RAY RIVERA
WESTFIELD – As one of two faces running to represent Ward Two on the city’s Gas & Electric Commission, Ray Rivera is looking to keep the organization a municipal institution for a city where he has lived his whole life, in the ward he seeks to represent today.
A graduate of Westfield High School and a 20-year veteran of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Rivera’s city government credentials are solid, having served on the city’s Planning Board for two years, and serving six as Park and Recreation Commissioner.
Regarding what he hopes to accomplish as Ward Two G&E rep and why he believes it makes sense to keep the operation municipal, Rivera kept it short and simple.
“(The city of Westfield) get better customer service than any of the nearby communities,” he said. “Bigger cities have seven, eight, ten weeks without power. We can send people right away if power goes out.”
Rivera also believes that, by buying gas at open market, Westfield G&E is able to offer lower rates to city residents.
“We’re ten percent lower for electricity, twelve percent lower in gas,” he said when compared to the rates of other non-municipal operations statewide.
He said that the provision of services by Westfield Gas & Electric, such as lighting of city trees during the Christmas season and raising flags on national holidays would continue with his manning of the Ward Two fort.
“They provide better community support of local charities and events,” Rivera said.
The married former DARE officer and father of two also pointed out that, during the past few storms which have impacted the western end of Hampden County, the Whip City has seen the G&E “provide better service, restore power sooner and communicate with their customers more effectively” than other investor-owned utility companies in the area.
Regarding his personal goals for the seat, Rivera’s thoughts sit squarely with the customer.
“I want to make sure customers understand things like their bills, especially seniors,” he said. “If they don’t understand things, I want to explain them. If one month it’s higher than another, I want them to know why. I want them to be able to read and understand their meters.”
On paper, Rivera’s goals are easy to read and understand as well.
“The city is getting the best we can give,” he said of the Westfield G&E. “And I will be visible and available to the customer.”
