McCracken County Schools want Paducah Power Systems to release the district from its service contract, but state law may not allow it.
The school district currently has 11 facilities powered by PPS, 5 by Jackson Purchase Energy and 2 receiving power from Kentucky Utilities.
School Board attorney Gorman Bradley sent a letter this week requesting PPS transfer all service to facilities over to JPE.
2015 08 31 GBJ Ltr to ROBERTS & JOINER Re PPS Service Transfer (2 Pgs)
The letter cites statute KRS 278.018, known as the Certified Territory Act, which makes a provision for contractual transfer of service.
But PPS Spokeswoman Andrea Underwood says that statute only applies to retail utilities and not PPS, which is a municipal utility.
"We consulted with our attorney, and he has advised us that the statute cited in the letter is a part of the Certified Territory Act which has no application to determine the electric service area of PPS and that it’s well established by previous rulings that PPS is not subject to the provisions of the Certified Territory Act," said Underwood.
Paducah Power customers have been hit with high bills as the utility grapples with high debt levels. But, the utility is making efforts to ease the high costs to customers.
Underwood says PPS officials met with the MCS’s superintendent and attorney yesterday to discuss logistics.
Neither party cited a reason for the request.