Power suppliers forecast more rate increases
The drought may be over — but low water levels
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Brad Johnson, journeyman lineworker, and Jocelynn Sonnenberg, intern, hand out capital credit checks. This year, the co-op handed out more than $831,000 to member-consumers who had electric service in 1993. Checks were mailed to members who were unable to attend. |
continue to negatively impact Capital Electric Cooperative. This was the message more than 900 people heard at the coop’s 63rd annual meeting, held June 2 at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck.
The co-op’s power suppliers including Basin Electric Power Cooperative and the Western Area Power Administration (Western) are again forecasting future rate increases. Lars Nygren, general manager of Capital Electric, reported Western must continue purchasing power on the open market because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will fill reservoirs on the Missouri main stem dams and reduce flow levels.
Basin will also continue building new power supply resources to meet future growth requirements, and retrofitting aging generation facilities to meet new environmental standards.
So how will the drought, construction and modification affect Capital Electric members?
“In addition to the 7 percent general rate increase we implemented in October 2008, we anticipate another increase in general rates later on this year,” affirms Dwight Wrangham, who serves as chairman of the board for Capital Electric.
Similar to the co-op’s rate increase last year, this expected increase will also be minimal — compared to what it may climb to if Congress imposes added costs for carbon dioxide emissions.
“A major concern with coal-fired, base-load generation is carbon dioxide emissions,” Nygren says. “Various legislative proposals are being considered.
“We could see residential rates, on an average, increase by 26 percent in North Dakota. At $50 per ton, the increase to North Dakota would be 65 percent,” he warns.
“We need to be vigilant in this debate. We need to keep electricity affordable. So ask our Congressional delegates what carbon legislation is going to cost, and join in the ‘Our Energy, Our Future’ campaign by signing the cards we have available tonight,” he asks.
BUSINESS MEETING IN REVIEW
Chairman Wrangham stated that Capital Electric Cooperative is strong financially. He and Nygren updated the membership on co-op activities, the progress of the automated meter reading system and infrastructure improvements. Highlights included:
• In the past 10 years, consumer levels and kilowatt-hour sales have steadily grown.
• Approximately 14,750 meters are now connected to the automated meter reading system, including electric heat sub-meters. The co-op can now read all meters in Burleigh County, with a few exceptions, and continues to resolve a few minor metering issues.
• To provide power to the co-op’s expanding consumer base needs, Capital Electric is adding a substation just north of Lincoln.
• The headquarters expansion is complete. Basin Electric leases a portion of the new space and will continue through September 2010.
• The storage facility expansion, also at the headquarters office, is also complete.
Co-op welcomes Deon Vilhauer to the Capital Electric board
Voters re-elected incumbents Dwight Wrangham to District 1 and Ervin Mund to District 2 during the co-op’s 63rd annual meeting in June. They also elected Deon Vilhauer to serve a three-year term in District 2; he will replace Shelly Peterson on the board.
During his speech prior to the vote, Vilhauer said his desire to serve on the board stems from his belief that the best way to make a difference is to become involved. Vilhauer will likely bring energy and enthusiasm to the board, as well as some unique life experiences. He works as a public servant for the N.D. Department of Transportation as an aircraft captain in the flight operations office. Prior to that, he worked as chief pilot for the Fargo Jet Center in Fargo.
Vilhauer lives in Bismarck with his wife, Renae, and two daughters, ages 7 and 4.
Welcome to the board, Deon, and thanks for serving your electric cooperative and the community.
The directors who serve on the Capital Electric board want to hear from you, the member-owners. They make decisions based on your concerns and interests. Capital Electric will publish a more personal story on Deon Vilhauer in future center pages of North Dakota LIVING, so you can get to know him and feel comfortable contacting him if you should have any concerns.
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Voters re-elected incumbents Dwight Wrangham (right) to District 1 and Ervin Mund (left) to District 2. They also elected Deon Vilhauer to serve a three-year term in District 2; he will replace Shelly Peterson on the board. |
Capital Electric Cooperative thanks the Nominating Committee for recruiting members to run for the board of directors, and commends the six individuals who stepped forward. The following list includes all the candidates.
Members, if you know any of them, please thank them for offering to serve their electric cooperative.
These individuals have all shown a desire to carry on the traditions of Capital Electric Cooperative, and we appreciate and applaud their efforts.
District 1
• David Wolfer (withdrawn)
• Dwight Wrangham
District 2B
• LeAna Hug
• Curtis Juhala (withdrawn)
• Ervin Mund
• Deon Vilhauer
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It pays to attend your annual meeting! This year, Barbara Handy-Marchello and Ruben Rachel each won $100 as consolation grand prizes at the co-op’s 63rd annual meeting. |
This year, the co-op purchased door prizes from business consumers including PlantPerfect, Olive Garden, Carino’s, Texas Roadhouse and Applebee’s. RESCO and Ditch Witch, co-op business partners, also provided some prizes.
Curt and Jean Lechner, co-op members from Bismarck, won a beautiful flower basket from PlantPerfect. They wrote the following note to thank the co-op.
“Thank you for the beautiful flowers in a planter that we won at your recent annual meeting. We have been members since December 2002. This is the first time we won anything. What a pleasant surprise!”