Title
Updates to Lighting Program within the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 and Appendix A (B)
**This item was presented to the UAB on 4/15/22 and their recommendation is listed below the staff recommendation.**
Explanation
In accordance with standard practices, Gainesville Regional Utilities Energy Delivery Department reviews lighting and pole rates and related standards annually. Pole rates have remained unchanged for 14 years. In FY2020, Energy Delivery requested and the City Commission approved lighting rate increases in addition to correcting the pole rates closer to cost of service. Due to customer inquiries and direction from leadership, Energy Delivery requested and received Commission approval to roll the FY2020 rates back to FY2019 rates with a commitment to review the internal processes (Ordinance 190514) and follow up with the City Commission when complete. In August 2021, GRU initiated discussions but postponed due to Covid-19 priorities. Staff would like to present the results of this review.
Fiscal Note
Combining the Rental Pole, Public Pole, Rental Light, and Public Light programs will yield approximately $119,162 per month of additional revenue. These rates are being brought in line with cost of service.
Recommendation:
The City Commission 1) receive a presentation from staff; and 2) authorize the City Attorney to draft and the City Clerk to advertise revisions to Chapter 27 and Appendix A of the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances for an anticipated October 1, 2022 effective date.
The UAB voted unanimously to advise the City Commission to approve the staff recommendation with the following amendment: 1) ask staff to do a comparison of light and pole rates to other utilities; 2) ask staff to present some real case information of how the new rates will affect a few different entities (e.g., a large commercial customer, a small commercial customer, a government entity); and 3) ask staff to do a breakdown of the methodology used to calculate the new rates and explain it in detail.