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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Mayor Domenic Sarno admitted the focus of a press conference last week may not have been "sexy," but he said the savings the city will see from buying its electricity at auction will allow some of the "sexier" projects to be funded. Working with World Energy Exchange, the city of Springfield purchased a 60-month supply of electricity for $47.5 million -- $500,000 less than what the city had budgeted for electrical energy. The half-million dollars will be reallocated to other areas in the city budget. Sarno called energy costs "budget busters." World Energy CEO Richard Domaleski said the firm had worked with the city for the past six months preparing for the bid. He explained that purchasing energy in this manner helps to avoid dealing with rising prices and "increased energy market volatility." Stephen Lisaukas, executive director of the Finance Control Board, said, "even over the last couple of weeks, it's shown to be a good decision." Lisaukas said the purchase of electricity at auction was one of the many efforts the city is making to either reduce or hold costs. Sarno said the city's electrical use was estimated to be a price increase of 30 percent. World Energy also works with Worcester in buying its electricity as well as with the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Patrick Sullivan, the head of the Building and Parks and Recreation Department, explained that previously the city bought its power from Western Massachusetts Electric Co. and two years ago released a Request for Proposal to buy electricity at a reduced cost. |