According to Kyle Laney, HU’s new Gas System Operator, during September natural gas customers should have received a brochure explaining the hazards of natural gas leaks, the 811 info line for locating underground services, and what to do if you suspect a natural gas leak. The brochure is part of HU’s public information campaign, Laney says, to make sure that natural gas customer and others who live near natural gas pipelines understand steps that need to be taken to prevent and respond to accidents.
HU adds an odor, similar to the smell of rotten eggs, to natural gas to let customers and others who live near the pipeline know quickly if there is a problem. If you smell natural gas, leave the house or building; call HU at 773-3340; and do not light any flames and avoid all sources of ignition.
Earlier this year a Cost of Service Study, which looks at how costs are allocated, showed that HU’s electric residential customer charge – its base rate – is too low. “A utility has costs you need to cover with your base rate, such as transmission and distribution and some maintenance, that are apart from the actual cost of the electricity we pass through our system,” explains HU General Manager Bob Sittason.
However, Sittason says, the change needed to be revenue neutral. “We are lowering the energy rate – what customers pay for the electricity they use – to offset the increase,” he says.
Effective Oct. 1, the Residential Customer Charge will increase by $2.00 per month and the energy rate will be decreased by $.00163.
HU is creating a new commercial GSA 1 customer class, breaking out a GSA 1 customer class between Single Phase service and all other services at the GSA 1 level, Sittason explains.
The Customer Charge for the new GSA 1- Single Phase customers will be $20.00, and the kWh energy rate will increase by $.00310 from the current GSA 1 energy rates.
For GSA 1- All Other customers, the Customer Charge will be $25.20, the same as the current GSA 1 rate, and the kWh energy rate will increase by $.00310.
TVA has announced a rate increase of 1.5 percent, effective October 1. HU will pass on this approved rate increase, which will add $1.50 per kWh to the average residential customer.
Friday, Nov. 1, the City of Hartselle and Hartselle Beautification Association will sponsor Caring Day, Hartselle’s annual food drive to help local food pantries prepare to help families and individuals for Thanksgiving. On Nov. 1, residents can place donated canned goods five feet away from street-side recycle bins. The canned goods will be picked up and taken to the Caring Place and distributed among the Caring Place, the First Assembly of God, the First Church of the Nazarene, and the First United Methodist Church food pantries.
Canned goods may also be placed in drop off bins from Oct. 18 until Nov. 1 at the following locations: City Hall, Hartselle Utilities, Joe Wheeler EMC, The William Bradford Huie Public Library, the Chamber of Commerce, Hometown Grocery, the Hartselle Enquirer, Ace Auto Body, Sparkman Civic Center, both Fire Stations, Walgreen Drug Store, CVS Pharmacy, Dollar General Store, Kroger, Dollar Tree, and all banks in Hartselle. The schools will also be participating again this year. Last year, 8,860 cans of food were donated during the Caring Day drive.
In order to streamline operations, HU has changed several natural gas meter reading schedules, combining several natural gas routes. “We have three meter readers,” explains Customer Service Manager Terri Harris, “and they read 16,000 meters each month. Over the years we added new customers at different times, and many were on different meter reading schedules. We’ve looked at making these changes for a while, and chose this time of year because of the minimal impact the change will have on natural gas customers.”
The following meter routes will be affected: 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 138, 139. Customers on these routes will see a new account number on their bill, and customers in all routes except 138 and 139 will see a change in their due date to the 15th of each month..
All customers in the routes which were modified were sent a letter explaining the changes and informing them of the new payment due date. If you have any questions please call Terri Harris at 773-3340.
HU Water Department crews are checking water services – the lines that run from the main to the tap at the residence or business – looking for leaks. Particularly, they are looking for service lines made of poly service tubing, says Water System Operator Steve Terry. HU started using poly service tubing in the late 1960s, Terry says, and the material used now is much harder. “We track repairs that are a result of material failure,” says Terry. “For the last two years, poly service tubing has accounted for 75 percent of our repairs, so that’s what we’re targeting.”
The work is part of the department’s ongoing asset management program to monitor and maintain HU’s water mains. “We’ve budgeted $35,000 this fiscal year for service line replacement,” Terry says. “We’ll do as many as we can each year, with the goal that we’ll eventually replace all the poly service lines with something more durable.”
