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Lansdale electric committee backs 5% rate increase, studies renewable goals and expands meter upgrades
Summary
The Electric Committee discussed a recommended 5% electricity rate increase to begin April 19, reviewed a 100%-renewables resolution from the Environmental Action Committee and reported installation of 2,000 new electric meters so far.
LANSDALE, Pa. — Lansdale Borough’s Electric Committee on March 5 recommended a 5% electric rate increase expected to take effect April 19 and considered multiple policy and operational updates including a renewable-energy resolution, a purchase-power adjustment clause and a large meter-replacement effort.
The committee said the 5% increase — presented as part of the rate resolution — would not make borough rates higher than neighboring investor-owned utilities even after those utilities’ pending increases, and that it is intended to begin addressing a multiyear funding shortfall for the electric utility. Committee members said they have not raised electric rates in roughly a decade and characterized the increase as an initial, measured step; they warned additional increases may be needed later as energy and transmission costs rise.
The Environmental Action Committee’s “Ready for 100” resolution, which the Electric Committee received as a proposal, sets aspirational goals: 100% municipal renewable energy by 2035, a municipal fleet fully electric by 2035 and a long-term goal of 100% locally sourced renewables for homes and businesses by 2050. Committee members described the targets as goals rather than mandates and raised practical concerns including equipment capability for heavy plow and maintenance vehicles and capital costs for municipal conversions.
Staff also described a purchase-power adjustment clause under review that would allow the borough to adjust rates on a billing-cycle basis to reflect wholesale power-market fluctuations; that language will be cleaned up and presented with the rate resolution to full council.
Operationally, the electric department reported that crews installed approximately 2,000 new electric meters in the last four months, exhausting on-hand stock and triggering reorders. Staff said contractors knock on doors and provide notice before meter changes and that many meters can be changed without an outage using bypass-equipped sockets.
Committee members thanked department staff for completing work on pole replacements and substation projects and said the Ninth Street substation work is next. No formal full-council vote on rates occurred at the work session; the rate resolution and any purchase-power clause will be brought to full council for action.
