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| Brownsville PUB CEO John Bruciak |
Arrogant assholes are a dime a dozen. Some are born well to do, developing an illogical feeling of superiority over time. Others acquire prominence through business or politics, lose the common touch, feeling they need answer to no one.
Judge for yourselves if John Bruciak should be considered to be in that category with his performance in the role of General Manager/CEO of the Brownsville Public, yes public!, Utilities Board.
Seven years ago Bruciak persuaded the City Commission to approve a 7% utility raise 4/1/2013, followed by another 7% raise 10/1/2013, yet another 7% raise 10/1/2014 and an 8% raise 10/1/2015. The percentages compounded easily exceed 40%.
The purpose of the rate increase was said to be the purchase of 200 megawatts or 25% of an 800 megawatt power plant from the Tenaska Corporation to be named the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant.
The deal negotiated by Bruciak was lopsidedly in favor of the Tenaska Corporation with Brownsville's Public Utility paying $345 million or 65% of the total cost of a $500 million power plant, but receiving only 25% of the power. Almost comically, Brownsville would also be responsible for selling the other 600 watts of produced power.
The rate increases would be used to pay off 20 year bonds to fund the plant.
Construction on the plant was said to start in 2014 with construction completed by 2016. 600-700 temporary jobs for locals were also promised with "23 permanent well-paying jobs."
None of that transpired as the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant was never built.
Yet, all the rate increases above were collected and remain in effect.
When ratepayers cried foul and demanded a return of the overcharges, Bruciak remained silent.
Public information requests received no response with Bruciak's lawyers convincing the Texas Attorney General that accounting for the money ratepayers had spent on a plant never built would uncover "proprietary information."
Yes, the original request for a rate increase did mention constructing the power plant and other infrastructure, but the thrust of the increase was for a power plant never built.
In 2019 all three mayoral candidates promised that, if elected, they would find out exactly how the rate increases were utilized and how much was actually raised.
That promise remains unfulfilled.
John Bruciak has proven himself to be an arrogant asshole, but also dishonest.
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I met with two representatives of Tenaska at Denny's for breakfast one morning. I was recently retired and was asked to meet them by a PUB official . Seems they wanted to speak to a Brownsville Resident for input on the Public perception of the proposed plant. Later, I read how nothing became of this venture. Well, at least I got a grand slam out of them.
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