This Webmaster's First "Participation" in City Government Feels Awesome

When I found out this month that Lincoln Electric Systems had proposed a 2.9% rate increase, I read some facts, and decided that I supported the increase.

Like a lot of people, the threat of an increase made me angry last winter. We were in the throes of one of the toughest inflation hikes on fuel, a recession, and it was the dead of winter. But LES took their problems as their own, opened up their budget to the board, and found a way to make cuts internally--avoiding increases on citizens and businesses on the edge of ruin.

What caused that threat of an increase? Ice storms. When so much of the state lost power last winter, it set LES's rate stabilization fund back quite a bit. So this year, they are going to need to plan ahead.

But LES had also prepared to renew funds from their highly successful 2009 Sustainable Energy Program--by doubling the budget! The program was SO successful last year that I missed the offer to upgrade to an energy-efficient heat-pump. I just couldn't pull the trigger. I thought if I saved up for just a little bit longer, I could get brave and do it. But the rebates, offered on a first-come-first-served basis, were depleted by May.

I'm the perfect candidate, too. I bought my old house because I knew I could improve on it in exactly this realm--energy savings. It has ductwork for the furnace, but window air conditioners. I wouldn't even need the usual external air conditioner. I could take my furnace off of gas, get a MUCH smaller one, fit it with a heat pump, and save 50% of my total energy bill.

I know this because the Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities sponsored some documentary work on a few projects around town, and I offered my house to be audited by LES this past August. The cool part is that we checked all of my electric and gas figures against a specific model of an electric heat pump/furnace system to discover that figure. 50% off of my bills over the year will go RIGHT back into those local businesses that I have had to cut back on: coffee, restaurants, and golf.

I decided to testify at City Council--seeing as I was the perfect candidate.

And I had something written out to say. Until I heard Coby Mach from the Lincoln Independent Business Association speak.

He specifically asked the City Council to postpone the Sustainable Energy Program to find the funds to stop any increase in rates for the businesses around town.

Now I'm no business woman, and boy, did I know it by the time I waited out two business lawyers to speak. Both of them threatened that it could mean more job cuts for businesses already struggling. One business claimed the rate would increase their electric bill to $60,0000! And I felt like not even trying--except that I knew that businesses like Meadowlark Coffee, Cultiva, Indigo Bridge Books, Bread and Cup, Lazlo's, and so many others would rather cut off their left arms than drop jobs for their employees when they could find a way to save electricity first.

So I made my case to the City Council. And so did several other individuals (the only person who's name I remember, though, is Mitch Paine, who spoke really well). You can see these testimonies in the second half of this:
Lincoln City Council Meeting 11-2-2009 - Part 2

I wrote to each council member by email. Once a day at the least. Sometimes I wrote two emails to members.

And they all wrote back to me! explaining that they were going to try to find a way to meet with LES board members to see what they could pass. They thanked me for my input, showed concern that people thought they would cut the SEP funds, even if they DID have the authority to do it. And they encouraged me to watch online today as they voted.

What I expected was a majority "no" to the rate increase that would send the budget back to LES, and send LES's Board, well, back to the drawing board. And that LES would have to come back with something after the holidays to re-propose.

But that's not what happened. AT ALL.

It turns out City Council can AMEND, agree, then approve an item. So that's what happened.

And I expected them to want to slash the increase in half. At the least. You know, some sort of compromise where nobody wins but not everyone loses.

But the City Council unanimously voted to amend LES's proposal to decrease the rate from 2.9% to 2.5%. Then, the rate was approved. And although City Council does not legally have the right to tell Lincoln Electric Systems HOW to spend that increase, each and every one of them took the opportunity to speak to the fact that they didn't really want the doubled Sustainable Energy Program funds touched.

Think I'm kidding? Download the Real Player and watch. And don't complain about the Real Player, because it will help you feel involved for many council meetings to come:

11-16-2009

And I hope that you will take a moment to write to your council member on the issue:

http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/council/members.htm

But whether you are a business or a home owner, you should take advantage of the incentives that LES is prepared to offer. It is the humble opinion of this webmaster that this is one of the few opportunities where we all win.