During their monthly meeting Tuesday, commissioners on the Yazoo City Public Service Commission (YCPSC) questioned why there has been less electricity sold this year compared with last year's sales.
In her financial report, Brenda Haralson, YCPSC's manager of finance, reported that sales of electricity for the first six months of FY2016 were down approximately $315,000 compared to FY 2015. Last month's electricity sales figures tumbled some $95,000 on residential and commercial accounts.
Commissioner Edna Rogers asked, “Are people moving out? What's happening?”
YCPSC Manager Jimmy Wever said the weather was to blame for the low electricity sales this fiscal year.
“I think it's the weather,” Wever said. “We just didn't have any heating season. That usually gets us through the December, January and February months.”
“We really had a totally mild winter,” Commission Chairman Dr. William Nelson responded. “I think there were a couple of days with freezing weather, but no bad weather at all.”
Haralson reported that the average electricity bill in March was $125.61 compared to $142.96 last March.
Following her report, the commissioners approved a bad debt write off of $8,963.63 for December's disconnects. She also said the utility has had “much more success” at collecting bad debts, with almost $3,600 being the average bad debt amount collected each month this year.
In other YCPSC business, the commissioners:
• Authorized the purchase of two new trucks under state contract, including a 2016 Dodge 2500 4X4 at a cost of $26,190, and a 2016 Dodge 1500 at a cost of $18,190.
• Authorized the purchase of a 2007 Ford F750 with a 15-ton crane from United Rentals at a cost of $50,000.
• Authorized the purchase of a Weld Test De-Aerator for the boiler steam system from Vanguard Field Services at a cost of $27,900.
• Authorized hiring nine summer employees to replace the loss of inmate labor from the Community Work Center, which recently closed. Most of the summer employees will be used on the electric crew.
• Entered into discussion of the Energy Cost Adjustment (ECA). At Wever's recommendation, there was no change made to the ECA.
• Heard Wayne Morrison, YCPSC's engineer, tell of the new Walmart, which is to be built near the Willie Morris Parkway. At 127,000 square feet, the store will be “medium size, the same size as the Canton store.” It will contain a pharmacy, a tire store, a home and garden section, a Subway and six fuel pumps. Construction of the Walmart will be completed by the end of the year or in January of 2017. Clark Construction of McComb will be the contractor.
• Entered into discussion of the American Public Power Association Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. June 10-15.
