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Baldwin City directs solar rebate proceeds into electric reserve fund
Summary
Council directed staff to deposit proceeds from the sale of the city’s solar asset known as the "Rex" into the electric reserve fund, saying the money — estimated at roughly $30,000 — should help blunt an upcoming utility rate increase.
Baldwin City council voted to direct staff to deposit proceeds from the sale of the city’s solar asset known in the discussion as the “Rex” into the electric reserve fund.
Speaker 2 moved that the council “direct staff to move any or recs received for the rebates for the solar to the electric reserve fund, immediate starting immediately and and going forward,” which was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair called for the ayes and declared the motion passed.
Council members debated whether to issue a one-time credit to customer bills or place the funds into a city utility account. Participants noted the amount discussed — “roughly $30,000” — and said the reserve fund would better serve to reduce pressure on future rate increases. Speaker 1 said the money “probably” belongs in the electric reserve because the council will need funds to minimize a rate hike under consideration at an upcoming meeting.
The motion did not include an exact accounting plan beyond the deposit direction; council instructed staff to make the deposit into the electric reserve (also referenced in the discussion as the electric fund or electric general/reserve). The council took the action by a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: council flagged an upcoming meeting on utility rates where the reserve funds are expected to be part of the discussion.
