FPB approves plan for local after-hours service

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In the coming months, Frankfort Plant Board customers can rest easy that calls to report outages will be answered locally. At its regular January meeting, FPB’s Board of Directors approved a plan for a local Network Operations Center (NOC) and after-hours dispatch. This move continues a process that aims to improve after-hours service for customers and safety conditions for employees.

The board approved staff’s recommendation in July 2018 to hire a director to develop and manage a NOC. This department would be responsible for regular and after-hours dispatch, customer outage management, after-hours customer contacts, facility locates and emergency responses.

Recognizing the need to enhance these services, $535,000 in funding was included in the 2018-19 budget and approved by the board in June 2018 to develop the NOC.

Deron Rambo, FPB’s newly-hired NOC Manager, presented the plan which included information about staffing, training, duties and supports, quality assurance, outage and trouble reporting model, utility locates, and the Land Mobile Radio Network.

In addition to the NOC manager, the department will employ a staff of eight who will rotate work in 12-hour shifts, monitoring the radio 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“A local NOC could help appease customers as they call in and talk with someone who knows Frankfort and its streets and roads,” said FPB Public Information Coordinator Cathy Lindsey. “It is also safer for on-call crews who may respond to a call at night that someone locally knows where they are.”

Rambo indicated that if all goes according to plan, the NOC should be up and running this spring.

In other business, the board agreed to hold a public hearing at a special meeting of the Frankfort Plant Board on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, at 5 p.m. to discuss increasing the rate for Classic Cable service, Bulk cable I and Bulk cable II.

The public notice proposes to increase the Classic Cable tier (channels 2-98) rate from $63.50 per month to $67.00 per month effective March 1, 2019. The increase is required to keep pace with annual increases in wholesale license fees FPB must pay to programmers. In fact, 83 percent of the cable bill does not stay with FPB. This increase represents a complete pass-thru to the programmers.

FPB has worked to keep increases to a minimum by decreasing operating expenses. This is the first proposed rate increase in Classic Cable in two years.

In other news, the board approved renewing FPB’s insurance policies and pollution liability, and  renewing a 3-year contract with NBCUniversal to continue carrying the following networks: USA, NBC Sports Network, Syfy, Oxygen, Bravo, E!, CNBC, MSNBC, and Golf Channel on Classic Cable; Universal Kids and Olympic Channel on Preferred Cable; and Olympics programming. This agreement, which also covers streaming and Video On Demand rights, represents programming license fee increases of 8.5 percent in the first year and 5.5 percent in years two and three.

Finally, the board reviewed a promotional spot for its new Round Up for Change program. Round Up for Change offers FPB customers the opportunity to round up their monthly bill to the next highest dollar. The difference will go to Bluegrass Community Action Partnership’s (BGACP) Winter Care program.

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Scattered Outages 12/27/18

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FPB Crews are working several scattered outages across Franklin County caused by high winds. Crew are working to restore services as quickly as possible. Cable-Telecom outages may also occur in these areas. 

Outage Areas Include: Mills Lane, Hanks Lane, Ninevah Road, Shady Lane, Country Lane, Westland Drive, and Old US 60.

Crews are working to restore service as quickly and as safely as possible. 

FPB launches Round Up for Change

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The Frankfort Plant Board will soon launch a new program to aid winter care resources. Round Up for Change offers FPB customers the opportunity to round up their monthly bill to the next highest dollar. The difference will go to Bluegrass Community Action Partnership’s (BGACP) Winter Care program.

 Winter Care funds are available to those most in need to pay utility bills for winter services. In addition to Winter Care, BGCAP offers community services like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization program.

 “The pennies contributed by each customer to Round Up for Change, when combined with the pennies of other customers, could make a real difference in some lives,” said Cathy Lindsey, FPB public information coordinator. “This is a real example of community helping community.”

 Each participating FPB customer could contribute an estimated $6 per year – a small amount to help a worthy cause. If 20,000 FPB customers participated, approximately $120,000 could be contributed annually to the Winter Care fund to assist Frankfort’s community members most in need.

 Round Up for Change, a voluntary program, will be available beginning Jan. 2, 2019. Customers can sign up or opt out at any time by completing the Round Up for Change form, which is available online or at the FPB office on Flynn Ave.

 In addition to the Round Up for Change program, FPB also offers customers the opportunity to contribute to Winter Care in lump sums every month on their bills. This is a tax-deductible contribution to BGCAP. Funds are distributed by BGCAP when client assessment identifies a need in the home. Winter Care funds received from FPB are used for FPB clients only.

 For more information, go to https://fpb.cc/round-up-for-change or call (502) 352-4372. FPB customers in need of Winter Care assistance can contact the BGCAP Franklin County office at 502-695-5615.

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Boil Water Advisory lifted for Northwood

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The Water Department of the Frankfort Plant Board is notifying you that the Division of Water of the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has now canceled the Boil Water Advisory.

This Advisory was issued 12/3/18 due to the loss of pressure in the water main caused by Plant Board crews repairing a water main break.

