County Electric Cancels Uncollectible Billing

HUNTINGDON (June 27) — Carroll County Electric’s Board of Directors voted to cancel $63,926.13 in uncollectible accounts billed to customers for Fiscal Year 2024.

The amount is 0.15% of the total billing of the electricity distributor.

Ryan Drewry, general manager, said that compares to $64,945 in the previous year, which was 0.14% of total billing.

In other business, Drewry presented Martha (Marty) Hurley with a plaque for 11 years of service on the Board of Directors. Vicki Williams of Bruceton will fill Hurley’s seat after being appointed by the Carroll County Commission.

The utility distributor received $170,140.36 in FEMA funds as reimbursement for damage caused by a major wind storm in March 2023.

During a short meeting, the Board heard thirteen 13kV electrical breakers for the Trezevant substation will arrive in May 2025 to accommodate a new solar array in Trezevant.

The solar array (solar farm) in Trezevant will be constructed and owned by Silicon Ranch and requires significant upgrades to the substation in Trezevant. The enhancements will include isolation switches, other protective devices, and a fiber optic line for data transmission to monitor the substation. The estimated cost is $1,467,000, to be paid by Silicon Ranch. The Tennessee-based solar company has installations throughout the state, including the nearest one at Puryear, which connects to Henry County’s Board of Public Utilities.

Silicon Ranch will install the array adjacent to CCED’s substation and provide electricity to the local distributor over a 30-year contract. Construction is expected to take 1.5 to 2 years.

The connection of the array is termed a ‘win-win’ situation because it will generate reliable power at less cost than TVA while helping CCED to upgrade the Trezevant substation without cost to CCED. The proposed solar farm installation will be a 118-acre solar farm. The proposed 6.25-megawatt array would be more extensive than the one along Interstate 40 near Brownsville.

CCED sold a 2014 truck on GovDeals for $5,950. The truck was declared surplus and auctioned.

The next meeting is July 25, 2:30 at the Carroll County Electric Office.