Businesses, Residents Look for Ways to Save Energy

Officials at Ventura County’s Navy bases are asking all personnel to turn down their thermostats. In Ventura, city officials are switching to energy-saving water pumps and traffic lights. And one local fitness club is asking members to help conserve electricity or face higher dues.

All across Ventura County, government agencies, businesses and homeowners are bracing for a proposed 30% increase in their electric bills that could come as early as this week. On Thursday, Southern California Edison will ask the state Public Utilities Commission to allow a rate increase.

Several business and civic leaders said the prospect of such a steep increase caught them off guard, and they will have to scramble for ways to pay their bills and avoid cuts in services.

For cash-strapped Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, the news comes at the peak of cold and flu season.

“The most troublesome part of this is that it comes at a time when it’s likely to be busier and it’s likely to be cooler, so the demand will be greater,” said Mark Gregson, interim chief executive at the hospital. “So the demand will be greater and therefore so will our bills.”

Now the 49-bed facility spends an average of $10,000 a month for electricity, which could go to $13,000 with the rate hike.

With private and government insurance rates set, Gregson said the hospital would have to look at other ways to make up the added costs. He said the hospital is in the process of studying ways to conserve energy, without affecting patient care.

In Moorpark, school district officials factored a 10% rate increase into their budget, setting aside nearly $1 million for this school year. But a 30% jump could leave the district hunting for $200,000 without cutting into money for classrooms.

“We’re not any different from any home consumer,” said Larry Brown, assistant superintendent for business services. “Something’s got to give. It’s got to come from some other part of the budget.”

Cities are also preparing for higher costs.

Ventura city officials have already taken a range of energy-saving measures, including variable-speed pumps in its water plants, LED traffic signals, and fluorescent lights in city buildings.

Ojai city officials said the rate increase could lead to higher property taxes for street lights and force the city to make up the rest of the higher costs. Each year, the city spends $42,500 on electricity.

“The city would have to assume that additional expense, which would be pretty significant,” said Dan Singer, interim city manager.

At both ends of the economic scale, residents can expect an impact.

Rosemary Payne, of the county’s Home Energy Assistance Program--which helps about 3,000 senior citizens on fixed incomes pay their energy bills--is already using a $100,000 federal grant to help pay recent increases in natural gas bills. That money supplements the program’s $400,000 budget.

With recent news of electric price increases, Payne said she’s been flooded with calls from worried seniors.

“Without our help, most of them are making the choice between turning on their heat and paying for their medical bills,” she said.

At Ventura’s Pierpont Racquet Club, members received letters saying that the club’s utility bills could go up $3,000 a month, which might translate into a $3 increase in monthly member dues if the club can’t find ways to keep usage down.

“Our gas costs are directly related to the temperature of the pools and how many towels we launder,” the letter said. “To keep our dues down, we need your help in conserving energy.”

Businesses are also preparing.

Procter & Gamble Paper Products in Oxnard has its own electric power generator, but still has to buy from Edison and is “highly focused” on conservation methods, said Frank Blumling, plant manager.

“We need to renew our focus on how to save energy because we don’t want to move up our prices,” he said.

RESCUE PLAN

The PUC is expected to release a plan to try to rescue ailing utilities without enraging customers. A1