Century Natural Gas Franchise Agreement Proposed, Area Includes McDavid, Walnut Hill, Bratt

April 2, 2018

An agreement has been proposed that will extend an expiring natural gas franchise for the Town of Century, over four years since Escambia County started the renewal process.

In 1968, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners granted the Town of Century (then known as the Town of South Flomaton) a franchise to provide natural gas services to citizens in the Century area.  The present franchise expires this year.

Century continues to hold 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, Bogia, Byrneville, Bratt, Oak Grove, Walnut Hill and McDavid. Century currently provides gas service only in a portion of their franchise area — near the town limits, south along Highway 29 to and including a portion of Highway 164, west into Byrneville and an area of Bratt.

The town is proposing that the commission adopt a new franchise ordinance that provides the Town with the same rights and responsibilities, as other County franchises, including payment of a five percent franchise fee.  This new franchise would not extend beyond the franchise area previously designated in the 1968 franchise agreement.

The commission will vote Thursday on scheduling a public hearing on April 17 at 5:31 p.m. to consider adoption of the new natural gas franchise area. If approved, the agreement will be in effect until 2048.

In February 2014, the commission was set to hold a similar public hearing, but action was tabled at the request of Pensacola Energy, which provides service to a small number of customers within Century’s franchise area. Discussions have continued sporadically since that time.

Pictured top: A “natural gas gate station” that serves the Town of Century, located just off Highway 168 on Poplar Dell Road.  Pictured: A Pensacola Energy (formally Energy Service of Pensacola) sign that was located in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com file photos.

Comments

6 Responses to “Century Natural Gas Franchise Agreement Proposed, Area Includes McDavid, Walnut Hill, Bratt”

  1. Resident on April 3rd, 2018 3:52 pm

    I do not understand this. Don’t you think it really is getting close to time to cut and run?
    After the unexplained audit and that money was inappropriately moved from special funds to cover general expense to the tune of near 4 million and that special funds were used to cover the money was being lost from the gas department that is is about time to lay off some worker? Three seats open on council no one stepped up to run yet? Feels like a loose tooth hanging by a thread..
    Look into what it takes to keep the water running in and out . Isn’t it inevitable?
    See D5 didn’t come through with RESTORE or Triumph to help failing waste treatment.
    I think I’m OK with a vote to unincorporate.

  2. Sam on April 2nd, 2018 10:29 pm

    Looks like a gold mine if the town gets off their do nothing ……. get the equipment and hire the people to provide the service and maintain it. A no brained.

  3. Citizen on April 2nd, 2018 12:05 pm

    I thought Century was losing money on the franchise and was going to sell it to Pensacola Energy.

  4. Chelleepea on April 2nd, 2018 10:53 am

    Why isn’t the town providing gas in all of the franchise area? Out of all the grant money the entire area should have been developed to bring the town more revenue. Don’t cry after pensacola energy takes over. Do something about it now! You know the saying…use it or lose it.

  5. JustMe on April 2nd, 2018 10:26 am

    The franchise fee they are speaking of is what Century will have to pay the county based on 5 % of their sales.

  6. Oversight on April 2nd, 2018 5:43 am

    It the town of Century is going to provide natural gas “service” in a franchise area, then it needs to provide service. Otherwise, this is a waste of time. On top of that for the county commission to allow the town to charge an additional 5% franchise fee because the county has allowed it to become a monopoly is extortion plain and simple.