Writer urges voter referendum on issue

A public referendum is probably the only objective way to decide if Bristol Virginia Utilities should become an authority. There is too much at stake for a divided City Council to decide.
The issue suffers from a lack of objectivity because all information is coming from BVU. For example, the public is unaware that Intelligent Communities Forum is a broadband trade organization. What is really needed is an independent assessment so everyone can consider the pros and cons.
Communities won’t die because they don’t have OptiNet. Virtually anyone anywhere can already have high speed Internet access via satellite. The Internet can also be accessed by phone.
BVU does not need everything on its wish list. Repairing water and sewer lines is a multi-year project. Funding could be borrowed as each project phase is completed.
The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine say smart meters benefit utility companies far more than consumers, such as allowing power to be remotely disconnected for late payment.
What consumers really want is cheaper electricity. Government incentives to install solar panels are available, but Bristol’s power grid is not properly equipped. Solar energy would greatly minimize the amount electricity consumers must purchase. Incentives are also available for BVU to build wind farms.
It’s hard to see how BVU as an authority would bring more jobs to the area than it has as a municipal utility. Infrastructure is infrastructure, no matter who builds it.
OptiNet will become increasingly profitable in the future. BVU says its contribution to the city will grow, but there are really no guarantees. Once BVU becomes an authority, it can even merge with other authorities that will have their own board members and term length requirements. How much control would the city have then?
The BVU spinoff documents are full of loopholes and conditional language, and the Freedom of Information Act alone is no guarantee of BVU transparency. BVU has stacked the deck in its favor thus far.
The Bristol Herald Courier said the reasons for the spinoff are simple. Only if you realize that they benefit BVU far more than the citizens it’s supposed to serve.

Deborah Jones
Bristol, Va.