[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6273813,"mediaKeyId","2997428-ef666bd14e89e9547a7b408f5cd51d8e","parentId",2997428,"title","Athens Council approves Toyota MOU; utility seeks retail rate restructuring billed as revenue neutral","audioSeconds",1152,"startMs",326000,"endMs",1478000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997428-ef666bd14e89e9547a7b408f5cd51d8e&start=326&end=1478","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997428-ef666bd14e89e9547a7b408f5cd51d8e/thumbnail_326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273813/Athens-City/Limestone-County/Alabama/Athens-Council-approves-Toyota-MOU-utility-seeks-retail-rate-restructuring-billed-as-revenue-neutral","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273813-962f213296b2742e464d610af9ca878a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104029&Signature=MmDvcQNSQor~KdR5JtTtPpbRFqDBVVWJ2ehD4FiS0bdF3-41urB5tjZPRt0UtxlfLYBpJMZrO5c1Hobj4dYlzGWu9L3H2y4hAoQHzrOdLGCLdeOV~iUtRP9v1t84~GMEeBVi8Cnp7TG4AhV8V08lKHb2RgQqCc98iMpWXL-jLRatNgk503Q5PhnjcjNfp1NFhP7Q4KnweTEUX0j17nxdVYiuFYcSK50KVtOX7~IPYIwpAKFm9Knu3cgSjialRtsIsinZUL~01WmNheKwNvbBEvgQmVLmf-PZ--WmhTpwf-FY~wDOKxGp9myKHkyWCRCK62BF3ePE1lR0pRC9RntNhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Athens City, AL","date","2025-04-15T20:56:02.233Z","article","The City of Athens on April 14 approved a memorandum of understanding with Toyota of America to support a feasibility study for a proposed solar installation in Limestone County and advanced a separate retail-rate adjustment for Athens Utilities that shifts more fixed cost recovery into a higher monthly customer charge while lowering the energy charge.

Hunter Allen, electric service manager for Athens Utilities, told the council the Toyota memorandum would allow Toyota to proceed with a study of a proposed solar project that includes 13 other electric utilities in the region. \"What that allows us to do is ... we're exploring a project with 13 other electric utilities for a solar installation in Limestone County,\" Allen said. He added the agreement requires no direct financial contribution from Athens Utilities: \"So there's no, you know, financial involvement that we are required to put up for this project. It's just allowing us to agree to the terms of the agreement.\"

The council also approved a retail-rate adjustment for the electric department that, according to Allen, increases the monthly customer charge from $16.66 to $18.66 while reducing the per-kilowatt-hour energy charge so the change is revenue neutral overall. Allen said the adjustment reduces variability in utility revenue caused by weather-driven changes in consumption: \"It just takes less variability out of our budget based on weather because that's where a lot of our budget comes from is power veil through weather. And so the less variability we have, the better we can budget.\" He told council staff expect the change to produce roughly a 1.5% decrease in the energy charge and that, for an average residential customer, the final monthly bill would be unchanged under the example shown on a slide.

Councilmember Wells pressed Allen on customer impact and on the risk Athens Utilities could later raise rates without council approval. Wells said he was reluctant to place an added charge on residents when the city has a surplus. \"It just seemed to me ... it sets the stage for an increase by Athens Utilities later on,\" Wells said. Allen replied that any future rate changes would have to come back to council first: \"We would have to come back to council for any type of rate adjustment, increase, decrease, whatever. It has to come to you guys first and foremost before it goes to TVA for approval. So we can't just willy nilly increase rates without y'all's approval. Y'all are our governing board.\"

Wells also asked whether the Toyota solar project could reduce Athens Utilities' revenue if Toyota used the solar power at its plant. Allen said the planned solar installation would be a direct connection to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), not to Toyota's plant, and therefore would not reduce the plant's purchases through Athens Utilities. \"This solar project ... won't connect to Mazda Toyota's facilities. It'll direct connect directly to TVA, so there won't be any lost revenue on the Mazda Toyota side,\" Allen said. He explained TVA would purchase generation from the solar facility and Athens Utilities would transact with TVA under that arrangement.

Both items moved forward with council approval. The memorandum of understanding with Toyota passed on a recorded vote of 5-0. The retail-rate adjustment was adopted as part of the consent calendar and approved by the council; city staff said the adjustment will take effect for bills with meter readings on or after Oct. 1, 2025, contingent on TVA approval.

