Edgecomb officials are investigating a mysterious spike into Edgecomb Eddy School’s electrical and heating fuel consumption.

The school’s year-to-date kilowatt per hour usage was 161,760 in March, which is substantially higher than the previous two fiscal years, according to Alternative Organizational Structure 98 records. In 2014-15, the school used 125,840 kwh by March. In 2013-14, it consumed 128,160 kwh by March.

The unexplained usage has increased electrical costs by $4,505 year-to-date, according to AOS 98 records.

The school has also burned 3,190 more heating fuel gallons year-to-date. The increased fuel consumption has registered only a minor heating fuel budget increase. Year-to-date costs are up only $617.

During the April 5 Edgecomb School Committee meeting, Principal Lisa Clarke reported that the unexpected surge in electrical and heating fuel consumption began in July.

At first, school officials considered the 14-year-old building’s heating, boiler and ventilation systems as the possible culprit. A couple of months ago, the manufacturer inspected the systems and didn’t find any substantial off-peak hour usage. But the investigation found a different problem. The manufacturer reported the system didn’t work efficiently,  according to Clarke’s report.

Special Education Teacher Tanya Thibault has worked at the Edgecomb Eddy School since it opened in 2002. She said the school’s heating system hasn’t worked since it was installed and didn’t believe the recent problems were due to the system’s inefficiencies.

“Heating has always been a problem in this school, but the furnace is firing more dependably since it was repaired,” she said.

The manufacturer also inspected the electrical panel, looking for possible leakage, but found no evidence.

“It was checked but we still can’t find it. All we can do is trace it back to the fall,” Clarke said.

The spike in electricity costs concerns school officials more than the increased heating oil use.

“The fuel is OK. It’s the electricity that worries me because right now we’re $5,000 over (budget),” said Superintendent Eileen King.

In an effort to reduce electrical costs, school officials will request that Central Maine Power check the power meter and AOS 98 Director of Facilities Dave Benner will request a rate reduction from the public utility.

In other action, King reported the school budget is on track to finish the fiscal year under budget. But two unexpected expenses may make finishing in the black more challenging. The committee must pay tuition for a student attending Nobleboro Central School. The committee also wants to purchase a used Southport school bus.

In September, an Edgecomb bus had an oil leak and became further incapacitated following a parking lot accident which damaged its doors.

The school committee and Southport selectmen negotiated an $8,000 price for the used bus. Now the Edgecomb School Committee is considering ways to pay for it. If the bus is purchased in the current fiscal year then the committee needs to request additional funding from Edgecomb taxpayers, according to King.

“Right now we’re on the right side of the budget, but it will be close. We’re doing a projection every other week to the end of the year. We will make it unless we buy the school bus,” she said.

The school committee also reached a contracted meal service agreement with the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District. Edgecomb will pay the CSD $6,000 per year for lunches mainly prepared at the Boothbay Region Elementary School. The agreement also calls for a price increase of 10 cents, to $2.75.

The committee ended the meeting with an executive session to consider the principal’s evaluation and employment.

The committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10 at Edgecomb Eddy School.