MARK SCHUMANN
In a move some are hopeful will lead to further electric rate reductions, the Vero Beach City Council has given City Manager Jim O’Connor approval negotiate an agreement with PowerServices, Inc. to conduct an optimization study of the city’s electric utility.
O’Connnor said he is hopeful the study, which will likely take three months, will identify ways the electric system can be run more efficiently. Options for reducing the cost of operations in ways that could affect electric rates include optimizing staffing, outsourcing some current operations and decommissioning the power plant, which currently sits idle some 95 percent of the time.
Outside counsel, Schel Wright, is already working to renegotiate the city’s wholesale power agreement with the Orlando Utilities Commission. Public Resources Management Group, also of Maitland, is currently studying Vero Electric’s rate structure it hopes of finding way to reduce rates. All of these initiatives, city officials say, will hopefully lead to significant reductions in Vero Electric’s rates, which, allowing for a six percent franchise fee, are currently 15 percent higher than Florida Power & Light.
Indian River Guardian 
Keep spending the money on surveys, attorneys and etc. You would think that after over 25 years in the electric business The City Of Vero Beach wouldn’t need another survey, but should be able to write the “Manual” on how to reduce rates! Enough already, “the train has left the station”!