9/07/2007

Is this honest?

Mayoral Candidate, Ed McKnight got his a$$ chewed for asking probing questions about electric financing. "We don't have those answers here," hammered Commissoner Jovick-Kuntz. (Ok, not an exact quote, but I think it accurately conveys the sentiment.)

Actually, they did have the answers right there, as evidenced by this business card that was given to Ed McKnight immediately after that meeting. Apparently, they just didn't want us to hear them. (By the way, the numbers are inaccurate. According to Mr. McKnight's research Ms. Balzarini is using Northwest Energy's highest rates, residential rates, even though ECP doesn't have residential customers.)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is nothing new. The ECP cost model is unrealistic. Ditto the cost and supply models ballyhooed for the Highwood Pollution Station.

Inexperience, lack of oversight, stupidity, egos gone wild, arrogance, criminal activity, complacency, cowardness.

Anonymous said...

And not [using] loaded language, there are interesting connections that make me wonder why they repealed the taxpayers right to vote?

On this blog there have been suggestions of wrong doing ... I'm certainly not going to go there...

Anonymous said...

Is there a place online posting a recording of that conversation?

Ed Mcknight said...

I would like to point out that what troubles me is the fact that I very specifically asked my question to be directed to Mr. Lawton. The commission flat out refused to redirect my question and allow Mr Lawton or Ms Balzarini to speak for themselvs. This is what I stand against, not whether anyone has detailed information or not. I did not ask for detailed information.

Anyone who has looked at the back of their electric bill knows that about half is for generation cost only and I wanted to know if this ratio is consistent for a municipality.

In my line of work you need to generalize and estimate to see if further time consuming investigation is warranted.

Mayor Engen explained in an article that Missoula could save approximately $70,000 a year on their electric bill. Run the numbers backwards and that makes the bill for electric generation $700,000 per year for Missoula. Compare that to the $3 million number given me for Great Falls total bill. (the actual bill is $2,738,413)

Refusing to redirect my question and ordering me to get detailed information is the best thing that could have happened to me. I have a great abundance of detailed information and I will be more than happy to share it with anyone who contacts me.

Ed Mcknight
Quality Leadership in City Government

Anonymous said...

Ed Pachyderm Guest Speaker
Might we get some information about your research at Pachyderms on Thursday noon, Colleen's, 1601 2nd Ave.N.
And may I remind one and all - every one is welcome at Pachyderm meetings, no need to be a member.

Ed Mcknight said...

I will have the information with me and be glad to answer questions.

Ed Mcknight
Quality Leadership in City Government