County finalizes utility agreement with RMP ahead of February vote

The Summit County Council convened on January 11, 2023, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the utility agreement and associated costs for residents.

The meeting began with an update from the county attorney regarding the utility agreement that each county must enter into. The draft of this agreement is currently with Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) for comments, and the council anticipates a target vote for approval in late February. The county attorney is expected to provide comments on the draft in March, with the Community Renewable Energy Optimization (CREO) board reviewing a near-final draft in early February.

A significant point of discussion was the requirement under state law for communities to cover the costs of mailing opt-out notices to residents. If the utility agreement is approved and Southern County proceeds, the county will need to mail two opt-out notices to customers. This process is expected to create a budgeting challenge, as the notices will likely be sent out between December 2023 and January 2024, overlapping with the county's budget planning. The council expressed a desire to include these costs in the 2023 budget, although they acknowledged that if the expenses were pushed to the 2024 budget, it would not jeopardize the overall process.

The estimated cost for the opt-out notices, based on a 2019 estimate, was approximately $10,519. However, the council noted that this figure is likely outdated, and a new estimate will be provided in due course.

In conclusion, the council's discussions highlighted the importance of the utility agreement and the financial implications of the opt-out notices for residents. The council will continue to monitor these developments and prepare for upcoming votes and budget considerations.