VIDALIA &8212; The Super Wal-Mart being planned for Vidalia will save $1.3 million off its electric rates over 10 years under a new economic development rate recently adopted by aldermen.

Figures on what the store would pay under the usual commercial rate schedule were not available as of Sunday afternoon.

But Town Attorney Jack McLemore did say the ordinance setting the special rate schedule was passed contingent upon Wal-Mart employing more than 200 people and generating at least $600,000 in sales tax revenues a year for the city.

While the city is losing a predicted $130,000 a year in electric payments, &8220;it&8217;s certainly better than them not coming to town at all,&8221; McLemore said.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said that contrary to rumors, the amount Wal-Mart would save through the special rate schedule &8220;is nowhere near&8221; 50 percent of what its bill would be otherwise.

Also, Vidalia aldermen will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. March 6 at town hall on annexing a tract of land Wal-Mart recently bought into city limits. Of the 25.41 acres the retailer purchased from the family of Charles L. Johnson, all but 1.07 acres already lies inside of city limits.

Aldermen will vote in their March 14 meeting on annexing the land.

The electric rate schedule and the annexation &8220;are the only incentives I know of&8221; that Vidalia has offered Wal-Mart, McLemore said.