Chipley Kiwanis Club Weekly Luncheon - Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Contributed by Steve Mason, Kiwanis Club Publicity Committee

Kiwanis hears from Gulf Power Company  

On Tuesday, March 2, the Chipley Kiwanis Club heard from Darrin Wall, Gulf Power Manager for Holmes, Washington and Jackson counties.  Wall discussed power issues related to the current cold weather local residents are experiencing.  Power usage has spiked during the cold weather for electricity and gas.  There was a particularly cold period during the first two weeks of January.  Gulf Power doesn’t want to turn anyone’s electricity off and took steps in recent months to temporarily soften collection efforts because people on fixed incomes may be having financial difficulties due to the harsh weather.

Gulf Power’s rates have risen only 1.8% in the last year due to environmental regulations.  A new state of the art Flue Gas Desulfurization system was installed at Plant Crist in Pensacola, and came online in December 2009.  The new “scrubber” is designed to reduce regulated emissions by an additional 95%.  Gulf Power will also offer more energy conservation programs this year. 

The major problem in January was increased energy usage, 36% more than January 2009.  Home heating systems in this area of the country are not typically sized for the low temperatures experienced in January.

Several local agencies can temporarily assist area residents with utility payments.  Tri-County Community Council can assist people with their electricity bill through the LIHEAP program and received increased funding this year.  Love-in-Action and Catholic Charities are two other organizations who can help.  Gulf Power also has Project Share which provides funds to the Salvation Army to assist people with utility costs.  Energy audits also assist in energy conservation, and there are tax incentives available for energy conservation through the end of 2010.

Gulf Power Company has not had a base rate increase since 2002, and it was the only such increase since 1989.  Fuel and environmental costs have impacted electricity rates in recent years.  These costs are straight pass-through expenses.  The Florida Public Service Commission does not allow investor-owned utilities, like Gulf Power, to make a profit on such items. 

The Kiwanis Club of Chipley is in its 69th year of providing support to youth oriented events and programs and last year supported 36 organizations throughout the county.