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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
April 23, 2003
BOROUGH QUESTIONS POWER LINE BILL
Author: NIKI CAMPBELL
The bill for installing a power line at Zelienople's new substation is $85,000 higher than the
original estimate, and the borough wants to know why.
Borough Manager Marla Marcinko told council April 14 that she repeatedly has asked
FirstEnergy Corp. for a breakdown of the additional costs contained in the $265,000 bill. The
original estimate for the project was $180,000.
"FirstEnergy is telling us there were additional costs associated with the construction at the
substation," Marcinko said. "We just want to know what those costs are. I've requested a
breakdown numerous times and have received no response."
Marcinko said she believes about $50,000 of the amount is for a federal capital improvement tax
that the borough must pay.
FirstEnergy spokeswoman Kristen Baird said later that an explanation of the charges is
forthcoming.
"We are investigating the additional costs and hope to have something to the borough soon," she
said.
Councilman James Zeigler suggested that the borough authorize a payment of $180,000, the
original estimate, but council tabled the matter until its workshop meeting on Monday.
Zelienople is one of the few communities in the state that runs its own electric company,
supplying residents with electricity that the borough buys wholesale. The borough built the
substation on Route 68 to handle increased demand for electricity. The total cost for the project,
which was plagued by years of delays and schedule changes, is about $2 million.
Marcinko said she expected the substation to be up and running this month. In response to
questions from council members, she said the unpaid bill to FirstEnergy was not causing a delay
in putting the substation into operation.
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