Bainbridge Island can do much better | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 10:38 am Sunday, May 15, 2016

To the editor:

Did you know that on April 26, the Bainbridge City Council was slated to authorize spending $100K to $200K of unbudgeted taxpayer funds to pay consultants to “study” whether we should create a “city-run” electric utility?

The final decision would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide at November’s general election.

A city-run electric utility could ultimately require islanders to impose a 30-year bond upwards of $100 million to purchase and run the electrical infrastructure currently owned by Puget Sound Energy on Bainbridge. Please, city council members, slow down and don’t do either — don’t fund a study and don’t put this on the November ballot!

On a small island like ours, we have few ratepayers to underwrite and own an electric utility. Expenses for an electric utility include employees and benefits, funding capital improvements, never-ending maintenance, and constant oversight — all this for our city that has no background running a power system. Do you sense a BOONDOGGLE in the making?

Instead, our city council could direct the city to work cooperatively with PSE to improve our electric system and create opportunities for more green power.

Please, don’t hire consultants to study a bad idea and don’t spend money to put this on the November ballot.

RUSS BERG

Bainbridge Island