Council has been working with the senior staff and with GP&L staff on a power sales agreement that is intended to hold rates steady for at least three years. The agreement was approved by the Council in executive session tonight before the work session and regular meeting.
 
The agreement will allow the utility to enter the unknowns of the Nodal market with immunity. The wild fluctuations seen recently in fuel prices, the declining dollar, a weakening economy, a potentially wild Nodal market, and other unknowns could have made it impossible to hold electric rates even. Garland GP&L customers can budget that their electric bills will not be rising.
 
There is guarded optimism that additional efforts can be directed to finding other revenue and other savings that might give some additional relief to rate payers. Such relief is far from being a reality but the possibility is much more attractive than the rate increase that was forecast in last year's budget.
 
The primary credit for the hard work and insight that initiated this process goes to Electric Utility Director Ray Schwertner and his staff. It could not have been accomplished without the added support and direction of City Mananger Bill Dollar and his staff, and the contractual review and preparation of City Attorney Brad Neighbor and his staff.
 
Many, many people worked many, many long hours to make this agreement possible. The learning curve for staff, consultants, and the Council was steep on this one. To me, it re-emphasizes the point that a Council that does not try to micromanage will free the city's paid professionals to do their jobs … and we all benefit!