Wakefield City Council retains current electric rates

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield - A Tuesday public hearing on electric rates resulted in the Wakefield city council voting to retain current rates.

Council member Pat Mann read a short statement concluding, "I feel I do not have sufficient information to make a recommendation at this time."

"We just got information this weekend," said mayor pro tempore Amy Tarro, who added she wished they'd received it well in advance of the hearing.

Council member Jim Anderson described the new intelligence as "a lot of data."

After the hearing, Mann told the Globe the new information was regarding the city's contract with American Electric Power Company, Inc.

AEP delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states, according to its website.

In an interview last week, city manager Richard Brackney said the city's contract with AEP runs until 2025.

"There's a lot of variables involved," said Mann during the hearing. "In my conscience, I cannot see doing anything now."

Hence, she moved to retain current rates "until a fair decision can be determined," and the council voted with unanimous support.

Any future consideration of electric rates would necessitate another public hearing, said Bill Nordine, an associate of city attorney Ray O'Dea.

Mayor John Granato clarified no additional public hearing has been scheduled, but if and when one were scheduled it would be advertised to the public in advance.

The widely anticipated hearing drew a full chamber of city residents, but comments from the public were minimal.

Sherry Graham, executive director of the Wakefield Housing Commission, complained of a lack of resolution to questions she has had about Sunset Manor, the city's low-income housing unit.

"The electric rates seem extremely high," she said. Even after a transformer check, she said, "Our rates still have not gone down."

Moreover, she said, "I still don't know how we're being calculated."

Granato reminded her the hearing was strictly about the discussion of a possible rate increase or decrease.