Archive for March, 2009
Facts Indicate Smart Meter Approval Process Avoided Public “Contact”
The process that resulted in the approval of the $40 million smart meter program avoided “contact” with the citizens of Tallahassee at a number of critical junctures along the path to approval.
A public data request by Tallahassee Reports has verified the following:
- The smart meter committee, organized in 2005 to evaluate the potential use of smart meters, was staffed with only city officials.
8 Comments Tags: city commission, smart meters, Tallahassee, Tallahassee Democrat
It Is Time For The City Of Tallahassee To Take Action On Electric Rates
It is time for the City Commission to take concrete steps towards addressing the high electric rates the people of Tallahassee are faced with year after year.
TallahasseeReports.com has researched and addressed the failure of the City Commission to deal with transmission line problems that plague our connection with Progress Energy and deprives the City of Tallahassee the ability to import and export power for our economic benefit.
Here is a possible course of action to address this problem:
3 Comments Tags: city commission, Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes, FPSC, Governor Crist, Mayor Marks, Progress Energy, Tallahassee, transmission lines
City Officials Knew Conservation Programs Would Increase Electric Rates
The City of Tallahassee recently ignored a cost effectiveness analysis which indicated that all 191 proposed measures to save electricity through conservation would increase electric rates.
Instead of relying on the analysis as a guide, the City Commission voted to ignore the results and approve an alternative methodology that would allow the City to move forward with conservation programs.
5 Comments Tags: city commission, costs, FPSC, going green, Tallahassee, utilities
Is the Tallahassee Democrat Becoming Irresponsible?
On Thursday, March 12, 2009, a front page article featured a picture of Jack Diestelhorst, the founder and co-owner of Notary Public Underwriters in Tallahassee, Florida standing on the roof of his office building next to a 25-kilowatt solar system.
The Democrat caption boldly states ” the rooftop solar system is projected to cut firm’s annual power bill by $5,000.” The news article had no information on the cost of system.
Here is what was omitted:
5 Comments Tags: going green, Notary Public Underwriters, solar panels, Tallahassee, Tallahassee Democrat
What is the Financial Impact of Smart Meters?
In government, and in business, often times the decision to move forward with spending and investing large sums of money is based on a cost effectiveness or return on investment analysis. If the analysis shows that an investment of $1.00 will yield $1.5 in return, the policy or action is deemed to be cost effective and therefore, a good investment.
6 Comments Tags: Honeywell, smart meters, Tallahassee, utilities
Commissioner Katz Addresses Tallahassee Charter Review Committee
The Tallahassee Charter Review Committee (CRC) held its sixth meeting today at City Hall with presentations made by City Commissioner Allan Katz and Bill Roberts of the Florida Airports Council.
Mr. Katz’s presentation centered around preparing Tallahassee for the next 5-10 years. It was clear in his comments that he does not believe that the current structure of government provides the best opportunities for Tallahassee moving forward.
No Comments Tags: Airports Council, Allan Katz, Bill Roberts, Charter Review Committee, city commission, Tallahassee, utilities
Is It Time For A Tallahassee Utility Board?
The Tallahassee Charter Review Committee has been meeting over the last two months with the charge of reviewing possible changes to the Tallahassee City Charter.
Among the issues that have been discussed is a separate regulatory board for the utility functions of the city.
After five months of research, including dozens of interviews with city employees and Tallahassee citizens, the facts seem to indicate that it is time to consider a separate utility authority.
20 Comments Tags: Charter Review Committee, city charter, costs, EPER, FPSC, Progress Energy, Tallahassee, transmission lines, utilities
Tallahassee Charter Review Committee Begins Staking Out Positions
Like a bear cub trying to determine what to do with the porcupine he has cornered, the Tallahassee Charter Review Committee continued to tiptoe around the major issues until the final 45 minutes of their 5th meeting today when the positions of the committee members were revealed.
The issue that garnished the most attention was the role of the Mayor – should it be strong or weak. Most members favored the current leadership Mayor to one with more political power.
On the issue of consolidation, most members argued for “functional” consolidation, but no one seemed ready to make a strong argument for full consolidation.
2 Comments Tags: Charter Review Committee, city commission, Tallahassee, utilities
