Month: February 2017

BPU approves 4 percent electric rate increase

The Board of Public Utilities on Wednesday night approved a 4 percent electric rate increase.

The rate increase will go into effect March 1, according to BPU officials. It may result in an average residential customer increase of about $5.14 a month.

The 4 percent rate increase is an average, with the actual figures varying among customer groups based on cost of service and usage levels, a BPU spokesman said. An increase of 4 percent for 2017, beginning March 1, and 4 percent in 2018 was unanimously approved.

A BPU spokesman said the rate increase was necessary because of debt service coverage. Also, BPU needs to invest more than $220 million in nonenvironmental improvements. There are plans for improvements to aging infrastructure, including downtown and Rosedale substations, according to the spokesman.

An environmental surcharge (ESC) increase will result in about $2.50 increase in the average residential customer’s bill.

The BPU spokesman said the board asked staff for no more increase than was needed.

The BPU has controlled costs, the budget was reduced by 25 percent and staff levels have been reduced by about 25 positions, the spokesman said. The BPU is doing what it can to control internal costs, he added.

Rate hearings on the increase were held starting in 2016, and based on a cost of service rate study, the staff recommended several adjustments.

According to a BPU news release, the increase in the electric rate and the adjustment in the ESC were necessary for these reasons:

• BPU needs to invest more than $222 million in non-environmental capital improvements to maintain the integrity of the utility system.

• The utility hasn’t adjusted rates in three years, with the last increase in 2013, and rates are below the national average and that of surrounding utilities.

• Postponing an adjustment would delay capital and aging infrastructure improvements needed to support new growth in our community and may cause delays or service disruptions in certain areas.

• Inflationary pressures on costs of outside services, materials, and labor continue to increase.

• BPU has worked with an average of only 65 days of operating cash on hand over the last three years (with 90 days recommended to maintain solid credit ratings).

BPU water rates are not affected by this electrical rate increase, according to the spokesman.

Three-point assault vaults KCKCC men into Region VI lead

KCKCC sophomore center Jon Murray muscles his way between two Labette defenders for a field goal in the Blue Devils’ 64-57 win that vaulted them into the undisputed lead in Region VI. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

It is frequently said “You live by the three-point shot and you die by it.”

Kansas City Kansas Community College lived it up to the fullest Wednesday night, draining 14 three-pointers in a pivotal 64-57 win over Labette.

The win vaulted the Blue Devils into the lead in Region VI play heading into a road game at Johnson County Saturday at 4 p.m. At 4-1, KCKCC holds a one-game lead over a trio of 3-2 teams, Johnson County, Highland and Fort Scott. Saturday’s game will wrap up the first round of Jayhawk and Region VI play.

“I don’t know where we’d have been without the threes,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “They were really important in getting us to the point we want to be. While the game got ugly a few times, it was a very good win for us. Very thankful. Now we control our own destiny.”

The Blue Devils actually shot better from three-point (45.2 percent) than overall (.367) against Labette but just as important was that they came when they counted most.

Holding the Cardinals to just 12 points the first 17 minutes, the Blue Devils led 29-17 at halftime. However, Labette surged back, cutting the deficit to 32-24 and it took a long range assault to hold off the Cardinals – five consecutive 3-pointers, three by Lane Hartley and two by Kellen Turner to rebuild the lead to 52-37 with 8:53 remaining.

Labette again responded, scoring nine straight points to cut the deficit to 52-46 and this time Turner drilled his seventh 3-pointer and added a layup for a 58-49 lead and the Blue Devils clinched the win on a Donald Metoyer layup on a pass from Jon Murray with 1:07 left after Labette had closed to 58-52.

The leading scorer in Division II of Region VI, Turner finished with 25 points including 7-of-15 three-pointers and five rebounds. Mike Lee led in assists and steals with five each along with 11 points while Hartley had nine points. In addition to Turner’s seven treys, Lee and Hartley had three each.

Although rebounded 42-34 (Murray and Metoyer led KCKCC with seven each), the Blue Devils limited the Cardinals to just 28 percent shooting the first half and 31.6 percent for the game. The Blue Devils also forced 17 Labette turnovers although guilty of 15 of their own.

Rain chances pushed back to Monday

National Weather Service graphic

A new prediction from the National Weather Service has eliminated rain on Saturday and added the chance of precipitation to Monday’s forecast.

At this time, most if not all of Monday’s precipitation is expected to be rain, according to the weather service. The forecast does admit the possibility of some snow, however.

Today, temperatures in Wyandotte County have dropped below freezing, and could reach a high near 32 today, the weather service said. The temperature at 9 a.m. was 22 degrees in Wyandotte County.

Tonight, expect mostly cloudy skies with a low of 20 and a north northeast wind of 3 to 6 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, look for mostly cloudy skies that will become sunny, with a high near 35, the weather service said. A north wind will be around 6 mph.

Friday night, the low will be around 23 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service. A light and variable wind will become south southeast around 6 mph after midnight.

Saturday, the high will be near 42 with mostly cloudy skies and a south wind of 7 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 28 mph, the weather service said.

Saturday night, the low will be around 31 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Sunday, look for sunny skies and a high near 48, the weather service said.

Sunday night, there is a 30 percent chance of rain after 1 a.m., mixing with snow after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 34.

Monday, there is a 40 percent chance of rain and snow before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 54.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low of 41, according to the weather service.

Tuesday’s top temperature will be 53, with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there will be a 30 percent chance of rain and snow, with a low of 25, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there will be a 30 percent chance of snow, with a high near 34, the weather service said.