To prepare for the upcoming switch, Paducah Power made changes to its substation on Schneidman Road and built transmission lines to connect with existing Kentucky Utilities lines for delivery of the power under the bridging contracts and eventually from Prairie State.  PPS is also building a power generation system at the Schneidman Road substation that will provide the extra power needed during peak usage periods, such as the hot summer months.  The natural gas pipeline that will feed the peaking plant is under construction now in parts of McCracken and Marshall Counties and should be completed by the spring.  Equipment at the Schneidman Road substation will allow PPS to use TVA as an emergency backup power supplier.   

Since December 31, 1962, PPS has been owned by the people of Paducah-McCracken County and supplied by TVA after residents voted to buy the system from Kentucky Utilities.  Leaders of the campaign to put the issue to a public vote included drug store owner John Oehlschlaeger and attorney Julian Carroll.  For more information on that vote go to paducahpower.com and click on “general information” and “about PPS”.  

Congress is still working on the so called “Cap and Trade” legislation.  Two bills have emerged that are supposed to put the administration’s “Cap and Trade” program into effect, in an effort to remediate global warming.  Recently I have been looking at information prepared by a lobbyist in Washington on the principle items in the two pieces of legislation.  The one common theme that runs through both bills, if passed into law, is much higher electric rates for consumers.


In my mind, the administration is attempting to demonstrate to the rest of the world, America’s commitment to reducing the effects of global warming is actual science or merely a hypothesis being advanced by special interest groups.  In any case, passage of either of the bills will have a negligible effect on global warming in my opinion.  Developing countries such as China, India and many others, have flatly stated they do not intend to cripple their economies by fighting greenhouse gas emissions until they have modernized their economies.  Studies have shown that even if the U.S. is successful with this legislation, greenhouse gas emissions will continue to increase due to the growth of emissions in developing countries, with China and India being in the forefront.


Attempts are now being made by the administration through the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants.  The bottoms line remains that whether we have greenhouse gas controls in legislation or EPA regulations, it will result in much higher electric rates for all consumers.
Many of the opponents of unilateral greenhouse gas reduction in America point out the cost of such a program will be tremendously high on the American economy and will do very little to control global warming.  Greenhouse gases, whether emitted in China, India or America, still are in the world’s atmosphere.  The opponents of such legislation, including most of the electric utility industry, disapprove of the administration’s efforts to control greenhouse gas through legislation or regulation and instead urge more scientific research on the subject.  I can recall when I first entered the electric utility field in the early 1970’s the rage at that time was global cooling and what we needed to do in order to increase energy output to fight global cooling.


It is my wish that cooler heads prevail on this topic until more is known and more of the world is interested in signing-on to any effort to control greenhouse gases and its sever economic consequences.


Here at Paducah Power, the board, staff and employees, wish all of our consumers a very Merry Christmas and a most prosperous New Year!

Lighting Up Your Christmas

The lights are on in Noble Park.  Paducah Power System’s annual  “Christmas in The Park” event is underway and runs through December 31st.  Admission is free but volunteers will be accepting donations of canned goods and money each night.  All of the food and money will be divided evenly between three charitable agencies: Family Service Society, Paducah Cooperative Ministry and the Salvation Army.  Paducah Power began “Christmas in the Park” in 1997.  Since then the event has raised nearly $300,000 in cash and 270,000 canned good items.

Give a Powerful Gift

Help a friend or family member with energy costs with a  PPS gift certificate.  Our gift certificate program allows you to buy a gift for someone who is hard to buy for or is in need.  PPS sells gift certificates starting at $10.  Once purchased, the dollar amount is applied to the recipient’s bill.  Gift certificates may be purchased any time throughout the year, and are a good way to help someone in need during the winter months.  You may buy a gift certificate for someone and remain anonymous.  For more information call 270-575-4000.

Scholarship Applications Available in January

PPS will begin taking applications for its annual scholarship program January 4th.  Paducah Power System will award three $2000 scholarships this year to students within the PPS system.  Two of those awards will be given to students enrolling full time at West Kentucky Community and Technical College.  Another scholarship will go to a student enrolling full time at any accredited public college or university in Kentucky.  The scholarships will go to students graduating from high school or receiving their GED in the spring of 2010 and enrolling in higher education in the summer or fall of 2010.  Applicants must have lived with a parent or legal guardian for at least one full calendar year in a home that is served by Paducah Power System.  Applicants must also have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.  To receive a scholarship application, contact a high school guidance counselor or call Andrea Underwood at 575-4025.