Special to El Rrun-Rrun
The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) is extending Public Power Week (Oct. 5-10) by hosting a series of activities for the community throughout the month of October. And unless you received one of the letters like the one on top of this page, you, too, can celebrate the fact that you have a top-heavy administration of overpaid underachievers and your artificially boated utility payments fund the salaries of the top three executives the equivalent of $1 million annually.
You are cordially invited to grope your way in the darkness after we cut off your lights and dress to the nines and join BPUB as it celebrates public power in October along with more than 2,000 other citizen-owned electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.
You can be proud of the fact that while you pay utility rates in excess of 36 percent higher because they messed up in the construction of a $500 million 800 MWs electric generating plant with Tenaska and "wrote of" $9 million for initiating the termination. When that plan folded in 2017, the higher rates had been in place since 2013 and they have not gone down since.
“Public Power Month celebrates the reliable and affordable electricity BPUB provides to its customers,” said PUB General Manager & CEO John S. Bruciak, who since 2013 – when the rates went up – has received more than $100,00 in raises to place him close to a $300,000 salary minus benefits.
“Public Power Month celebrates the reliable and affordable electricity BPUB provides to its customers,” said PUB General Manager & CEO John S. Bruciak, who since 2013 – when the rates went up – has received more than $100,00 in raises to place him close to a $300,000 salary minus benefits.
CEO/GM Bruciak, who lives in South Padre Island, has gone from:
$184,059.20 to $303,576, an increase of $119,517, or 39.37 percent.
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Asst. GM and COO Fernando Saenz, who commutes from Austin weekly, went from:
$160,014.40 to $273,603.20, an increase of $113,598, or 41.5 percent.
CFO Leonardo Garcia has gone from:
$160,014 to $263,286, an increase of $103,271, or 39.2 percent.
"Public power belongs to the community," Bruciak said with a smirk. "And this time of year gives us the opportunity to highlight the advantages that come with having a locally owned utility that supports a strong community such as Brownsville...If we had done this in private industry we would have unceremoniously been given a kick in the pants and shown the door.”
BPUB invites community members to participate in a variety of Public Power Month events, including:
Newspapers in Education – The Oct. 4 edition of the Brownsville Herald has one for the children, as it publishes activities that features lessons in electricity, the history of lineworkers and fun coloring sheets and not once mentions Tenaska. We consider paying The Holler a damn good investment. Anyway, it's the ratepayers' money, not ours.".
Virtual Fall Community Tour: Electricity– At 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, residents will have the opportunity to remotely tour BPUB’s Silas Ray Power Plant and Rio Grande substation, learn more about meter tampering, and watch a pole climbing demonstration by BPUB lineworkers. If your lights have been turned off this is a must-see tour. And no, we no longer provide free electricity to our city mayor or board members. But you can see how to bypass your meter and get free lights like they used to. To watch the virtual tour, borrow your kids' BISD-issued IPad or tablet register on the BPUB website.
Change A Light, Change the World – On Friday, Oct. 23, BPUB will distribute 8,500 LED light bulbs for free at all four HEB locations in Brownsville. If you can go to the different HEBs and stock up on these you can make a down payment on the reconnection fee ($75, $150 if on weekends).
Social Media – Get tips on how to hot wire your meter box and stay safe from electricity.