaKeyId","2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e","parentId",2325404,"title","Lansing Board of Water and Light reports clean audit, answers council questions on bond use and clean energy plans","audioSeconds",1348,"startMs",153000,"endMs",1501000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e&start=153&end=1501","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e/thumbnail_153000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326253/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Lansing-Board-of-Water-and-Light-reports-clean-audit-answers-council-questions-on-bond-use-and-clean-energy-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326253-5366f903432f3fde91252e6ba6c18973/orig.mp4?Expires=1775153276&Signature=kc7Hn6CQAKVgb6RymvtCW5zrUu5iSIUFwp010OP84P5YXwvXozGHkAEI9xotlqeORc2kb1yDq6xUBmFqDy05oE0IWd~z7lVoe~AZTG4E1CzSFWaMG2evZvgg0QWpxfuE1mJuCJUB8yJQK1f2YRD97k~ut3CBAlQuf1otZo-UbCwugT-JV1HJThwxowkRTg~FrpoT6f5HLvPOJ41qUohXTC1xDugBp4fE665jrELqHUa2Z6h507u1avDkebZNJp1YmIeRPcHm7whXIpoAodSnBdGv56uRm0QjDdLUHkyLeIbInfPgqL4w6wDuyNdvu1Dkc8kYPtgaTEiqU2vDNypuPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lansing, Michigan","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Lansing Board of Water and Light told the City Committee of the Whole on Feb. 10 that its fiscal-year 2024 financial statements received a clean audit and that it continues to pursue a mix of projects to meet state clean-energy requirements.

Scott Taylor, manager of the utility’s finance and planning group, said Baker Tilly conducted the audit and “we had a clean audit. We received an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance an audit can provide, and there were no findings or recommendations.” He said retirement plans included in the statements are fully funded.

Why it matters: The utility’s financial posture affects its ability to finance capital work for aging infrastructure and for new energy projects. Council members pressed the utility for specifics about how recent borrowings and capital spending support the city’s clean-energy targets.

Taylor told council members the utility issued $365,000,000 in revenue bonds in January 2024; the bonds supported investment in new energy, paid capitalized interest, and refinanced portions of earlier bond series. The refinancing produced roughly $5,000,000 in present-value savings, he said. He also described a year-over-year revenue decline—$449,000,000 in 2023 to $417,000,000 in 2024—attributing the drop primarily to wholesale market prices and generation changes; net income for 2024 was about $9,900,000, Taylor said.

Councilmember Jackson asked whether the roughly $191,300,000 listed as capital expenditures in 2024 included projects to meet the city’s clean-energy targets. Taylor said “approximately half of the capital expenditure was towards our new energy program, and the other half was towards our ongoing capital, which is replacement of equipment in our current plants, lines, etcetera.” He told Jackson the bond proceeds are “eligible and usable for clean energy, but part of it is not all the funds went directly towards that program” because of tax and credit considerations; that flexibility, he said, allowed the utility to save roughly $4–5 million in tax credits by applying bond proceeds strategically.

Taylor and other utility staff also described generation mix and regulatory reporting: the utility generates roughly 53% of its retail and wholesale sales internally and is preparing documentation for state reporting (the utility referenced the Michigan Public Service Commission reporting process). Taylor said the utility expects to reach about 53% new/renewable energy by 2030 with projects either under construction or under contract.

Public comment before the presentation raised broader energy-source questions. Resident Loretta Stanaway urged the board to discuss alternatives such as hydrogen, hydroelectric, atmospheric water harvesting and heat-recapture systems; she asked when the board would present information on those technologies.

The presentation packet, including the full audited financial statements, was left with council. Taylor offered to provide the bond structure documents on request to show how proceeds were to be applied.

What’s next: Council members asked staff for more detail on specific projects funded from the 2024 capital program and for the bond structure documentation. The packet attaches the audited statements for FY 2024 for council review.

