Unleash the Vanilla: Today’s Tribune Editorial
The Trib editorial on ECP today traces a familiar arc, saying “Hey, our local dudes tried their best” (not in those words) and putting the blame for ECP’s unpopularity at the laps of the legislature, NorthWestern, and the PSC.
That this is not a disaster of our own making is one of the enduring fictions of the running ECP tragicomedy.
No doubt that outside entities have all made it more difficult for ECP to function. But it reaches a point when you’ve just got to ask in your most incredulous voice, Really?
I know I was asking that when the Tribune appeared to blame the PSC for Ms Balzarini’s failure to obey by the renewable-energy credits law, which was sponsored by Jon Tester in 2007 and passed without a bone of animus or thought of any kind to Electric City Power. Who, really, is to blame when it turns out that Ms Balzarini is the only executive director of any power company in the state not to comply with that law? Oh, sure, those nasty PSC guys — they’re just out to get us! Please.
Let’s review some of our own city’s failings which doomed ECP from the get-go. First, unlike what any reasonable investor does, there was no business plan for ECP when it started; it was all just kind of assumed the revenues and expenses would balance out. We signed contracts with our customers for fixed rates, but then bought power at moving rates. You don’t need to be a genius to see how that doesn’t add up, and how this failure has nothing to do with the state legislature or regulators or private industry. We were following a recipe for imbalances and revenue loss, and now we are sitting atop a mountain of debt.
As well, ECP was cooked up in every bit the hasty, tawdry, behind-closed-doors manner we attribute to NWE. There is still a secret box which contains many of the ground-paving public giveaways. There was never a chance for the public to call “BS” on the thing, commissioners themselves were largely clueless of the details, and of course there was no public vote (which the Attorney General had recommended in a previous instance when Butte looked to set up a power company). And there are still things that should make citizens roll their eyes, like the inability of any of us to know how Ms Balzarini votes when she’s representing the fiduciary interests of SME as a trustee. By contrast, Yellowstone Valley has reports from its SME trustee in its monthly newsletter, and has had no problem letting their consultants get at documents which Burns & McDonnell were never allowed to see…
So I just don’t want to hear how everyone tried their best and was so open and honest and forthcoming. No, I am sorry, that is not true. There was and is some real funny business about the way the City’s electric utility was set up, and the fault lies with people who have Great Falls addresses.
I throw all the blame to The Commissioners, Mayor, City manager, and most of all Balzarini. The Tribune might also have blame here as their reporting or lack of has allowed many folks in GF to just not understand what is going on here.
Serial ineptness or criminal activity?
Gregg, Do you know if our city commission took formal action to allow the PSC lawsuit to occur? I have not seen where that occurred. Was this an action initiated from Ms. Balzarini or someone else at city hall? Who concurred and authorized this? Was it an agenda item at a city commission meeting open to public input? Who is paying the legal expenses, us taxpayers or the ECP customers? I have many more questions, but enough for now…..
Hey Taxpayer — I wrote this post, not Gregg. And the answer to your question is apparently that there was never a vote of the city commission authorizing this lawsuit. I think Mary Jolley can explain that it “happened” by an e-mail poll! I am not sure where the $ for Harley Harris, our atty, is coming out of… But between that and the PSC fine, I bet we’ve exhausted this year’s ECP “profit”
Arrogance is one thing and incompetence another, but together absolutely deadly. Keep blaming everybody else Silly Hall!
There was a vote, a SECRET un-transparent vote by the departing ‘Old Guard’…
Sorry Travis on the authorship error. You and Gregg both write good articles and appear to do your homework quite well, hence all my questions.
I still would like to know if this PSC lawsuit was brought about legally. It seems to me that voting by email and in back-room deals flies in the face of our democracy and is probably against one or more local and state laws and obviously immoral. Can we see the email voting or is that in the secret box too? Stinks, big time!
It appears this current city leadership (Mary J. excluded) likes to cut the public out of participation on major decisions and feast at the taxpayer trough endlessly at their own will with no transparency or accountability to anyone.
Where is our city manager and why no city attorney yet? This city was warned in writing, last summer, by the the outgoing city attorney that they (ECP) were in violation of the law yet no action as yet from Mr. Doyon. Why is Ms. Balzarini the one calling all the shots down there? What are we paying the city manager to do besides keep a seat warm at silly hall.
The Tribune’s forgiving attitude is interesting in light of how they used to regularly scorch Marc Racicot and others for supporting deregulation, as it would raise utility rates.
Just wondering what constituents malfeasance of office by city staff ? I also wonder when we are going to hire a consultant firm to tell the city manager how to tie his shoes, put on a tie, gather up some really montana back bone and do the ethical job that he was hired to do? Also wondering if we should request that the city commissioners have an attorney or lawyer set with them and explain that if you vote to pass an ordiance and the ordiance is now part of the city ” laws” that breaking the law is illegal. Just wondering?
I know nothing, I have nothing to say, I was not there, I am not here, just keep my check and benifits coming as Ms Balzarini has my blessing to steer the ship. I see nothing, I hear nothing, I KNOW NOTHING!
Guess who fits this?