Council Discusses Massive Electric Bill, Approves Fireworks

The City of Sullivan, like many communities that operate their own electric department, are facing a massive electric supply bill.

During the March 2 meeting, it was not known how much the February 2021 bill from Mid-Missouri Municipal Power Energy Pool (MMMPEP).

For several days beginning February 12, record low temperatures combined with strained on the power grid in the midwest and south is alleged to have caused a dramatic increase in electric and natural gas.

Sullivan City Administrator J.T. Hardy informed the council they had received notice to expect a large increase for the power used by the City of Sullivan through the buying group. In fact, all municipalities are facing the same, if not worse, invoices.

Hardy reported to the council that electric prices are normally in the $20-$30/mega watt range but during the recent power crises traded as high as $4,000 mwh. Natural gas prices normally trade at $2 to $3 per dekatherm but went as high as $1,000 dth.

The Independent News learned Monday the bill is $3.2 million, up from $518,608 in February 2020.

Read more on this story in the March 10 issue of the Independent News.