The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month. Meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and are held in the department conference room at 65 Lafayette Ave, Littleton. Board meetings are open to the public and time is allotted for public comments at each meeting.
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The regularly scheduled business meeting of the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) Board of Commissioners (BOC) began at 1:00 p.m. on Monday,
February 7, 2022 in the LWL conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Linda MacNeil, Director of Finance Lori Hogan, and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the January 18, 2022 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Ross made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. The list that annotated the community service projects completed by LWL forces in 2021 was reviewed and discussed with the BOC. The total financial support provided by LWL to the surrounding community was more than $143,000. These services were provided to local, state, and community organizations. This information is provided to the American Public Power Association annually as community support and/or payment in lieu of taxes in addition to the property taxes LWL pays the Town of Bethlehem. Note: community support is defined as services render by LWL that do not directly support or enhance LWL mission.
2. LWL agreed to participating in a work mentorship program through a partnership between White Mountain Community Technical College’s Impact Academy and the NH Department of Labor. For the next fourteen (14) weeks a local high school student that expressed an interest in the electrical and plumbing trades will be at the LWL. This student will shadow LWL employees alternating between the water and electric division for about three (3) hours a week beginning Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
GENERAL/OTHER BUSINESS:
1. Water Tariff - The financial impact to LWL customers due to the pending water rate increase was reviewed and discussed with the BOC. It was recommended and discussed during budget hearing though no action was taken at that time. About a nine (9) percent increase in water revenues is needed to offset significant increases in projected operating expenses in 2022.
The water rate being proposed will increase the current rate by 18 cents/ 100 CF or about six (6) percent while the customer service charge will increase proportionally to the water meter size/diameter. The net impact to the overall rate of about nine (9) percent on average. The recommended rate increase is anticipated to deliver about an eight (8) percent margin for LWL water operations providing nothing changes. The calculated financial impact for each group was based on the following design assumptions: 1) the average consumption of each user group, and 2) projected increase in expenses were applied equally to the base meter customer service charge (base on the diameter of the customers water meter) and water rate.
For example, a residential class water customer (single family home/apartments) average monthly water consumption is about 3,700 gallons through a 5/8-inch diameter meter. This would produce an increase in cost of about $2/month/customer and will vary slightly if the customer’s consumption is above or below the group average.
It is recommended that the implementation/timing of the rate adjustment coincided with the electric rate adjustment with a tentative date of April 1, 2022. Public information notice will provide customers the opportunity for input and comment a month prior to the proposed implementation date.
The total impact to the typical residential water and electric customer regarding both the approved water and electric tariff increases is about $12/ month as compared to present rate.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to approve a nine (9) percent water tariff adjustment as discussed with a tentative date of implementation on April 1, 2022. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
2. Power supply expenses for January 2022 were reviewed and discussed with the BOC. The final data is not available at this time thought the average spot market closing price per MW for January 2022 closed on average almost four (4) time higher than 2021 at $160. This will likely have a negative impact on LWL electric division operating activities for January as compared to budget.
MEETING ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the board Commissioner Cooper made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 1:47 p.m.
The regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting is held twice monthly on the first and third Monday, at 1:00 p.m., in the Department’s conference room.