Ending: Council thanked the utility team for the presentation and moved on to the next agenda item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 10th, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Lansing Board of Water and Light told the City Committee of the Whole on Feb. 10 that its fiscal-year 2024 financial statements received an unmodified audit opinion and that a January 2024 $365 million revenue bond issuance funded both new-energy projects and routine capital work.","taxTitle","Lansing City, Ingham County, Michigan","taxId",5771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326235,"Committee of the Whole approves Jan. 27 minutes unanimously",46,43000,89000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e&start=43&end=89","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e/thumbnail_43000.jpg","/articles/6326235/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Committee-of-the-Whole-approves-Jan-27-minutes-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326235-0de1595843cfe44e536e9048366db3f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775153276&Signature=ButWyVFfPT4AmvRUNRiENrfO3buSlH2duqo6OdALTEPk7GzdnR33hwkNMrtsvoPaKoXyCVv6Zb3fFwmJMDbs~KusY~772Bxfr1Ny6w7Ii7In1dMXhlexmJcWmAofDrxHMa9v~QSlnSs6sKir9RY-6OEmw3o9wNqayM72Xi~UFb~RcW5ivwKqoBCPLkO3lgpweW3p1g5G7QWTsMRX5j8qQcNXwhM7hx-ZeZvbDFl0VV9S0jhfs~zqcCAmnvtgJY3CKm0jr5qh3IYFINQK3kR9UnM7YX1dmeSucxU5TGYp3DNChu1Ut-XRDFgT~2O5Q6VY7rrRtshPxJUhEJ10uppTxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the start of the Feb. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, Vice President Carter moved to approve the Jan. 27 minutes. Council members voted “Aye” and the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: No further votes were taken during the minutes motion; the meeting proceeded to public comment and presentations.","The Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to approve the minutes of its Jan. 27 meeting after a motion by Vice President Carter.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326240,"Council member reports: updates from Capital Area Michigan Works, Tri‑County Office on Aging and regional planning",0,2844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e&start=2844&end=2844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e/thumbnail_2844000.jpg","/articles/6326240/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Council-member-reports-updates-from-Capital-Area-Michigan-Works-TriCounty-Office-on-Aging-and-regional-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326240-543d3687f88c739c05e58347026cdfbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1775153276&Signature=TekEDyNImwissl1K76tFB5BK8ednwNI~9BsyU1Bsizyek6AiXaFzKQWHhNx9C-X9vdeNIuDpPpJOmU-2ewZ9~hFYBNC3TTPLWLbAup8ak~NLelmyO5jWULfnVVVpQDVsgsZVXULaUb5bRk0ffNApLzdNdUdA4VW85JzMo6g2y4qkyLaWgFrUG3NJ0g1egI1LEtzCUJ8ph6VnkjtnW4uVD7s8Igjm~P4hBWaDeX5-R2vHc1MSyXIwXjeYQswQLYDksAoSXTUfGNyi~SfuSRHj63mGaFh61AsFtv6SQajOwetfY5V~z0EDn-d~ZaTbJsqMOLGh-5KagcNtldFwnJzfrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilperson Pellevonegloo delivered multiple outside-board updates at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 10, reporting on Capital Area Michigan Works, Tri‑County Office on Aging (TCOA), and the Tri‑County Regional Planning Commission.

Pellevonegloo said the Capital Area Michigan Works administrative board will meet on Feb. 26 and that Robin Anderson King, described as the City of Lansing Neighborhood Resource Coordinator, was named administrative board chair. She said staff reported a temporary federal spending freeze in January that did not halt day‑to‑day operations but might affect future funding uncertainty.

