{ title: 'The Freeport Baldwin Leader. (Freeport, N.Y.) 1987-current, January 17, 2002, Page 2, Image 2', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn95071065/2002-01-17/ed-1/seq-2/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn95071065/2002-01-17/ed-1/seq-2.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn95071065/2002-01-17/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn95071065/2002-01-17/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
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o CN 0) I Proposed electric rate hike criticized, defended o o c-l <o _D <U O I cu Q w £ Q ffl W w w iS from page 1 was adequate. An announcement regard- ing the hearings was published in the. Leader on January 3. Rosario Zappulla, of Roosevelt Avenue, expressed a prominent criticism of the rate increase, that \the village is using the electric company to be another form of taxes.\ The village just agreed last week to raise taxes 16.2%. The vil- lage budget, which was approved on January 7, included a $500,000 transfer of funds from Freeport Electric to the village. Mr. Zappulla wondered whether this transfer of funds to the financially- stricken village was what caused the util- ity to run in the red.-The increase >is \giv-i iing the village.additional;taxing power ; and that's not wrrat'fhe electrjc^company is here for.\ •: •'','.'-.'• . \ . Joe Kralovich, of'Merj-ick, who tias^ led the' Old Lindenmere Giyit' Association's battle against Power Plant' 2, also suggested that the relationship between the Village and the the utility should be spelled out more clearly. According to Hub Bianco, superinten- dent of Freeport Electric, such a transfer of funds is not illegal, and is common in other towns which have their own utility. Freeport, however,\ has not made such a transfer in a number of years. Eloy Yndigoyen, of Fullerton Avenue, argued that \a large population of people move to Freeport for affordable eleclric- ty.\ He asked the PSC to consider that a rate increase would hurt these families. Rosetta Brewer, of North Columbus Avenue, worried about the fate of pen- sioners in the quadruple whammy of a tax, water and electric rate increase in Freeport, .at a time when .county, tatfes, •are also'going to riSel. \0rt our-street alone, there are only 4 or 5 working families.\ Gretchen White, also of North Columbus Avenue, said \I starved for four or five years\ before her Social Security checks increased. \I don't know how I'm going to live.\ Another issue which came to bear on the proceedings was the fate of Power Plant number 2. A great deal of time in the evidenciary hearings was devoted to attempting to ascertain to what degree future development of Power Plant 2 should affect the proposed rate increase. Intervenor Stewart Lilker argued that it was highly relevant, since the utility would have the power to apply for another rate increase after any deal was .., .made, as early as April 1. Presiding judge Rafael Epstein did not make a clear decision on the matter. As a result, • the evidentiary hearings were marked by • - i; constant objections to Mr. Lilker's inter- ,., rogation on the subject by the village'3 >,' • t attorney, Jeffrey Genzer. ; •' Several .residents, .also commented a great clear about'development at Power Plant 2. Vincent Greco, longtime critic of Power Plant 2 and resident of East Bedell Street, stated that the plans for developmental the site \must be a factor in this rate increase.\ He suggested that natural gas-fifed turbines would involve less personnel, and thus cost less to operate. Labor costs were among the reasons cited by the utility for the rate increase. Mr. Greco also charged that the total cost of pro- duction, divided into the total produc- tion, did not generate the price per unit cost. The reason for this, however, is that Freeport Electric gets its electricity from .a variety of sources. It receives electric- ; ;i(jy; front'Niagara Falls. The rest of itis electricity \is. either self-igpriefated or purchased on the spot market,' depend- . FRANK ELECTRIC CO. • Complete Electrical Service \ Frank Electric Co. . showroom, Supplies & V™ Lamp Repair Distinguished Services Since 1949\ 21OO Grand Ave., Bald-win QjjEAL ESTATE f. We hove