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Council told 5% electric rate increase, deposit elimination and infrastructure projects will reach full council
Summary
The electric committee plans to present a draft ordinance to the full council that cleans up service-agreement language, eliminates service deposits and puts forward a 5% rate increase; the committee also reviewed several capital projects and an EAC resolution on energy goals.
Councilman Andrew Carroll, reporting for the electric committee, said committee members will bring a cleaned-up electric ordinance to full council in two weeks that includes updates to the service agreement language, a new approach to meter-testing fees and the planned elimination of service deposits.
Under the plan described at committee, existing customer deposits would be applied as bill credits (up to $200 normally or $300 for electric-heat customers) and then credited against monthly bills until the deposit balance is exhausted.
Carroll said the committee will also present a 5% rate increase to full council. He described the increase as modest relative to some regional municipalities facing double-digit hikes, and said the borough will continue to monitor costs to avoid unnecessary further increases.
The committee reviewed several infrastructure projects: radar traffic-signal controls on East Main Street and Lansdale Avenue (about one week from completion at the time of the meeting); the Ninth Street substation replacement expected by early summer; and a Walnut Street feeder tie-in that Carroll said was roughly 95% complete. Carroll also reported the installation of 2,000 smart electric meters in a completed phase and said a next phase is planned.
The committee discussed a local resolution tied to the EAC (Energy Action/Advisory Committee) that Carroll said roughly 21 other Pennsylvania municipalities were expected to consider; he described that item as aspirational and focused on clean renewable energy and energy independence goals.
Carroll said vegetation-management work (tree trimming and preventative line work) will be performed by borough crews to reduce contractor costs and increase control over scheduling. He also reported the successful completion of the Morial Road ball field project, including a working scoreboard.
No final council vote occurred at the work session; committee-level items will go to the full council agenda for formal action.