On aging services, Pellevonegloo said Irene Cahill and Mark Meadows were elected chair and vice chair of TCOA, and that federal funding was temporarily extended at 2024 levels while Congress works on reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. She described TCOA programs including a veteran‑directed care referral relationship with the VA Battle Creek Health Center, an in‑home services program for people 60 and older with about 300 participants, and a case‑management program with roughly 100 participants. She also summarized the My Choice waiver for adults who meet nursing‑facility level‑of‑care criteria and said fundraising and program operations continue; TCOA’s next meeting is March 17.

On Tri‑County Regional Planning Commission, Pellevonegloo said officers were elected in late January and Nathan Triplett is chair for 2025. She noted the Art Storm 2025 project, a regional storm-drain mural program to hire local artists, and that the Arts Council of Greater Lansing will partner on mural placements; she provided a web address for more information as reported at the meeting.

Ending: Pellevonegloo said a number of outside boards are still organizing for 2025 and that she will follow up with council colleagues as more information becomes available.","A council member reported on outside boards and commissions, noting officer elections, funding and program updates at Capital Area Michigan Works, Tri‑County Office on Aging (TCOA) and the Tri‑County Regional Planning Commission.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326245,"Lansing public safety complex remains on schedule and on budget, contractor says",405,2457000,2862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e&start=2457&end=2862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e/thumbnail_2457000.jpg","/articles/6326245/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Lansing-public-safety-complex-remains-on-schedule-and-on-budget-contractor-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326245-95a7633b350890385841e71525127d1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775153276&Signature=LwBSL6yIQAfbeScHoCwbFEd5Ywk7QquWhD9c1j4pff9qPnK4F8QJZEx~2Iui7XUUqCKaDZR1aeIlCe4w5-sCmCWvQ9B94y9WeI781vQ9d4~SqxDX6jyhCnr~PA5zWWNIbcFZYcbaT3a~ofQnk3mWznniSLmcb8-NI9PYKkZe6OjKhfULt5d0eibwU4yHpfC6cOerPz7WXOzAsoTGGl5KbYCzILZsNlWnuhBGRl7qNxnzZTuVS1S-7oqnHd8H1wMTfyCRnWYAl2J89U9SPj~s6oZd1piyKAYBYy9eU5KffSWeuotpI4WTAWS6vVzaORgf41VHJuufWiIO3muKMoGbQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives for the Lansing City Public Safety Complex told the City Committee of the Whole on Feb. 10 that the combined site remains on schedule and on budget and that major underground utility work is nearly complete.

John McGraw of Rivercattis (project team) said, “we are on schedule and on budget, which is a great place to be.” McGraw, Dan (Rivercattis), Roy (City of Lansing) and Rob Crow of the Christman Company answered council questions about bid-package status and future uses of existing sites.

Rob Crow said the project has completed several bid packages and is evaluating later packages; he confirmed that about 90% of underground utilities for the combined site have been completed. The team said remaining work includes interior fit‑out for the public safety building, fire training facilities on the west side of the site, and the delayed Station No. 8 work that is later in the sequence.

Council members asked whether the city planned to retain or remove the existing training site on Pennsylvania and what would happen to the existing Fire Station No. 9 once operations move to the new station. City staff said they did not have final decisions to announce and would follow up internally and report back to council.

The presentation packet lists a projected budget of $175,000,000 for the project; presenters confirmed that figure during Q&A.

