by Brad Dolinski, CEO
Good afternoon NIECI!
To put things in perspective a little, I’m writing this article on 10/19/23. A lot will change by the time you get this in your home or cabin.
This weekend I get to take my oldest daughter out for the youth hunt. We’ll spend a few hours in the stand trying to be quiet. We have a better chance if my youngest daughter hangs back, but we have more fun if she comes with. I don’t know why; I can never win a game of crazy eights when those two girls are together. There seems to be a lot of snickering and giggling when I look away from the cards watching for deer.
I want to brag a little about our employees now. Recently Shiela came to me and asked if she could enter Daryl and Krista to be recognized by National Rural Electric Association. NRECA for short, was running an article for Co-op Month highlighting one of our principles, Concern for Community.
Daryl and Krista are a big part of the Bigfork Improvement Group. That is the old Over 50 building across the street from the cooperative in Bigfork. They work together with the group to raise money for scholarships; many events are hosted in the BIG Building, one of my favorites is the pie social. Thank you, Sheila, for entering your friends into this contest, and congratulations to Daryl and Krista for being recognized nationally for your concern for community! [See p. 6]
I want to thank our Member-Owners, your concern for community also needs to be recognized. We recently had our Operation Round-Up board meeting. Our nine Round-Up board members along with the cooperative attorney review the applications for funding. The board considers each application against the bylaws they must follow. Schools, community programs, food shelves, and first responders all see a benefit from Operation Round-Up. This is only made possible from our members agreeing to round up their monthly electric bill. These funds are collected for six months and then given back to non-profits in our community. Thank you all for contributing to Operation Round-Up.
I have been working with the staff to nail down the 2024 budget. You have heard me over the past couple of years talk about the drastic climb in prices we have seen in materials. Unfortunately, this challenge has not improved yet. Our power supplier Great River Energy has informed me we can expect a roughly 2.4-2.8% rate increase. This rate increase only affects half of your actual bill. By my calculations I expect our power cost to go up roughly $109,000. This would be a 1.2% rate increase from GRE to you as a direct pass through. Now, I don’t have the other 50% of the budget done yet. I promise you; I will do my best to keep our system safe and reliable while considering all costs at your Cooperative.
October is Cooperative Month. I want to thank all our Member-Owners, past, present, and future. Your drive and commitment to our communities made us what we are today. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for you at North Itasca Electric Cooperative. If you ever want to look at some of the history how we came to be, check out our website under About Us. I may be a little partial to the article, I know the author.
That is all for now. I’ll continue to work on the budget with staff to ensure we have an accurate recommendation to our board for future rates. I do not set the rates. It is my responsibility to provide accurate information and reporting to our board. Our board has the authority, alone, to adjust rates base on the needs of the cooperative. I’m not trying to pass the buck, I want you to understand the responsibilities and pressures placed on our directors.
By your side! Miigwech
Brad
