City’s Electric Rates Do Not Increase

The Fairbury City Council voted unanimously to keep electric rates at their current level at their meeting the evening of Tuesday, September 21. This was done to prevent rates from reverting to 2016 levels.The current electric rates and charges were set through Ordinance 3078, which established the electric rates for Fiscal Years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Per Ordinance 3078, following Fiscal Year 2021, electric rates would revert back to the rates effective prior to the ordinance. This would mean that following fiscal year 2021, rates would revert back to rates established in 2016.City Administrator Robert Messbarger explained how this came to be, “In that (Ordinance), it had a snap back provision, meaning at the end of fiscal year 2021, it’s going to snap back to the previous rates. This is something that staff was not aware of until just a couple weeks ago.”A new Ordinance was required to prevent the rates reverting. Normally, an Ordinance of this sort would require three readings. Messbarger said, “In order to not have electric rates revert back, it would be recommended to waive the three readings. This fiscal year 2022 starts October 1.”While rates will not be dropping to 2016 levels, they will not be increasing, either. Messbarger said, “We’re not looking to increase rates. The rates serve us well right now, so we’re not going to be increasing rates and then we’re not making any other changes rather than just keeping rates flat and ensuring it stays like that.”Councilperson Phil Rogge said to Messbarger, “Thank you for catching that. That’s a big catch.”The Council approved Ordinance 3102, which sets the rates, and also updates the terminology found in Ordinance 3078, removing all mentions of the Board of Public Works, which was dissolved last year.

Jerry Bleich

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