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Richmond Power & Light board awards $188,500 bid, approves 2026 budget, employee COLA and ECA rates
Summary
The Richmond Power & Light board awarded a $188,500 bid for a directional drill, approved the 2026 operating and capital budgets, adopted a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for P&L employees, and approved modest ECA rate adjustments for 2026.
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Richmond Power & Light (RP&L) board approved several operational actions, including awarding equipment procurement, adopting the 2026 budget, approving employee compensation adjustments and setting ECA (wholesale power) rates for the coming year.
General Manager Tony (first identified at the RP&L meeting) recommended awarding a bid for a new horizontal directional drill to Ditch Witch for $188,500 after trade. Tony said the lower bid from Vermeer did not meet the utility’s specifications — notably drill pipe diameter and engine horsepower — and would have required replacing existing drill pipe at several thousand dollars, so staff recommended the Ditch Witch bid. The board moved, seconded and approved the award by voice vote.
The board then reviewed and approved the proposed 2026 operating and capital budgets. Tony summarized assumptions including projected kilowatt‑hour sales and ongoing capital projects (AMI meter project completion, inner‑tie transformer deliveries in 2026–27), and staff said operating expenses incorporated a modest status‑quo approach with an assumed 3% cost‑of‑living raise for employees. The board voted unanimously to approve the budgets as presented.
RP&L also adopted Resolution No. 4, reflecting a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for P&L employees; a roll‑call vote recorded all board members in favor. The board approved quarterly ECA adjustments for first quarter 2026 — a modest average increase (presented as about 0.001501¢/kWh average across classes and roughly 0.002868¢/kWh for residential) — and approved the ECA rates by motion.
Other items: the board recognized three journeyman linemen who completed apprenticeship requirements. Staff noted a lingering CCR project pending IDEM approval and said they will update the board as federal or state actions evolve.
Next steps: awarded equipment will be procured per contract terms; staff will implement budget and rate changes and schedule follow‑ups on the AMI and CCR projects.
