FARMINGTON, Minn. (April 7, 2009) —Dakota Electric Association members listened to board reports and asked questions at the electric cooperative’s annual business meeting held April 2 in the community room at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Farmington.
As a cooperative owned by those it serves, Dakota Electric holds director elections and the annual meeting each year. The membership re-elected all incumbent directors: Jerry Pittman, Lakeville, district 1; Clay Van De Bogart, Lakeville, district 2; Ken Danner, Apple Valley, district 3; and Judy Kimmes, Hampton, district 4.
Board Chair Jim Sheldon, Great River Energy Director Clay Van De Bogart, President and CEO Greg Miller and Minnesota Rural Electric Association CEO Mark Glaess presented information about Dakota Electric’s efforts to deliver reliable electric service, upcoming legislative activities and Great River Energy’s work to reduce wholesale power costs.
Miller discussed the cooperative’s environmental efforts, budget reduction steps, cost-saving opportunities for members and Dakota Electric’s excellent reliability record.
“To achieve our high reliability, it takes a lot of investment in facilities,” Miller said. “Our members experience about one outage every two years.”
Sheldon presented Dakota Electric’s mission statement. “We are a member-owned, member-focused electric distribution cooperative, striving to exceed our members’ energy expectations in a changing world,” Sheldon said. “You are the reason we exist and the reason we do what we do,” he told the members.
Glaess discussed legislative activities including the upward price pressure carbon tax or cap-and-trade legislation could have on consumers’ electric bills.
Van De Bogart reviewed Great River Energy’s innovative work to save money and protect the environment by using waste heat and steam to improve efficiencies and generate revenue.
Danner, Dakota Electric’s treasurer, discussed the company financials, and Director Jerry Pittman highlighted subsidiary business growth, including profits generated by Consulting Engineers Group and Energy Alternatives.