What happens next: Toyota will proceed with the feasibility study if the MOU is executed; the retail-rate change will be submitted to TVA for approval before an October implementation if TVA consents. Any future rate changes would require a formal council action and, as Allen noted, TVA approval where applicable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting 4/14/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Athens on April 14 approved a memorandum of understanding with Toyota of America to support a feasibility study for a Limestone County solar installation and adopted a retail-rate restructuring for Athens Utilities that raises the monthly customer charge while lowering the energy charge, officials said.","taxTitle","Athens City, Limestone County, Alabama","taxId",65000,"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},6273808,"Votes at a glance: City of Athens council approves consent calendar including vehicle purchases, guardrail repairs and traffic projects",2699,877000,3576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997428-ef666bd14e89e9547a7b408f5cd51d8e&start=877&end=3576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997428-ef666bd14e89e9547a7b408f5cd51d8e/thumbnail_877000.jpg","/articles/6273808/Athens-City/Limestone-County/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-City-of-Athens-council-approves-consent-calendar-including-vehicle-purchases-guardrail-repairs-and-traffic-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273808-5156e2881cedeccd31f37d1634ad5a4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104029&Signature=UNBjxQ-dLo0QfJ0LJU1kPWi9kIfVql64Kym-sGl~eoEiVdxMq1nsb9od9BfLlDeHUCzdIaNBIPrCbgL31JLMRVb~sVsuW2vjAxZdVSYnhBFHfWkvnUeZVz6v1xQQOGZPBO3jgfCLqhNZGkf1ohr8HAifeJW75apdpPcqK9bHS6Ep1f5IwDn63pSJxZ1pKFK9wmWIksVNBG9hWo0bqRgUo9Iew9D1qOK8ceMji6HqAvsdrjKyKgbpvNq63wtOf-BxfNen4zh3QtbpH3pahcEtatDTXeATz3SLb-7Orux5tFpeYEomKARXYnm3ct8qKukSkFG35UfWQTMt~uuQaXTtbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Athens council on April 14 approved a consent calendar that included travel and education reimbursements, equipment and vehicle purchases, guardrail work, traffic-signal maintenance agreements with ALDOT and several other routine municipal items.

Key items approved on the consent calendar included travel and education expenses for multiple departments; the reappointment of Marsha White to a board; retail and temporary alcohol licenses; scheduling a public hearing on vacating a portion of Greenfield Drive; declaration of surplus property and auctions; and multiple vehicle and equipment purchases funded from department capital accounts. Specific purchases and payments approved included:

- Purchase of a 2015 Ford flat crew cab 1-ton 4x4 truck from the State of Alabama at a cost not to exceed $37,000 (street department capital account).

- Purchase of a 2017 Ford flat crew cab 1-ton 4x4 truck from the State of Alabama at a cost not to exceed $38,000 (street department capital account).

- Purchase of a 2018 Ford flat crew cab 1-ton 4x4 truck from the State of Alabama at a cost not to exceed $38,000 (street department capital account).

- Purchase of a Kubota stand-on mower through Sourcewell at a cost not to exceed $10,277.41 (street department capital account).

- Purchase of a 12-foot trailer at a cost not to exceed $2,585 (street department capital account).

- Payment to Williams Apparatus for additional repairs to the 1995 platform ladder truck not to exceed $20,000 (fire department capital account).

- Purchase of a brush truck skid unit and related equipment from Sunbelt Fire not to exceed $20,000 (fire department capital account).

- Purchase and installation of equipment for seven police vehicles from MCA Sharpe Communications, not to exceed $79,972 (police department capital account; purchased through North Alabama Cooperative Purchasing Association).

- Approval to enter maintenance and permit agreements with ALDOT for traffic-signal upgrades and a pedestrian crossing at specified US Highway intersections.

- Payment to Alabama Guardrail for construction of guardrail at the bridge on Elkton Road, not to exceed $30,000 (gas tax fund), and a separate repair payment not to exceed $6,500 for South Madison Street (gas tax fund).

- Ordinance granting a franchise to Alabama 50 Network (franchise language attached to the ordinance as an exhibit).

The council approved the full consent calendar by recorded vote. Most items passed by unanimous recorded vote of 5-0. Separately, a claim payment to Ebenezer Utility Construction LLC for damage to a water line and roadway in the amount of $17,441.18 was accepted by the council on a recorded vote of 5-0.

Votes at a glance (selected):
- Consent calendar (items A–HH as listed in the agenda packet), outcome: approved, recorded vote: 5-0.
- Memorandum of understanding with Toyota of America (agenda item R), outcome: approved, recorded vote: 5-0 (see separate coverage).
- Retail rate adjustment for electric department (agenda item S), outcome: approved as part of consent, recorded vote: 5-0 (subject to TVA approval before implementation on or after Oct. 1, 2025).
- Payment to Ebenezer Utility Construction LLC (item Z), amount: $17,441.18, outcome: approved, recorded vote: 5-0.

Most resolutions and ordinances on the consent calendar were routine purchases, reappointments, or administrative actions; council members indicated a desire to move several items forward and a majority of votes on those items were unanimous. Items requiring further administrative steps, such as franchise implementation or rate filings, will follow standard staff processes and may return to council if further action is necessary.","At its April 14 meeting the City of Athens council approved a broad consent calendar covering travel reimbursements, equipment purchases, roadway and traffic signal projects, a franchise ordinance and several payments for repairs; most actions passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

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Athens Council approves Toyota MOU; utility seeks retail rate restructuring billed as revenue neutral

Votes at a glance: City of Athens council approves consent calendar including vehicle purchases, guardrail repairs and traffic projects