Ellinwood's electric rates set to increase

Michael Gilmore, Great Bend Tribune, Kan.
·4 min read

Apr. 11—Ellinwood City Council meeting at a glance

Here is a brief look at what the Ellinwood City Council did Tuesday evening:

—Sealed bids were opened Tuesday and reviewed on the sale of the city's 2006 Chevrolet pickup formerly used at the wastewater treatment plant. Of the eight bids received, the council awarded the truck to a bid of $3,076.

—Heard from Scott Anderson representing the Ellinwood Small Business Roundtable group to present information about the group and its objectives. Anderson informed the council that the group was not intended to compete with the function or activities of the Ellinwood Chamber and has applied for 501(c)6 non-profit status.

—Approved Kyle Nemnich for mayoral appointment to the Ellinwood Recreation Commission board, to succeed Cari Ringwald, whose appointment expires July 1.

—Granted application for a cereal malt beverage license to 10-39 Cafe in Ellinwood.

—Approved city funding in the amount of $5,000 plus insurance costs for the annual community fireworks show slated for July 4. Donations received will be applied to any additional show expenses.

—Approved a bid of $15,288 from Ramirez Construction for remaining concrete work at the Wolf Park bandshell.

—After discussion, approved city staff recommendation on the painting schedule for the city water tower.

—After discussion, approved the purchase of a 2024 GMC pickup with utility bed from Marmie Motors in Great Bend for the city electric department in the amount of $69,986.50. The measure passed 3-1, with Councilman Jon Prescott opposed.

—Approved Resolution 2024-3 establishing new rates and charges for electrical services to city electrical customers. The effective date is set as April 30, with the issuance of that month's utility bills.

—Heard a staff report from City Administrator Chris Komarek.

—Recessed into executive session for discussion of property acquisition. No action was taken.

—Recessed into executive session for matters deemed privileged in attorney-client relationship. No action was taken.

ELLINWOOD — The cost of doing business was a prevailing theme in several items of a packed agenda for the Ellinwood City Council Tuesday evening.

While the council debated equipment sales, purchases, facility improvements and future events, the main portion was spent on final approval of electric rate adjustments in the meeting's 2-1/2 hours.

Resolution 2024-3 received unanimous approval from members present following a detailed walkthrough by City Administrator Chris Komarek. The resolution, in its final form, is the result of several months of discussion, consultation and revision as the final sector in the council's mission to make a comprehensive upgrade to the city's utility sectors.

Komarek began his review walkthrough by noting that in not pursuing a rate review since it was last done in 1998, the city's revenues have not been able to keep pace with the rising cost of products and services the city requires to operate.

"This was something that we had talked about, but never done," Komarek said. "In the last 25 years, even since COVID-19, the cost of doing business has gone up all around us. It has to be done now, because it wasn't done back then; I'm sorry. The last two years have been brutal; we're in the hole about $180,000 from where we should have been."

The new ordinance abandons or amends past rate structures in favor of two rate schedules: one for residential service and one for commercial service.

Effective April 30, the monthly service charge for residential service for one meter is $14.50 per month, an estimated increase of about $10, Komarek said. The rate per kilowatt hour for all residential meters with be 16 cents per kWh.

The monthly service charge for commercial service for one meter is $20 per month. For commercial customers, the rate for the first 1,000 kWh used per billing period will be 16 cents per kWh. Above 1,000 kWh, the rate will be 14.5 cents per kWh.

Rates will increase by $3 per month annually on Jan. 1 for the next three years. The kWh charge will increase by $0.0025 each year over the same time period.

Komarek noted that the ordinance, which explains how services are determined, rates and the computation of the power cost adjustment would be available to utility customers in the city's newsletter as well as online with city codes, with an explanation also included in the May utility bills.