Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Citizens put themselves at helm of LP&L
BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Lubbock voters put the fate of Lubbock Power & Light in their
own hands Tuesday night.
With 83 percent of voters in favor of moving control of the power company
into an Electric Utility Board, Lubbock voters gave its City Council
authority to appoint a nine-member panel to run LP&L operations.
"I have to credit the citizens of Lubbock for giving us a chance to do
what we said we were going to do," said District 3 Councilman Gary Boren,
noting the feasibility of allowing residents to control government. "It's
made of citizens, and citizens
know how to run things."
With all precincts reporting, 49,958 people voted for the change with
10,224 voting against.
Those in favor of the move said it would give closer scrutiny to LP&L's
revenue while keeping the city away from siphoning its reserves. The move
creates a buffer between utility finances and other city accounts.
Running LP&L as a city department for several years allowed city
officials to use money generated by LP&L for other purposes where funding
had fallen short — areas such as street lighting, park improvements and
street improvements.
When record high natural gas prices hit the nation because of supply
shortages, LP&L couldn't fund itself, requiring staff cutbacks.
LP&L itself cut 60 jobs. Other city departments cut back as well in order
to draw money back into LP&L's account.
As election returns came in Tuesday night, Boren said he spent a few
moments reflecting on the tumultuous year and a half since the struggle to
wrangle a solution in the LP&L issue.
"You look at where it has gone. It's just a miracle," he said.
Lubbock's support of the break-off of LP&L will allow the operation to
run more like a business, proponents claim. District 1 Councilwoman Linda
DeLeon said the people had spoken clearly.
"We're one of the first cities in the entire state that has done this,"
said DeLeon, pointing out her belief that many other cities will follow
Lubbock's lead.
Both Boren and DeLeon said they will start today determining the makeup
of the new board.
"I'll just put my thinking cap on and start thinking of individuals that
could do a great job of serving the city on this committee."
|