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Quarterly utilities dashboard: Weatherford holds retail electric rate at 13¢/kWh; reliability metrics compare favorably
Summary
Director Joe Farley reported the city's retail electric rate at 13¢/kWh (unchanged about 40 months), system average interruption metrics below state averages, 10 outages from a recent storm affecting 179 customers, and water nonrevenue loss trending down to just over 11% with steps in place to reach a ~10% goal.
Joe Farley, director of electric utilities, presented the quarterly dashboard covering electric rates, system reliability, outage causes and water/wastewater cost-of-service measures.
Farley reported Weatherford's retail electric rate at 13¢ per kilowatt-hour and noted that rate has been stable for approximately 40 months. He summarized reliability metrics: a system-average annual outage expectation around 35 minutes and non-storm outage averages lower; for the recent storm there were 10 outages affecting 179 customers and crews restored power (on average) within about 100 minutes. Farley broke down causes of outages (roughly 40% weather, 30% equipment failure, 14% wildlife, 4% trees, 1% unknown) and said the utility focuses on maintenance (pole inspections, a three‑year trimming cycle, pad‑mount inspections) to manage reliability.
On water metrics, Rick Schafer highlighted cost-of-service numbers and nonrevenue water (leakage). He said the rolling average nonrevenue-water loss has declined to "just over 11%" after hiring a satellite leak‑detection consultant and tightening flushing/preventative work; staff reiterated a goal to reach approximately 10% nonrevenue water.
Board members asked detailed questions about causes of failures, transformer lifecycles and whether replacing equipment proactively would materially affect reliability; staff said targeted maintenance and operations choices are the most cost‑effective levers given current low outage rates.
The presentation concluded with thanks to crews and acknowledgement that staffing and on‑site standby (during storms) help maintain rapid response.
