I got a flyer in the mail from Citizens for Wellborn and one of the claims was that College Station electric rates are 35% higher than Bryan rates. I looked up their reference(BTU website) and it showed that of the 20 electric providers listed, BTU was the cheapest and College Station Utilities was just about the most expensive(#19). I know this question has been discussed before, but here are recent numbers showing that CSU is one of the most expensive in the state.

The rate comparison is on pg.19:
www.btutilities.com/AboutBTU/pdfs/201103BTUTCP.pdf

Is there an explanation why we pay so much more for electricity than other cities?

Because they produce it and sell it to other entities... and CS buys power from producers who make a profit?

I believe that most recently when CSU went out for a new contract BTU's rates (that they sell at) were higher than other competitors.

And, I'm not sure why this would be on a Wellborn flyer - the right to provide power won't change based on annexation. It's regulated by the state.

I would think that CSU charges a higher rate to offset the larger number of transitory customers. That and the fact that they are a distributer and not a producer.

Please correct me if I am wrong!

http://www.btutilities.com/AboutBTU/pdfs/201104BTUTCP.pdfA article that describes the general fund transfer in Bryan (what CS calls ROI). Interesting read.

My feeling is that Bryan Utilities is extremely well-managed. They are profitable while maintaining low prices. They took essentially no hit during the recent power outage when prices spiked - CS customers will be paying for months. Although we should strive to be like them, we may also want to look more closely at cities that buy all their power from others to see how we compare. A big difference is BTU generates power, and appears to be able to manage purchasing natural gas and supplemental electricity better than CS does (we are all paying elevated rates for wind power because the city overestimated how many would willingly do it).

The CFW flyer pointed out other complaints with the city council such as spending, debt, fees, and taxes. The utility rates cought my attention and I looked at the reference. The question has been posed in the past as to why C.S. residents are "captive customers" when many customers across the state can shop around for the cheapest rate.

I wouldn't be questioning this if we werent next to the most expensive on the list of 20. This is BTU's numbers not CFW's.

CSU has to buy electricity from producers. BTU is a producer.



CfW trying to equate CSU rates to that of BTU in order to say recall is good is laughable.


I am sure that they didn't mention CS property tax rate is 50% below Bryan's rate? nah that wouldn't manipulate anyone.

Actually 75, CoCS tax rate is only 30% less than CoB - still substantially less but no need to inflate it to 50%. Plus, property values are higher in CS than Bryan for similar size/quality dwellings, so that often makes up for the lower rate.

I don't care that much about the Wellborn issue, but the city tax rate the newly annexed property owners/residents were paying was 100% less than what they will now pay.

[This message has been edited by agrab86 (edited 4/28/2011 2:31p).]

[This message has been edited by agrab86 (edited 4/28/2011 2:33p).]

csaggie75 - lest you try to make sense of these things!

I honestly started researching energy rates across TX and just stopped - it's not worth reasoning here.

I am happy our utility is municipal and among the lower in the state. Would I rather have co-op power (cheapest in the state) - yes, but I like where I live.

It's all about choices.

I saw a story on kbtx.com last year that broke down rate to dollars on a 1,000 square foot property.

It looked at monthly cost and compared BTU to CSU. CSU was 30 to 40% higher.

There are only 20 utilities in Texas, or is that just a partial list? I think that's a tad deceptive. CSU is not the most expensive in the state. That is truly absurd.

Freedom The principle on which our country was founded. The folks in Wellborn will lose some of their freedom when annexed. Things as simple as burning leaves in the back of the house will be outlawed.

Cost of Living Look at taxes paid on comparable properties in CS and Bryan, not tax rates/appraisals but the bottom dollar for equal properties.

Responsible Representation Hundreds convey their opposition to Wellborn annexation only to have council override. Select neighborhoods protest Walmart at RP&6 results in millions in taxpayer expense and the city not honoring their own zoning.

Debt Assumtion CS owes mega $$ with more debt management to come in future as CS City work force soon matures into retirement plans furnished by, you guessed it, the city.

Yes its our city gov't again flexing its power over the little guy. The previous topics have more examples illustrating the pattern of mismanagement.

how do you think they pay for the starlight series and duck jam?

Leaving off the difference in property tax rates between the cities is awefully convenient. Of course, TimD's anointed ones who signed Jana's pledge to cut utility rates forget this peice also.