Ending: Council thanked the project team for the quarterly update and asked staff to provide follow-up answers about the disposition of existing properties once decisions are made.","Project team representatives reported to the Committee of the Whole that the Lansing City Public Safety Complex is on schedule and on budget with underground utilities largely complete and remaining bid packages for interior fit-out and training facilities pending; council asked about reuse plans for existing assets.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6326249,"Board of Water and Light defends smart meters, explains opt‑in to Michigan Public Act 95 and expanded bill‑assistance pool",1051,1422000,2473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e&start=1422&end=2473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2325404-13f0b3ad17ed4212a4df2d16373dae9e/thumbnail_1422000.jpg","/articles/6326249/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Board-of-Water-and-Light-defends-smart-meters-explains-optin-to-Michigan-Public-Act-95-and-expanded-billassistance-pool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326249-8fd8959f7e1edc2791249490197e6910/orig.mp4?Expires=1775153276&Signature=hYAcCBrUiOXhccE6c2VgKiQ3NvI0StL~K0MAYfeWt6F5Pu~exqSgEBGAdbPDXDur5xgPY6Yg-mN54l2Pk6Hv8RX6fibBMkMmDVyUygi-eWAzHpTIv2uZ3ZaXn0QShHkK3v~JWDFelL6x9iP93eT4o3mtEwraZCRm1WOpxj9IVJDG6hRIKZaIEXs1HgSrlKWsT7SLZC9BzLUJR0T5VzPU41ygmNhxqeA3PAERB2-GF8T2irLNSQOzjSSOgZvXBh~tDSCkQkypcYECkbWAMC6zyhL9VLahcXYjfiZhcYk9zhnEXUqDDCJqOqgAzdIzQam16g1Qjd5Jr~eJK-wNgJM-fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Utility staff updated the City Committee of the Whole Feb. 10 on the Board of Water and Light’s smart-meter rollout, customer benefits and the utility’s decision to opt into Michigan Public Act 95 to expand assistance for customers facing shutoffs.

A utility representative described the smart‑meter technology and customer benefits: “A smart meter…talks to the Board of Water and Light 4 times a day for a total of 90 seconds,” the presenter said, adding that the devices allow customers and staff to detect unusual usage quickly and largely eliminate estimated reads. The representative said the utility installed about 100,000 electric meters and 57,000 water meters, and that fewer than 200 customers (about 0.1%) elected to opt out of the program.

The representative also explained operational differences between water and electric remote capabilities: electric meters can be disconnected and reconnected remotely; water meter turnoffs still require a truck roll.

On shutoffs and customer assistance, staff said the utility “opted into PA 95” in 2023 after pressure from the state and community organizations about concentrated shutoff pools in spring months. Under that approach the utility placed $400,000 from its general fund into a customer-assistance account previously; after opting into PA 95 the utility and the state assessment generated substantially more assistance funds. The presenter said the state-assessment fund contributed roughly $1.2 million and that opting in also unlocked additional state and federal funds, bringing the total assistance pool to roughly $2.4–2.5 million (staff described these numbers as approximate and rounded).

Staff described operational protections for vulnerable customers: the utility said it suspends winter-season shutoffs during declared cold-weather events and that customers who qualify for the winter protection program are not placed into shutoff pools. The utility also described a tiered water-rate approach intended to reduce water shutoffs for very low use households and said it is “aggressively looking” for ways to reduce water turnoffs, while noting water shutoffs remain rare (staff reported about 50 customers without water at the time of the update, out of about 57,000 water customers).

Internal audit and council questions focused on oversight. The city internal auditor said the internal-audit team plans to review the PA 95 implementation and any financial controls; the utility said that audit is scheduled for the current fiscal year even though the statute is now state law.

What’s next: Utility staff offered to supply audit scheduling and to continue reporting on smart-meter performance, customer-assistance outcomes and any changes in opt‑out rates.

Ending: Council thanked staff for the update and moved to other agenda items.","Utility staff told council the smart‑meter rollout reduces estimated reads, supports outage detection and allows remote disconnects; the utility described opting into PA 95 in 2023 and said the change allowed access to state and federal assistance funds, substantially increasing the pool available to help customers avoid shutoffs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lansing Board of Water and Light reports clean audit, answers council questions on bond use and clean energy plans

Committee of the Whole approves Jan. 27 minutes unanimously

Council member reports: updates from Capital Area Michigan Works, Tri‑County Office on Aging and regional planning

Lansing public safety complex remains on schedule and on budget, contractor says

Board of Water and Light defends smart meters, explains opt‑in to Michigan Public Act 95 and expanded bill‑assistance pool