Berea KFTC members see pay-off in utility rate work: KFTC member named to new advisory board.

Madison County KFTC members, along with allies from Kentucky Environmental Foundation, the Kentucky Sierra Club and Sustainable Berea, recently celebrated a victory in their work to help shape the outcome of a local utility rate restructuring.  Over the summer the Berea City Council proposed to restructure the rates of the city-owned electric and water utility in a way that concerned KFTC members.  KFTC members wanted to ensure that the utility rates addressed conservation and efficiency and wouldn’t unduly burden low-income residents of Berea.  

Dozens of Madison County KFTC members organized into action over the summer by testifying at several city council hearings, meeting individually with eight of the nine city council members, and contributing alternative proposals (as pictured in this blog entry)

One of the changes sought by KFTC members called for the creation of a new citizen utility advisory board that could provide advice and expertise to the city council.

Madison County KFTC members are celebrating a victory in our work this month when the city council accepted a revised version of the utility rate restructuring that addressed most of members concerns.  

In addition, the members of a new citizen-led Berea Utility Advisory Board have just been announced – which includes KFTC Vice-Chair Steve Boyce, a Berea resident who helped lead KFTC efforts on this issue.

Some of the areas that this new board has been commissioned to work on include:
1. Whether utility rates are appropriately structured;
2. Whether Berea should engage in a demand side management program to promote conservation;
3. Whether Berea Municipal Utilities should encourage use of alternative forms of energy;

Thanks to all of the Madison County members who worked on this issue.  Help us celebrate this victory and more at the Madison County Fall Friendraiser on Friday, October 24th at 6 p.m. at Union Church in Berea.  Also, the next meeting of the Madison County Energy Workteam will be on November 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Madison County library.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.