City power study is a waste of money, resources | IN OUR OPINION

Published 10:37 am Sunday, July 10, 2016

Don’t waste the money.

We find ourselves in wholehearted agreement this week with the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce on the city proposal to spend $100,000 — more or less — of taxpayer money to fund a feasibility study on the notion to create an island-based electric power company.

The power company proposal would see the city take over, manage and own the electric utility now run by Puget Sound Energy, a for-profit utility with an overseas owner.

Chamber officials raised concerns about the price tag on the study, but more sagely noted that the city already has a slate of issues and projects before it.

We agree. The idea of starting a power company from scratch would easily eclipse any other important project or civic pursuit by the city, not only in the next year or two, but surely for the next five or 10 years.

We’ve said before in this space we have serious doubts about the city’s ability to manage an electric utility, given the city’s recent track record on utility management.

Proponents for an island power company, however, claim that’s ancient history and the city’s moved on.

The underlying problem still remains, and that’s the city’s internal ability to manage an undertaking as complex as an electric utility.

When we raised doubts earlier about city hall’s ability to do the job, and do it well, it wasn’t a knock against city staff or those who have championed the idea of an island power company. They’re good people, across the spectrum, who have the island’s best interests at heart.

Instead, it’s the realization that running an electric utility is an enterprise well outside the city’s wheelhouse. The proposed consultant study is just the first step on an ever extending path of hiring experts on power and utility issues, a future that portends millions more spent on consultant studies.

Bainbridge needs a reality check on this idea. If islanders are so committed to the idea, funds should be privately raised to pay for a study.