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Lyons moves toward time‑of‑use pricing, meter upgrades and planning for undergrounding
Summary
Utility staff briefed trustees on electric-system topics: a time‑of‑use pricing pilot intended to be revenue‑neutral, upgrades to billing and metering, the limited near‑term benefit of rooftop solar at peak hours, and tradeoffs for undergrounding lines and annexation factors.
Trustees received a multifaceted update on the town’s electric system and potential rate changes. Utility staff and UEB members described a planned time‑of‑use (TOU) pricing program that targets peak hours (roughly 5–8 p.m.) to better match local demand and wholesale cost signals. Staff said the program is intended to be revenue‑neutral overall; lower off‑peak rates would be offset by higher peak rates, with a transition and education period before full implementation.
Staff explained that bill‑processing software and meter upgrades are nearly in place; once customers can see usage by hour, the town will run a grace period so users can adjust behavior. Trustees and business liaisons raised equity concerns for residents or firms unable to shift consumption; staff said some customers will benefit while a few might pay more, but the program’s goal is to reduce system costs and encourage investment in batteries or efficiency measures.
On distribution infrastructure, staff discussed opportunities and limits tied to annexation and developer contributions. Undergrounding isolated line segments is feasible in some areas but costly when property owners must replace private service lines; staff said options include fronting the cost and recouping it over time through rates or targeted assessments. The board asked staff to circulate prior UEB studies and to continue outreach on dark‑sky and dimmable LED streetlight choices.
Staff also noted regional shifts in wholesale markets (MEAN and recent move to Southwest Power Pool) and the need to monitor how changing regional supply affects local billing and peak costs. Trustees asked for UEB studies to be redistributed and for scenario planning to accompany community outreach before any rate changes.
