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Century, Pensacola Bicker Over Natural Gas Franchise; Pcola Energy Threatens To Cut Off Schools
April 4, 2014
Amid threats from Pensacola Energy to cut off natural gas service to 50 Bratt and Walnut Hill customers — including three schools, the Escambia County Commission has once again scheduled a public hearing to consider a new natural gas franchise ordinance for the Town of Century.
Century currently holds exclusive franchise rights from Escambia County to provide natural gas service from the Escambia River westward to almost the Perdido River and from the Alabama state line southward to near Bogia. The franchise area includes Century, Byrneville, Bratt, Oak Grove, Walnut Hill and McDavid.
The 50-year franchise was granted by the county in 1968 to the Town of Century (then known as the Town of South Flomaton) to provide natural gas services to the northernmost part of the county.
Pensacola Energy, formerly known as Energy Services of Pensacola, currently provides natural gas service to commercial customers in Bratt and Walnut Hill — within the Town of Century’s gas franchise area. Pensacola Energy provides natural gas to Ernest Ward Middle School and Escambia Grain in Walnut Hill, and Bratt Elementary and Northview High School in Bratt. They also provide natural gas service to an unknown number of residential customers near Kansas Road, Green Village Road and North Highway 99 in Bratt.
Thursday night, Pensacola Energy Director Don Suarez told the Escambia County Commission that adoption of the new franchise agreement as written would immediately cause his agency to stop gas delivery to the three schools and dozens of other customers and force Pensacola Energy to render its infrastructure unusable in the area.
“That’s not in the best interest of those customers, Pensacola Energy or Century,” Suarez said.
“My hope would be that the county would stay neutral and allow Century and Pensacola to work out their differences,” County Attorney Alison Rogers said, a sentiment echoed by Commissioners Steven Barry and Grover Robinson during the meeting.
Matt Dannheisser, legal counsel for the Town of Century, told commissioners Thursday morning that the commission’s vote to extend the franchise and whether or not Pensacola improperly served customers are two different issues. He said the Town of Century, if unable to resolve issues with Pensacola, has no intent of involving the county.
The commission voted to set an April 29 public hearing and vote on an ordinance providing the new, time-extended franchise agreement to Century in the same geographical area that has been in their territory since 1968.
Pictured top: A Pensacola Energy meter in front of Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill, inside the Town of Century gas franchise area. Pictured inset: Century engineer Dale Long, attorney Matt Dannheisser and Mayor Freddie McCall before the Escambia County Commission Thursday. Pictured below: The Town of Century’s gas franchise map (click to enlarge). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Century, Pensacola Bicker Over Natural Gas Franchise; Pcola Energy Threatens To Cut Off Schools”
It seems obvious that the children will suffer because adults can’t share nicely. What sort of example does this set for the children? Thank you Mr. Barry for your common sense approach!
I do not have anything to do with this, but it seems like my neighbors right across the line do.. Why are two municipalities litigating this, and why is one threatening to cut the schools off? All the while a lot of tax dollars are being spent that could have been better used in North Escambia County and Pensacola!
I don’t have to worry with either but pay attention. Pensacola will
Not be happy till they control every thing to the state line.. Do as I did ,go total electric ..granted if you drive through either towns ,there is little difference. . Dilapidated homes and buisness. So maybe what they all need to do is find a way to improve the run down trashy city and focus on improving the way they blow the peoples tax dollars like this arguing over a simple fix .. Go electric
Not sure why this has to be so complicated. Both parties are acting like children, and the county ought to be thinking twice about their dealings with each of them.
The City of Century should have infrastructure in place to provide service to all in their franchise area. If they can’t service a customer in their area, they should not have the franchise.
Pensacola Energy has infrastructure in a franchise area that is not theirs. They should be compensating the City of Century. Instead of issuing threats against children, they should be bending over backwards to make a deal.
So, if I am reading this correctly, the Pensacola Energy leaders are using our children in public schools as pawns in their game plan to gain a monopoly in the county?
Schools use natural gas in the kitchens, hot water heaters for restrooms and showers and HVAC systems that are directly related to student and staff health and safety.
How can this unveiled threat to our students and citizens in order to gain turf rights be the right thing to do?
Why would a town be granted the right to control gas distribution? I’m from up north originally and gas distribution is always in the hands of private companies. I don’t think that any company or any town could handle the distribution including pipelines to an area that large, I believe that the franchise should be split up into several parcels.
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t Century had a leaking gas line beneath the highway for years that was never fixed?
Just because the Town of Century has had this francise agreement since sixties mean they walk in and DEMAND the area DECADES Later. CENTURY hasen’t been equited to prvoide natural gas services to the Oak Grove, Walnut Hill, McDavid area till recently. SO now they see Revenue for the CITY OF CENTURY! I usally pull for the Northend but this is ONE time I have to Agree with Pensacola Energy. LIKE Mr. Barry said Both should be allowed the to keep and Service the Long time customers they have build over the years. Beside it is ALWAYS better to have choices when picking companies your shopping for. This is a Big County to cover and there is plenty of room for both gas supply companies… Sorry Town of Century your pants has gotten to Big the last couple years. Tryin to tell us in the County what to do like you do with the people of Century. We don’t LIVE in Town of Century. THANKS MR. BARRY FOR HAVING SOME COMMON SENCE!