Georgia Power has been approved by the Board of Education to provide electricity service for the new junior high school on White Oak Road.
Bids in December from both Georgia Power and Jefferson Energy Cooperative were rejected because the prices were too high, and were based on different levels of kilowatt hours. Architect James W. Buckley and Associates requested new bids on equal levels so the board could "compare apples to apples," according to Assistant Superintendent Jim Franklin.
The two companies can compete when there is a large commercial load. The Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act of 1973 provides new business customers with a connected load over 900 kilowatts a one-time choice of the supplier. Once the contract is awarded, it cannot be changed. Currently, Georgia Power is the supplier for all of McDuffie County schools except for the high school.
At the rebidding in January, Dr. Franklin said Jefferson Electric stood by their original price, but Georgia Power lowered their rate.
"Competition does help," Dr. Franklin said.
The contract, worth more than $60,000, was awarded to Georgia Power by a unanimous vote from the board during the Jan. 11 meeting. Several representatives from each company were present at the meeting to answer questions and receive the outcome.
