The sun is shining brightly on the treasury for the Mt. Jewett Regional Sewer Authority.

With solar panels now providing free "sun" power to run impellers at the sewage treatment ponds in Mt. Jewett, the authority's cost for electric has been drastically reduced.

Electric bills for the treatment operation at the ponds now are about $119 per month, Authority Secretary-Treasurer Barb Harp reported Tuesday at the authority's monthly meeting. For the same period last year, the electric bills were over $600 per month, she said.

"It's wonderful," Authority Chairman Patrick McGuire said in commenting on the steep reduction in electric costs. "That's what we wanted."

McGuire said the authority "knew" there would be "significant" reductions in the electric bills for the sewage treatment plant once the solar panels were installed in April. He said he hopes the reduction in electric bills will enable the authority to "hold off" raising sewer rates.

Purchased through a state grant, the three units of SolarBee, Inc. solar panels have been installed on floats in two ponds at the 15-acre lagoon system on Kinzua Street off Kushequa Road.

One unit in the first treatment pond rotates an impeller at the rate of 5,000 gallons per minute. Two units in pond No. 2 each rotate impellers at the rate of 2,500 gallons per minute. The impellers stir the sewage water as part of the treatment process.

Before the solar panels were installed, electric-powered mixers were used to churn the sewage water in the treatment process.

The authority spent $4,256.73 for electric in 2007 to power the mixers. Based on the latest bills, the annual cost for electric at the plant will be much less.

The authority purchased the solar-powered units with a grant of $110,967 from the “Energy Harvest” program under the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  Harp prepared the grant application.

The Mt. Jewett sewage system serves about 460 customers at this time. Under an agreement with Hamlin Township, the Mt. Jewett system is expected to eventually handle sewage from a proposed Lantz Corners sewer district.

In other business at the 59-minute meeting at the borough building on Center Street, the authority:

•Approved a safety policy for workers at the sewage treatment ponds. No one is permitted to work alone at the site. The authority hires part-time summer workers to cut grass and handle other duties at the ponds.

•Discussed a pending request for a tap-in fee for a proposed new house on the Vivian Carlson property on Benson Road. If the existing tap is used, no fee will be charged. However, the standard fee of $750 will be charged if a new tap is needed.

•Discussed a problem with geese at the treatment ponds. Rod Peterson, sewage treatment plant operator, plans to contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission for direction in solving the problem.

•Heard a report that notices were sent to 20 customers with delinquent sewer accounts. Four of these customers already have made their payments in full, Harp said.

•Approved a $500 "performance-based bonus" for both Peterson and Harp. The action came after a 12-minute executive session. McGuire called Peterson "a terrific operator" who often uses his own vehicle for authority business and does not charge the authority for all of his extra time on the job. Harp has been praised for her efforts in preparing the successful application for the grant for the solar panels.

•Approved the purchase of a new "sampler" machine for effluent samples at the treatment ponds. The cost is estimated at $2,460.

•Authorized Peterson to seek proposals for replacing the small influent test building at the treatment ponds. Peterson said he is hoping to make the next building "critter-proof."

•Received notice that a "plugged" sewer line has been repaired at the George McCloskey residence at 159 W. Main St. at no cost to the authority.

•Learned that deposits have been returned to five customers who have paid their bills on time for the past year. The list includes four home-owners who each paid $75 deposits and one renter who paid a $150 deposit.