By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Council for the Town of Kingsville will reach out to ENWIN Group of Companies in hopes of being able to form a relationship, after the Town of Essex announced it sold its shares of E.L.K. Energy – and its subsidy company E.L.K. Solutions – to the City of Windsor-owned utility in March.
The letter to be sent to ENWIN will detail members of Kingsville Council and Administration are committed to building and maintaining a positive working relationship with ENWIN, premised on the Town’s advocacy position for Kingsville and Cottam customers.
The letter would also request a meeting with ENWIN at its earliest convenience.
Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kim DeYong brought this forward as a Notice of Motion at the March 17 Kingsville Council meeting, which was presented for Council consideration – and passed unanimously – at the April 14 meeting.
E.L.K. serves over 12,600 customers in the Essex, Kingsville (and Cottam), and Lakeshore areas.
Through its correspondence to ENWIN, Kingsville will also share it hopes E.L.K.’s current mission statement – to provide the highest quality of service to its customers by ensuring the electrical system is designed, constructed, and maintained to ensure its reliability, safety, and affordability, while increasing shareholder value – continues, despite the purchase.
In addition, Kingsville will ask for regular tree maintenance for Cottam and Kingsville customers, and the expedited construction and installation of a second feeder line to increase the reliability of electricity service for Kingsville and Cottam residents.
When she presented this as a Notice of Motion last month, DeYong explained that Kingsville lost its ability to control the future of E.L.K. when it sold its share to the Town of Essex previously.
Due to the recent sale to ENWIN, Kingsville will lose its seat on the board that governs the utility. That will require Kingsville to establish a relationship with ENWIN, DeYong explained.
After the Town of Essex announced the sale, Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy noted the current E.L.K Board will be transitioned out in the next year. It was negotiated that the E.L.K. territory will have one seat on ENWIN’s Board for ten-years.
“I did speak with ENWIN at the announcement, and I think they are going to be really receptive to working with Kingsville,” DeYong said, believing the utility will accept the letter Kingsville intends to pen.
“I look forward to hearing an update on the conversation with them,” she added.
In the past, Kingsville Council has advocated on behalf of Kingsville and Cottam customers for quality customer service, regular tree maintenance, and increased investment on its distribution infrastructure.
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