David Locke retired in August after over 16 years as Water Foreman, with nearly 26 years of service to HU.
Locke began working at HU in August of 1988 as a meter reader. He gradually made his way up the ladder, working as a laborer and then equipment operator before being promoted to Foreman of the Water Crew in April 1997.
“David was very well educated with Hartselle Utilities’ water system which made things easy for his crew,” says friend and Construction Department co-worker Sidney Mills. “His knowledge and know-how will be greatly missed.”
Over time, decay and wood-destroying insects can cause utility poles to lose their strength, and Hartselle Utilities hires a company to inspect and treat poles, where possible, to extend service life.
According to Electric Superintendent Jonathan Hampton, through mid-November, crews from Osmose will inspect approximately 1,300 poles in the southeast section of the electric system, south of Main Street South and east of Highway 31.
Hampton expects that some poles will need to be replaced, which could disrupt service. However, he says, customers will be contacted before service is interrupted.
Recently, several Hartselle Utilities customers have reported receiving phone calls from someone falsely claiming to be a representative of Hartselle Utilities, demanding payment for past-due utility bills. The caller reportedly asked the customers, in one case a business with a home office in another city, to purchase a ‘Green Dot’ money card to pay their bill immediately in order to keep utilities from being disconnected, says Customer Service Manager Terri Harris.
“This is not how we handle delinquent accounts,” Harris says. “We make a reminder call 24 hours before utilities are disconnected,” she explains, “but we never call people after hours for disconnect notices, nor will we solicit payment or financial information over the phone from within our office.”
Hartselle Utilities does offer payment online and over the phone through a toll-free number. “If you are ever in doubt as to whether a call is actually from Hartselle Utilities,” Harris suggests, “hang up and call us at 773-3340. We can provide you with the toll-free number that you can call to pay your bill.”
Hartselle Utilities Board of Directors, seated in front from left to right; Jimmy Moore, Secretary/Treasurer; Daxton Maze, Chairman; Mike Gunter, Vice-chairman. Standing from left to right, Terry Phillips and Ed Monroe.
Daxton Maze has been elected Chairman of the Hartselle Utilities Board, replacing outgoing Chairman Mike Gunter, who served as Board Chair for six years.
Maze joined the Hartselle Utilities Board in July 2011, six months after he graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Civil Engineering. Maze was already a familiar face in Hartselle as a baseball standout and top graduate from Hartselle High School in 2006.
Maze will be the youngest Board Chair that Hartselle Utilities has had. While the board’s perspective and initiatives remain the same, Maze noted that Hartselle is experiencing an influx of younger people and families who work in the Tennessee Valley and choose to live in Hartselle because of the great school system. “The younger generation has a different viewpoint and also different needs from their utility provider, and I hope to bring insight into that,” he says.
“Over the past two years, the board has developed a good working relationship with the Hartselle Utilities staff and the community, and I expect that to continue. I’m looking for this to be an easy transition,” Maze says. “Our goal is to provide exceptional, affordable, and reliable utilities to our customers, and our expectation is to continue to provide the great customer service that Hartselle Utilities has been providing for many years.”
Mike Gunter is now Vice-Chairman of the board, and Jimmy Moore continues as Secretary/Treasurer. Terry Phillips and Ed Monroe are the remaining board members.
In addition to changes in the Board, two key staff members at Hartselle Utilities have retired, and several staff members have been promoted or changed position within the utility. “Almost twenty percent of our workforce has a new face or job,” says General Manager Bob Sittason, “which is something you generally don’t see all at once at Hartselle Utilities. We have been able to fill most of the open positions from within.”
Over the summer, Gas System Operator Tony Vest and Water Foreman David Locke, both with over 25 years of service to Hartselle Utilities, retired. Kyle Laney, former Installer, was promoted to Gas System Operator; David Taylor, Utility Inspector/Safety Coordinator, was promoted to Water Foreman. Jeremy Dorrance, former Meter Reader, replaced Taylor as the new Utility Inspector/Safety Coordinator.
Brian Kelsoe transferred to the position of Warehouseman, and Glenda Turrentine was hired as a new Meter Reader. In addition, Jason Summerford was promoted from Lift Station Crewman to Apprentice Lineman, and Michael Halbrooks was promoted from Installer to Wastewater Equipment Operator.
