WILMINGTON, MA — At last week’s Wilmington Board of Selectmen Meeting, Reading Municipal Light Department General Manager Coleen O’Brien announced that the average Wilmington ratepayer can anticipate a 7%-9% increase in electricity rate costs beginning in July 1, 2016. (By comparison, this fiscal year’s increase was approximately 3%.)
The increase is due, in large part, to the construction of a $600 million gas-fired power plant by Footprint Power, replacing an outdated, coal-fired Salem Harbor power plant. The cost of the project is being rolled into the rates of all electricity users, not just RMLD customers, in Northeast Massachusetts region.
“Of the 7% to 9% anticipated increase, less than 2% is from an operational increase. The rest is due to [plant replacements],” explained O’Brien.
“The message I’m getting is that RMLD has certain costs for doing business, so you’re encouraging the ratepayers to be more efficient, to drive down that cost, which – in the end – helps offset the increase that is beyond RMLD’s control,” said Selectman Mike Newhouse to an agreeing O’Brien.
“RMLD pays capacity based on our annual summer peak,” explained O’Brien. “We’re tailoring all our programs to minimize that peak, so we can lower it, which factors into how much capacity as a utility we’ll have to go out and procure for that following capacity year.”
Efficiency and peak reduction measures that O’Brien briefly discussed included: Commercial Energy Initative Program (CEIP); Commercial Lighting Rebate Program (CLRP); Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate Program; Peak Demand Reduction Program; Residential Appliance Rebates; Residential RMLD Online Store (LED Bulbs); and Residential Energy Audits.
O’Brien noted that by simply replacing all the light bulbs in your house with LED light bulbs, a RMLD ratepayer can save hundreds of dollars annually.
O’Brien made a 45-minute presentation to the board, highlighting many of RMLD’s accomplishments for the year, as outlined in their 2015 annual report, which can be read HERE.
In 2015, RMLD conducted several infrastructure improvements in Wilmington, including:
- Reconductored 250 circuit feet of underground cable
- Approximately 1,200 feet of primary underground and two padmount
transformers were installed on Quail Run - Approximately 250 feet of primary and 600 feet of secondary cable
were installed on Muse Avenue and Cross Street. - Installed 83 LED streetlights
- Replaced 29 poles, transferred five primary circuits, secondary cable,
streetlights, and services on Lowell Street between West and Woburn
Streets. - Notable examples of new service additions or upgrades: Kirkwood Printing – 904 Main Street, Commercial Building – 110 Eames Street, Burlington Self Storage – 114 West Street, ConforMIS – 600 Research Drive, Dunkin’ Donuts – 206 Ballardvale Street.
O’Brien noted that RMLD will be building a substation in the Ballardvale Street in 2016 to improve service in that area.
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