GLASGOW – Dozens of Glasgow Electric Plant Board customers appeared Thursday at the TJ Health Pavilion’s Community Center to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the utility’s electric rates.

The event was divided into two rooms: one outfitted with an array of seven circular tables, where customers could speak with representatives of E Source or Smart Electric Power Alliance, two market research firms enlisted for the event, and one in which TVA representatives displayed information about how electricity is produced and rates determined.

Fred and Jeanine Shirley were among the first few people to show up for the event. After speaking with Alanya Schofield, an E Source representative, they filled out two forms, expressing their frustration with Infotricity, the EPB rate implemented in January 2016, which charges more than $10 per kilowatt/hour during the hour of each month demand is highest.

“I don’t feel like it’s right that they charge us all that money for just a few kilowatt,” hours, Fred said.

The Shirleys know of multiple people on fixed incomes, including a neighbor, who struggle each month to pay their electric bills, he said.

Though the Shirleys are more financially secure, they opt to go without heat or cooling during each predicted peak hour, Fred said.

“You still got to watch what you do or you won’t have nothing,” he said.

Jeanine, while echoing her husband’s sentiments, said that, while she appreciates the chance to comment, the forum won’t have any impact on the conflict.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’ll do any good,” she said.

EPB Superintendent Billy Ray originally suggested the idea of a public forum to be conducted by TVA at a January EPB board of directors meeting.

At the January meeting, he specifically suggested that he not attend the meeting for fear of any ideas he suggests being dismissed out of hand.

EPB customer Connie Marr criticized this decision, accusing Ray of being too afraid to face the public, as well as the decision to have attendees fill out forms and turn them in.

“This was useless,” she said. “They could have mailed them to us and have us send them back.”

TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said the customers were asked to fill out forms to ensure that every comment is in writing, adding that there are worries that specific complaints made at EPB and Glasgow City Council meetings are being forgotten.

“We’re going to put all the comments together and then they’ll be taken back to the EPB board and more than likely what will come out of that is working to try to see what the next steps are,” he said.

Brooks said he expects all 154 local utilities TVA provides with power to eventually implement new rates that charge customers based on their contributions to the peak hour, similar to what Glasgow EPB has done.

“Everybody will be passing this on at some point,” he said.

Unlike most people who showed up to the forum, Steve Peck came to express indifference to the new rate structure.

Peck, himself a senior citizen on a fixed income, said people need to pay for the power they use.

“I don’t mind it,” he said, adding he understands the concerns some people have but not the widespread “aggravation” in the community.

He said his electric bill has not gone up much since Infotricity was implemented and that an alternate flat rate introduced in October is available for people having trouble paying under Infotricity.

A September release from Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office said the optional rate provided little to no relief.

“It’s not that big an issue in my opinion,” Peck said. “Shoot, you have an alternative now that makes the issue moot.”

TVA spokesman Mark Brooks said he expects all 154 local utilities TVA provides with power to eventually implement new rates that charge customers based on their contributions to the peak hour, similar to what Glasgow EPB has done.