FY2002 was a very busy year for your Light Department (PMLD). PMLD continued to upgrade its electrical distribution system, installed and connected electric services for new customers, developed and approved the wind farm project, and operated under tight financial control. PMLD thanks all of its customers for their continuing support of public power. PMLD is a non-profit public service corporation, whose primary goal is to provide reliable and low cost electric service to the residents and businesses of the Town of
By the end of 2002, PMLD provided service to 1352 residential, 3 Farm, 98 commercial, and 14 municipal customers. Almost 90% of our customer base is residential customers. Customers consumed approximately 15 million kWh in energy in 2002, and the average home used approximately 780 kWh per month.
Besides providing low cost and reliable energy, PMLD performs many other services for the Town and our customers.
· Discounted the cost of Town owned streetlights by approximately 17% or $1,500
· Installed the annual Christmas tree, Town Common lights and other banners and signs
· Included periodic flyers from the Town Hall and Library with our monthly bills to save postage and handling costs
· Sponsored electrical safety classes for our children at the
· Supported students requesting help for Science fair projects related to electricity and power generation
· Participated in the Community Reading day at
· Provided storage and meeting space for the
· Installed approximately 30 new home electric services in FY2002
· Offered new energy efficient electric hot water heaters
· Sponsored Town wide battery and lamp collection and disposal program
· Managed Wachusett Earth-day household waste pick-up and collections
Rates
PMLD continues to have lower rates as compared to Investor Owned Utilities (IOU) and our neighboring municipalities. The average home in
Over the past 18 years, PMLD has had only four rate increases. This represents an average rate increase of only 2.7% per year, less than the average annual rate of inflation! PMLD’s number one priority is to maintain the lowest possible rates while providing the most reliable electric service.
PMLD’s commitment to protecting the environment and purchasing renewable energy continued through FY2002. Purchasing renewable, "green" energy makes a difference in our community. In FY2002 PMLD purchased approximately 17% of its energy from various hydroelectric power plants. Our sources of hydroelectric power come from four small-scale hydroelectric plants in
The Richard Wheeler Wind Farm, owned, operated, and maintained by PMLD, generated approximately .5% of the Town energy in FY2002. This year's wind generation was lower than the average 1% due to work at the site in preparation for the new wind turbines. Even though the power plant is 18 years old, the 40KW wind machines continue to provide renewable energy to the PMLD community.
The remaining 82.5% of our energy comes from various sources such as oil, coal, nuclear, and natural gas. Our competent planning and financially sound power contracts allow us to accurately forecast energy costs into 2008 and beyond. These are also the driving factors that keep our electricity rates as low and predictable as possible.
PMLD will continue to upgrade its electrical distribution system, perform preventative maintenance, and explore new services in 2003. Please come by the Light Department and let us know how we are doing. Thank you again for continuing to support PMLD.
Respectfully Submitted,
General Manager
Board of Light Commissioners:
Bradford Hubbard, Chairman
Scott Bigelow, Secretary
Richard Chase