Lake Worth Utilities and a new energy provider

Back on June 18, 2002, the now Vice Mayor and the then Commissioner, Scott Maxwell, made a motion to adopt the Resolution that took effect immediately for FMPA to be our power provider. The entire Commission voted to accept FMPA:  Mayor Rodney Romano, Vice Mayor Colburn McKinnon and commissioners Gary Bo Allen and Joe Egly.  As this turned out, it was one big mistake and some of the people who backed this commission are the biggest complainers about the high cost of our electricity today.

The site lease with FMPA gave them the right to build new and more efficient quick start units at our site to improve generation reliability. They also were to pay for our natural gas supplier, Florida Public Utilities, for the gas line supplying fuel to our plants. They did this up and until we gave them notice to exit. These unpaid costs are now in a legal dispute. The site lease was signed by Robert Baldwin, Interim City manager and four other top executives of the City.

In December 2008, the City of Lake Worth gave FMPA notice to exit FMPA's All Requirements. By the end of 2013, we will be out of their clutches and have a new energy provider.

Last night's special commission meeting lasted about one half hour with the commission agreeing to go forward with the evaluation of seven of the bids that were submitted from various energy providers. The US Solar bid will be evaluated separately. Hopefully, by the end of 2013, we will start to have a substantial savings realized by contracting with another company.