CPW properties and vehicles are tobacco-free. Greer Commission Board of Directors unanimously approved (3-0) the tobacco free workplace at Monday’s monthly meeting.

The utility company reported it’s finalizing work at the Inland Port in Greer with electrical underground cables and installation of light poles on GSP Logistics Parkway, the road entering the port from J. Verne Smith/Hwy. 80. Additional cables have been set anticipating the port’s pending expansion.

CPW is burying electrical cables along GSP Logistics Parkway. The utility company has about 14 light poles, each about 100 feet-high, to install that will illuminate the port. Individual bunkers of thick concrete surrounding the light pole assembly with a separate secure wing for the fire hydrants are being built to prevent trucks reaching the apparatus if there is a mishap.

It was Randy Olson’s first commission meeting as interim general manager. “It’s been hectic and I am chasing myself,” Olson said with a smile.

The replacement for Nick Stegall, who retired on Sept. 30, continues in the search stage, according to commissioner Eugene Gibson. “It should take about six months,” Gibson said. GreerToday.com was told the process is near the interview stage for the top three to four finalists recommended by the search committee hired by CPW.

CPW’s smoke free work place supersedes the previous designated smoking area at CPW and other properties.  Commissioners mandated no smoking on any of CPW properties or any vehicles by the employees.  The lakes will have non-smoking signs put up on the docks and at the shelters for visitors there but the park itself is not smoke free. Employees on duty may not smoke at the lakes.

Brian Forrester requested approval for an upgraded data recovery system that would cost $25,000  – $12,000 unbudgeted. Commissioners asked if Forrester if could wait for fiscal year 2014, beginning in January. His recommendation to move forward immediately was approved 3-0.

In between the more than larger volume of news presented, Chuck Reynolds told commissioners of an improving financial statement, more positive than this time in 2012. The combined utility produced a net loss of $23,963, before recording revenues from capital contributions. September budget expectations were net revenues of $132,793.

September Utility Consumption

	2011	2012	% Change	2013	% Change
Water	23,385,724	25,003,559	-1.5%	20,487,411	-18.1%
Electric	36,004,689	33,571,444	-6.8%	33,971,637	1.2%
Gas	1,843,598	1,814,374	-1.6%	1,891,966	4.3%
Sewer	9,934,341	9,011,233	-9.3%	9,280,847	3.0%

Water consumption in gallons: Projected net revenues $51,100, realized net loss $91,856.

Electric in kWh: Projected net revenues, $449,770, produced net revenues, $322,462.

Natural gas in therms: Projected loss $301,353, operated net loss $123,860.

Sewer in gallons: Projected loss $66,723, operated net loss $130,699. 

	Aug. 2013	Sept. 2013	% Change
Water	20,919,847	20,487,411	-2.1%
Electric	35,002,482	33,971,637	-3.0%
Gas	1,800,031	1,891,966	5.1%
Sewer	8,560,031	9,280,847	8.4%

 Standard & Poor’s continued CPW’s A+ bond rating, according to Reynolds, – an upper medium range, below high quality (AA +/-) and top quality (AAA). Reynolds said, “The affirmation of the renewal rating was based on 2012 results. It takes into account capitalization, cash on hand and overall financial results over a 5-year period.”

No discussion took place in the public session on CPW seeking to purchase a site for a substation that will service the growth at the Inland Port and its surrounding communities on the east side of Greer. Gibson said three sites have been targeted. An earlier site CPW wanted to purchase from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport was denied by the GSP Airport District.

One item not revisited from the September meeting was commissioners Perry Williams’ recommendation that CPW plant several trees at the McCall Street business in celebration of the utility’s 100^th anniversary.

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