By Tom Davis
Correspondent
DAYTON, Tenn. - The City Council has agreed to participate in a TVA incentive program for commercial and small industrial users to improve energy efficiency.
Tennessee Valley Authority spokesman Tim Rader told the council this week that the program would pay cash to customers who improved energy efficiency by upgrading lighting and heating and cooling systems.
City Manager Frank Welch said he has talked with representatives of several firms and gotten positive responses.
"We need to meet with others and get them the details," he said. "I'd say others would be interested."
The decision came in conjunction with a report that TVA will implement a new rate schedule in April 2011 to charge for electricity usage based on the time of day of consumption.
Certain industrial customers will be allowed to convert to the new scale this October to minimize the initial impact of the change, Rader said.
Welch said he recommended the city approve the agreement with TVA now "so we can get a better handle for when we go to this for all customers in April."
In other matters, Bryan College's construction manager, Dan Fry, told the council that the college's plans to connect its new entrance with U.S. Highway 27 are waiting for the Tennessee Department of Transportation to conduct engineering and environmental reviews.
The college has completed all required steps to qualify for state assistance on construction, he said, but the state must conduct its own studies.
Bidding could happen next April, and construction could be complete by next summer, he said.