New school utility costs show no trend yet

The Grand Coulee Dam School District spent $1,762 more in utility expenses for the new school in the first seven full months of this school year, the school board learned Monday night.The utility comparison is for power, water, sewer and garbage, and is from October, 2014 through April, 2015.

Superintendent Dennis Carlson said that a more accurate picture of comparisons will likely take two or three years.

Prior to this year, the district schools were in three different buildings. September, 2014, is not included in the comparison because of the delay in starting school and it wasn’t a full month.

A plus in the utility program is an improvement in clean classroom air, and a consistent air conditioning system, making classrooms more uniform in temperature, Carlson said.

Monthly comparisons do not show any trend or pattern. October, 2013-14, was $2,132 lower in utility costs, and November, 2013-14, was $2,835 higher.

In January, the cost this year was $945 less than the same period the year before.

February bills this year were $2,051 higher, and in March $2,154 lower.

Some fluctuation in costs possibly can be explained in learning how to use the new systems at the school complex. That’s why a longer comparison time might even out the cost and disclose any savings benefit.