Valley water agency considers windmills

MINERAL RIDGE — Fears of rising electricity costs due to deregulation and other rate adjustments have the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District looking into alternative energy sources, including windmills.

“I’m getting scared about what some people are saying” about the future costs of electricity, chief Engineer Tom Holloway told the MVSD Board of Directors today.

The district sells treated bulk water from Meander Reservoir wholesale to about 300,000 customers through its member cities — Youngstown, Niles and McDonald — for resale.

Holloway said he is hearing reports of 10 percent to 40 percent rate increases when deregulation takes effect in 2009.

The change will eliminate the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s role in establishing rates, which would then be based on market conditions.

“We have $965,000 budgeted for electricity this [fiscal] year,” Holloway said. He indicated the amount may have to be considerably higher for the next fiscal year that begins July 1.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.