Members
of Western Illinois Electrical Coop. (WIEC) heard about the financial
status of the cooperative and said goodbye to board member Briscoe Menke
during the organization’s 68th Annual Meeting, held Thursday,
June 28, at the Hancock County Cooperative Extension Center in Carthage.
Treasurer Janet Spory delivered the good news that WIEC had a
profitable year. Spory said
total margins for last year totaled more than $700,000 and WIEC will
return more than $70,000 in capital credits to its members.
With this retirement, WIEC will have paid back capital credits up
to 1970.
Manager Paul Dion reported that WIEC had another excellent year
with stable rates and informed members that they do not expect a price
increase in power through 2008.
In 2002, WIEC signed a power contract with Soyland Power
Cooperative that runs through 2008. “Because
of this contract, I can tell you that barring any unforeseen catastrophe,
WIEC’s rates should remain stable throughout 2008,” said Dion.
“We are actively pursuing a power supply for our needs after
2008.” He reassured members
that Ameren’s rate changes have no bearing on WIEC and the price members
pay for power.
Dion said WIEC is currently looking at different vendors to get the
best price on the Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system.
AMR’s will allow all electric meters to communicate directly with
the office and monitor each member’s usage by the day or hour to help
solve high usage mysteries.
“Over all it is a great use of new technology that will be a
great benefit to our members and to the co-op,” said Dion.
Dion also said goodbye to Briscoe Menke.
Menke has served on the WIEC board for 15 years and has represented
WIEC on the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives board of
directors since 1994.
“Briscoe has always projected a good image for WIEC around our
area and throughout the state. He
was someone who would volunteer his time for the good of the
cooperative,” said Dion.
Board President Robert Gronewold commended the employees for receiving two awards from the
Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives.
For the eighth year in a row WIEC was awarded the Best 3-Year
Safety Award and the Best Lost Time Accidents Award.
“This is quite an accomplishment and we are proud of all our
employees who work so hard to ‘keep the lights on,’ but continue to do
it safely,” said Gronewold
Members of WIEC were also treated to a featured speaker, Kortney
Freeman of Carthage, the 2007 Youth to Washington student from WIEC.
Freeman shared her experiences in the nations capitol with a slide
show.
During the meeting members re-elected district 5 board member Dave
Biery of Carthage to his second term and Calvin Baumann of Basco was
elected to serve his first term representing district 4.
Grand prizes winners of $100 each were: Don Rosenboom, Charles Stoneking,
Lawrence Derks, Keith Neill and Bill & Viola Smith. For other prize
winners, click
here.
