Russell Municipal Light Department
Serving Russell Since 1920.
WMECO Buy Out
Dear Voter:
During the past nine months, there have been many Town wide power outages ranging from
10 seconds to over 30 hours. During each of these outages, Russell Electric responded with all
necessary equipment ranging from one lineman and truck, to 8 utility crews, to restore power
quickly. Russell has not been alone in experiencing outages. Severe weather, which has
continually been the cause, has plagued all of Western MA these summer months.
However, Russell Electric is in a unique situation; as Russell is one of 11 of the 351 cities and
towns in Massachusetts, which is a dual service territory. Russell Electric supplies power to
Russell Village and Western MA Electric Company (WMECO) provides power to Woronoco
and Russell Mountain.
Russell Electric purchases its power from Westfield Gas & Electric Department. Although,
Westfield and Russell have abutting town lines, our systems for distributing power do not. The
power we purchase from Westfield is delivered to a substation in Blandford and from there
Western MA Electric Company transmits the power to Russell. Therefore, if Western MA
Electric Company has lines down, the customers of Russell Electric will not have power even if
our distribution system is operational. During each of the major outages this year, Russell had
an operational system before the WMECO lines were repaired.
Russell Electric would like to request permission from the voters of Russell to purchase the
WMECO distribution system. Russell Electric would then be free to interconnect our system
directly to Westfield Gas & Electric, who we have had a relationship with for the past 22 years.
Russell Electric would be able to provide service not only to the Village, but also to Woronoco
and Russell Mountain. Reliability and service would improve, and while we cannot deter bad
weather, we would be able to control the length of time required to restore power. A letter
outlining the purchase procedure will be mailed to you next month.
Please feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any questions.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alan J. Robinson
Town of Russell Electric Light Manager
arobinson@russellma.net
Office: (413) 862-6216
Dear Voter:
As a voter in Russell, you are going to be asked to vote on a warrant article at the Special
Town Meeting to be held on October 20, 2008 whether or not you favor the Russell Municipal
Light Department furnishing electricity to the village of Woronoco and the Russell Mountain
Area.
The vote that you are going to be asked to cast is:
“To see if the Town will vote to acquire by purchase or otherwise the franchise,
corporate property and all rights, powers and privileges of Western Massachusetts
Electric Company, within the Town of Russell, Massachusetts.”
Favorable passage of this vote by a two-thirds majority, at each of two separate town
meetings will not obligate you or the Town of Russell to complete the purchase. It will offer
an opportunity to obtain a negotiated price on the WMECO poles and wires for the benefit
of all the residents of Russell.
After two favorable votes as outlined above, these negotiations can be entered into with the
present owners for a determination of a fair and equitable price for their franchise. If such a
price can be agreed upon, then the law provides that before such purchase can be consummated,
such price must be approved by the voters at a third Town Meeting.
You can see from the above that neither you nor the Town will be obligated in any way by
your voting favorably on the first two votes mentioned herein. Your favorable vote on this
question will indicate only your support that efforts be made to obtain a price for the WMECO
equipment in Russell.
We respectfully solicit your favorable consideration.
As a voter in Russell, you are going to be asked to vote on a warrant article at the Special
Town Meeting to be held on October 20, 2008 whether or not you favor the Russell Municipal
Light Department furnishing electricity to the village of Woronoco and the Russell Mountain
Area.
The vote that you are going to be asked to cast is:
“To see if the Town will vote to acquire by purchase or otherwise the franchise,
corporate property and all rights, powers and privileges of Western Massachusetts
Electric Company, within the Town of Russell, Massachusetts.”
Favorable passage of this vote by a two-thirds majority, at each of two separate town
meetings will not obligate you or the Town of Russell to complete the purchase. It will offer
an opportunity to obtain a negotiated price on the WMECO poles and wires for the benefit
of all the residents of Russell.
After two favorable votes as outlined above, these negotiations can be entered into with the
present owners for a determination of a fair and equitable price for their franchise. If such a
price can be agreed upon, then the law provides that before such purchase can be consummated,
such price must be approved by the voters at a third Town Meeting.
You can see from the above that neither you nor the Town will be obligated in any way by
your voting favorably on the first two votes mentioned herein. Your favorable vote on this
question will indicate only your support that efforts be made to obtain a price for the WMECO
equipment in Russell.
We respectfully solicit your favorable consideration.
| September 2008 |
| October 2008 |
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