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Commission amends electric rate schedule; one commissioner votes no
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to the electric utility rate resolution to account for a missed 2024 increase and extend the multi-year rate schedule, with Commissioner Skidmore voting no.
The Ottawa City Commission on March 19 approved an amended electric rate resolution that shifts the multi-year rate schedule after staff said a planned 2024 adjustment did not occur. The measure passed by roll call with one dissenting vote from Commissioner Skidmore.
Director Landis and the utility management team reviewed the background and recommended amending the existing electric rate resolution originally adopted in January 2023 (resolution referenced in the staff report as 19 28-23) to reflect that the 2024 increase was not implemented and to extend the schedule so the originally intended annual adjustments remain intact over a longer period. Staff described the change as an administrative adjustment to match the resolution’s year-by-year schedule to actual practice and to preserve the multi‑year approach used for capital planning.
Nut graf: Staff said the change does not create a new policy beyond what the commission approved previously; it shifts the timing because no increase occurred in 2024. Staff cited major upcoming electric capital needs — including an estimated $1.5 million construction cost for a river crossing and a multi‑million dollar design estimate (staff stated an $8–10 million range as a planning-level number) — to explain the rationale for restoring the multi-year revenue plan rather than relying on reserves.
Staff presented illustrative customer impacts using example monthly usages: a 1,000 kWh residential customer would see about a $12.20 monthly increase under the plan; small-business and large-business example impacts were also presented. Commissioners asked whether increases could be timed for a particular month; staff said the resolution specifies an on-or-after-March‑1 implementation window but that staff could implement around May or June if the commission preferred. Commissioner Skidmore voted no; other members voted yes and the motion carried.
Ending: Staff said the amendment restores the previously planned multi-year increase schedule to meet long-term capital and maintenance needs and that the utility will continue reporting on projects, reserves and rate impacts to the commission.