many qualified buyers looking for condo's, co-ops, from Freeport to Massapequa: ANCHORAGE • WHARFSIDE • ANCHOR'S EDGE WlLLOWOOD • SOUTHGATE • SOUTHBAY 2578 Merrick Rd., Bellmore (Across from the Mixing Bowl) 783-7779 CORAL*HOUSE Magnificent Waterfront Weddings WINTER • SPRING • SUMMER • FALL Special Low Rates Jan • Feb March April Outdoor Lakeside Ceremonies ing on which method is most cost effec- tive,- according to Hub Bianco, Freeport Electric Superintendent. Although Mr. Greco argued that \the spot market day-to-day is not the way for the village to approach this,\ it may not always be the cheapest, according to Mr. Bianco. During the day, and in the summertime, the cost of buying electric- ity on the spot market is very high, since demand is high. At night time, prices are very low. Mr. Bianco told The Leader he has seen prices for one megawatt/hour of electricity as high as $1000 and as low as $25-35. The price of electricity, says Mr. Bianco, changes every six min- utes. The cost of generating a megawatt/hour at Power Plant 2 is $60- 70 per megawatt/hour. The plant ran for approximately 1000 hours last year. ,\We cire' trying everything we can to hold rates down. We -have tried innova- tive ways to reduce our independent sys- tem operator, our energy and our capac- ity costs. We have aggressively negotiated contracts to get reduced costs for additional capacity.\ . Freeport Electric^faised rates fast in 199S, and before that, in 1986. Anyone wishing to make a comT.; N ment to the Public Service^ Commission regarding the proposed increase may still call irt; send, .or electronically transmit their state- ments, in English or Spanish. Written statements should be mailed to Janet Hand Deixler, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commissipn, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223. These letters should reference \Village of Freeport Electric Joint Proposal.\ - To call in a statement, 24 hours a day, dial 1-800-335-2120. Callers should press \6\ to leave comments on the Freeport proceeding. Through the Internet, comments may be sub- mitted through.the \PSC Comment Form\ at the PSC's web site, www.dps.state.ny.us. Community Calendar Sponsored By tturyerford & Cfarfa Inc. Funeral Home Serving The Community For Over 50 Years Personalized Service For All Faiths At Any Hour Every Day NEW ONE LEVEL FACILITIES Freeport And Surrounding Area's Largest Chapel • New Handicapped Facilities 379-3119 110 PINE STREET, FREEPORT (CORNER SOUTH OCEAN AVENUE) KEVIN MOLESE JERRY FRAYLER Friday, January 18 •Lunch & Travel-Cuba, 12 p.m., Film: \Martin Luther King,\ 3 & 7 p.m., AA, 4:30 p.m.,' Brownies, 6:30 p.m., Waiting Families, 6:30 p.m., American Legion, 7 j>.m., at the Freeport Memorial Library. Saturday, January 19 • Homework Express, 10 a.m., Concert: Kevin Maynor, 2:30 p.m.,NEFCA, 3 p.m., at the Freeport Memorial Library. Sunday, January 20 • Dowsers, 1 p.m., Martin Luther King Village Program, 2:30 p.m., at the Freeport Memorial Library. Monday, January 21 •Freeport Village Hall closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day. • Bingo at Congregation Bnai Israel, 7:45 p.m., 91 North Bay view Avenue. •Freeport Memorial Library closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tuesday, January 22 • Archbishop Molloy Council # 1974, Knights of Columbus, Our Holy Redeemer Church basement. 7:30 p.m. .• Great Books, 1:30 p.m., African-American Writers, 6:30 p.m., Audubon Society, 8 p.m., at the Freeport Memorial Library. Wednesday, January 23 • The Decalogue, 2:30 p.m., AA, 4:30 p.m., Camera Club, 7 p.m., at the Freeport Memorial Library. • Freeport Village Court in session, Judge Cacciatore presiding, 9 a.m., 40 North Ocean Avenue. Court watchers are welcome. • Freeport Board of Education, Action Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Columbus Avenue School. Thursday, January 24 • Freeport Rotary Club, 7 p.m., at Bedell's at West Wind. • Brandeis, 10 a.m., Homework Express, 4 p.m., Bounce Back, 5:30 p.m., Chess Club, 7 p.m., NW Civic Association, 7:30 p.m., at the Freeport Memorial Library. • Freeport Village Planning Board,, 7:15 p.m., Village Hall. • Explorer Post 406, Freeport Fire Department Headquarters, 15 Broadway, 7 p.m. '•'--•'•
