LAKE PLACID BILL

Lake Placid, which also has municipal power, got hit with a bill for about $161,000 for Independent Systems Operators charges in May.

Mayor Jamie Rogers said those charges account for about 63 percent of the village's monthly bill for power.

"The problem is there is no set fee for these charges. One month, it's 30 percent; the next, it's 70 percent. It makes it impossible to budget when it's so out of whack like that."

Rogers said he understands Kasprzak's frustration, and he considered not paying the bill back in March when Lake Placid got hit hard but was told by the village attorney that Lake Placid is under contract.

"If we don't pay, it could make for a bigger problem for our customers," he said.

Kasprzak said the North Country's federal representatives need to get involved.

Rogers agrees.

"Nationally, when it comes to energy, we are small, but FERC (Federal Energy Regulation Commission) needs to pay more attention to what is going on."

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com