Dalton Utilities ended January with a $4.559 million operating margin, according to data presented to the utility’s board recently. That’s $2.237 million above what was forecast in the budget.
The utility uses money generated from its operations to support investments in maintaining and expanding the operation of facilities, to fund debt service obligations and to fund its transfer payment to the city’s general fund.
Dalton Utilities pays the city each year a transfer payment set at the larger of $10.5 million or 5% of the utility’s total revenues. That transfer payment was $12.1 million in 2023.
In January, electricity revenue exceeded expenses by $4.12 million. Natural gas expenses exceeded revenue by $588,000. For water services, revenue exceeded expenses by $90,000 in January.
For wastewater services, expenses exceeded revenue by $394,000 for the month.
OptiLink revenue exceeded expenses by $163,000 in January.
The current forecast calls for a year-end operating margin of $72.8 million. But that is likely to change as more data comes in, according to utility officials.
Officials also reviewed the utility’s electric business sector. Dalton Utilities serves some 17,600 customers and provided those customers with 3.1 billion kilowatt hours in 2023.
The board approved a request for proposals to replace the roof of its administrative building. Bids are due May 10. The project has an estimated cost of $450,000 and is expected to take 45 days to complete.
The board also accepted a $455,250 bid from Ellis Contracting of Chatsworth to replace waterlines on Pentz Street and Cuyler Street in Dalton. That bid is just for the labor. Dalton Utilities will supply the materials.