Energy-saving contract, fees suspended at Golden West

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Public Utilities Commission relieved some of

the costly burden for Golden West College with their recent waiver of

penalty fees accrued by the power interruption program the college takes

part in with the Southern California Edison Co.

With the program suspended, fees are waived and the discount the

school has been receiving is discontinued until further notice from the

state’s Public Utilities Commission, said Marie McHerrin, the school’s

spokeswoman.

“Everyone is waiting,” McHerrin said.

The college participates in Edison’s interruption service program,

which charges a reduced price for energy. In exchange, the school agrees

to cut back or shut down power during power shortages or be charged up to

$10,000 per hour.

The school has accumulated at least $500,000 in fines and has already

paid a portion of their fines. The Public Utilities Commission hasn’t yet

figured out what will happen to the fees already paid.

“I hope they make the right sorts of judgment,” said Kenneth Yglesias,

president of the college.With many unanswered questions, Yglesias hopes

to hear more over the next few weeks.

He is especially keeping his eyes on modifications of the interruption

program the PUC may develop. Depending on how the school could benefit

from any changes, Golden West may not pull out of the program, Yglesias

said.

“We’ll approach it cautiously and study it before we decide,” he said.

However, in the midst of the energy crisis, the college installed two

electronic marquees last week.

“It’s a state-of-the-art way of communicating,” McHerrin said. “Other

colleges have them. We were a little behind.”

School officials said the $240,000 energy-conserving displays will

benefit students with the announcement of events, sports activities,

school schedules and any closures in the event of another energy crisis.

“It’s good for those who don’t have e-mail, faxes or who don’t read

the newspaper,” McHerrin said.

The 16-foot sign uses six and a half amps of power and the 7-foot sign

uses five amps, together equaling the energy of 12 100-watt light bulbs.

To further conserve energy, the brightness of the lights will adjusts to

the weather.

The marquees, which stand along Goldenwest Street, the larger one at

the corner of Edinger Avenue and the other at McFadden Avenue, will be

shut off at night.

The colorful signs are still in test mode, McHerrin said. They should

be running at full capacity in two weeks.