The area affected was:

·       121 to 153 Northwood Rd

If you should have any questions or problems with normal service or water quality please call 352-4372.

Water Service Interruption and Boil Water Advisory - Northwood Road

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Water service has been interrupted on Northwood in order to repair a water main leak. Water service will be restored as quickly and as safely as possible. 

The Water Department of the Frankfort Plant Board advises to boil the water before drinking or using it for cooking. The advisory is in effect for the following area:

·      120 - 153 Northwood Rd

A vigorous boil for at least two minutes is recommended. This Boil Water Advisory is a precautionary measure due to a loss of pressure in the water main caused by Plant Board crews repairing a water main leak.

This Advisory will remain in effect until lab analysis of water samples taken confirms that the potable water supply in the effected area is safe to drink. You will receive a notice when this advisory is lifted.

If you have any questions concerning the Boil Water Advisory please call 352-4372.

Support Services Director Mark Redmon Retires

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Staff of the Frankfort Plant Board would like to congratulate Support Services Director Mark Redmon on his retirement and thank him for his 26 years of service to FPB.

“FPB has been a staple of the Frankfort community for more than 75 years, and we owe that success to our employees,” said Cathy Lindsey, FPB public information coordinator. “Today we say goodbye to one of the best. Mark Redmon has been with FPB for more than a third of the company’s existence and has built a successful career here in his hometown. We wish him the best as he retires and enjoys his next adventure.”

Mark started at FPB in 1992 as a stock clerk. He was promoted to inventory control coordinator and then support services director in 2005 where he leads the department in charge of the operations that keep FPB running – inventory, stock room, garage, maintenance of all FPB facilities, fleet vehicles and equipment, grounds crew, janitorial services and purchasing.

“Mark is one of the unsung heroes behind the scenes,” said Assistant General Manager Vent Foster. “He has been an excellent manager for years, and we are going to miss him and all the experience he has. We want to thank him for all that he has done for FPB.”

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Boil Water Advisory - Fannin Court

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The Water Department of the Frankfort Plant Board advises to boil the water before drinking or using it for cooking. The advisory is in effect for the following area:

·       Fannin Ct

A vigorous boil for at least two minutes is recommended. This Boil Water Advisory is a precautionary measure due to a loss of pressure in the water main caused by Plant Board crews tying in the new water main.

This Advisory will remain in effect until lab analysis of water samples taken confirms that the potable water supply in the affected area is safe to drink. You will receive a notice when the advisory is lifted.

If you have any questions concerning the Boil Water Advisory, please call 352-4372.

FPB makes moves to prepare customers for winter

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The Frankfort Plant Board is taking proactive steps to prepare customers for the hardships that accompany colder weather. Between energy-saving tips, gifting opportunities and connections with Blue Grass Community Action, FPB is on a campaign to provide customers with the resources they need to stay warm this season.

“We care about our customers and are doing what we can to help,” said General Manager Gary Zheng. “Beyond sharing information about energy efficiency, weatherization assistance and energy assistance programs, we are also offering our community opportunities to support each other in the spirit of the holiday season.”

FPB kicked off its “Winter is coming!” campaign downtown last Friday night at the Candlelight Tradition. Electric crew members were on hand with a light board to demonstrate the efficiency of light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs as compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs typically use about 65 to 80 percent less energy and can last 25 times longer. The team also gave away more than 250 LED bulbs and other information to encourage energy efficiency.

FPB is also producing eight 30-second spots focused on tips that will help customers save energy and money during the cold months. These will run on FPB cable and will be featured on social media, in FPB’s lobby and on FPB’s website at https://fpb.cc/energy-saving-tips.

Beginning Dec. 3, FPB will offer gift certificates through its new POWER program. POWER stands for Providing Others Water and Electric Resources. The program allows a gift-giver to credit the Frankfort Plant Board account of the customer of his or her choosing.

The POWER gift certificate works more like a credit. While a traditional gift certificate can get lost or stolen, the POWER credit is deposited directly into the recipient’s FPB account upon purchase. FPB will automatically deduct the amount of purchase from the recipient’s next bill.

“If you prefer to give practical gifts, this is for you,” said Public Information Coordinator Cathy Lindsey. “POWER makes a great gift for young adults trying to make it on their own, families in need or senior citizens.”

FPB recognizes that some may want to share the power of giving but do not have a specific customer account to designate. That’s where the Winter Care program comes in. This is a program with Blue Grass Community Action Partnership (BGCAP). BGCAP offers community services like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Winter Care and the Weatherization program.

FPB customers may notice a box on their bill labeled as Winter Care. This gives the opportunity for a tax-deductible donation that will be given to BGCAP. Winter Care funds are available to those most in need to pay utility bills for winter services. Funds are distributed by BGCAP when client assessment identifies a need in the home. Winter Care funds received from FPB are used for FPB clients only.

FPB customers in need of Winter Care assistance can contact the BGCAP Franklin County office at 502-695-5615.

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