Reading Municipal Light Department Board Grapples with Ownership and Reliability Challenges

The Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Board’s recent meeting was dominated by discussions on the ownership of the Killum building, with a focus on its potential use as an emergency shelter. The board explored complex ownership dynamics and ongoing efforts to enhance the town’s power reliability, alongside various infrastructure and operational updates, including the procurement of substation equipment and the expansion of customer programs.

0:00A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to evaluating the future ownership of the Killum building, with considerations weighing between town ownership and RMLD ownership. This decision carries implications for the building’s energy requirements and maintenance responsibilities. The board deliberated over five ventilation scenarios—four electric and one fossil fuel-powered—with a consensus still to be reached on a comprehensive cost proposal. These discussions also included whether the building would serve as an emergency shelter, necessitating independent power sources and potentially backup battery storage. The board underscored the importance of collaboration between the school building committee’s chair and RMLD for detailed power requirement discussions, highlighting the technical specifications and capacity of the electrical load needed for the facility.

The dialogue addressed the ownership of transformers and maintenance responsibilities. Comparisons to other towns suggested potential complications if the town retained ownership. Additionally, insights from a recent conference regarding geothermal energy systems prompted a debate on the advisability of placing geothermal wells under buildings due to possible structural and maintenance issues. This underscored a cautious approach to geothermal placement, only considering it when necessary.

18:53Reliability and vegetation management were focal points, with the board addressing the high outage rates caused by trees and wildlife, accounting for nearly 60% of issues. The board emphasized the need for an annual vegetation management plan, particularly in Reading, to mitigate these outages. The use of insulated tap wire, squirrel guards, and spacer cables was discussed as methods to reduce wildlife interference. Efforts to enhance infrastructure included pole inspections, transformer replacements, and the installation of squirrel guards, all aimed at maintaining reliable service.

The board also discussed the challenges of undergrounding utilities, acknowledging the high costs and complications involved, thus deciding to maintain an overhead system for the foreseeable future. This decision was bolstered by the utility’s strong reliability metrics, crucial for the uninterrupted operation of schools and businesses. Operational needs were addressed with the procurement of a new truck to replace aging fleet vehicles, and the board debated the merits of trading in vehicles versus auctioning them off.

A significant contract was awarded to Dagel Electrical Construction Corp. for on-call electrical maintenance and repair services, with discussions focusing on the low bid amount and the company’s ability to fulfill contractual obligations. The board noted Dagel’s history of successful work with the department, accounting for their competitive pricing.

35:38The meeting also covered the procurement of equipment for the substation SE, with a $2,010,695 bid for a sub equipment pack higher than the initial budget, due to rising breaker costs. This procurement was classified as a “cash event” for fiscal year 2025, despite being budgeted for the previous year. The status of substation construction was reviewed, emphasizing past investments that have extended the life of station five transformers.

Organizational updates were provided with the restructuring of the IRD team nearly complete, and new customer programs like the ‘Drive Electric’ initiative and a connected homes program were introduced. These programs focus on managing peak energy usage and providing rebates for electrical system upgrades. Concerns arose regarding the control mechanisms of these systems, emphasizing customer consent and the physical constraints of existing service panels.

1:06:50The Renewable Choice program was discussed, noting increased participation but questioning its future value given the administrative costs and small participant base. A $15 bill credit was announced for residential rate classes, with additional credits for higher participation levels. The need for improved communication strategies to increase participation was highlighted, alongside suggestions for restructuring the program.

Lastly, the board addressed changes to its input on the Town of Reading’s Home Rule Committee, expressing concerns about potential liability issues and the importance of understanding legal implications. A review session with attorneys was recommended, along with engaging the Town Council for their perspective.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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