Electric Utility Board creation dependent on outcome of vote
BY CORY CHANDLER
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
 

While a number of races are grabbing headlines and early voters' attention, so far Lubbock's charter amendment election isn't drawing as much attention or as many votes.

On Nov. 2, voters will have an option to amend Lubbock's charter, creating an Electric Utility Board to oversee city-owned Lubbock Power & Light.

The board would be composed of nine City Council-appointed residents and is intended as a safeguard for the utility.

LP&L would remain under city ownership.

Councilwoman Linda DeLeon said the board would protect taxpayer investment by drying up the "cash flow" from LP&L.

"That way, when (the city) runs into difficult times, the council will have to look at tightening the budget," she said.

Past councils siphoned millions of dollars out of LP&L's reserves throughout a number of years to cover city costs such as street lighting and park improvements. As a result, the utility had to cut jobs and halt transfers to other city accounts.

An 11-member Political Action Committee titled "Vote Yes! For Citizen Control of LP&L" has been formed to provide information about the election.

Yet the amendment has brought in fewer votes than the general election to this point in early voting.

With early voting at the halfway point, more than 15,000 voters have cast ballots in the general election, with roughly 12,500 ballots cast in a city charter election.

While the general election features hotly contested races such as the one between President Bush and his Democrat contender Sen. John Kerry, DeLeon said the amendment is just as important.

"I hope that those people would take the time to support it," she said.

Early voting will continue through Friday.

cory.chandler@lubbockonline.com 766-8722

***

Lubbock Power & Light, a municipally owned entity of the City of Lubbock is separately governed by an Electric Utility Board appointed by the Lubbock City Council. LP&L has approximately two hundred employees working toward generating and distributing electrical service for the citizens of Lubbock, Texas. LP&L distributes over 85,000 monthly utility statements for electric, water, sewer, solid waste and storm water services. LP&L serves over 70% of the electric market in Lubbock, Texas.

Media: Chris Sims (806) 775-2502