November 2006
The Increasing Demand For Power
On behalf of the board of directors and employees of Mountain View Electric Association, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members and their families a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year.
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, based in Westminster, is MVEA's power supplier. It provides wholesale power to 44 electric cooperatives and public power districts that serve a population of over 1.2 million. Also a cooperative, Tri-State is owned by the cooperatives it serves and provides power to a vast four-state territory extending north of Lordsburg, New Mexico, to Sheridan, Wyoming and east from Meeker, Colorado to, and including the Nebraska panhandle 250,000 square miles in all.
Tri-States board of directors recently approved the power supplier's 2007 operating budget of $991 million, which includes an increase in the average Class A wholesale rate to its 44 member electric cooperatives of 11.8 percent effective January 1, 2007. The board also cut in half the premium charge associated with its renewable energy program.
Tri-State executive vice president/general manager J.M. Shafer said that the consistent increase in demand of electricity among the member systems, combined with the fact that all of the association's existing baseline generation are fully committed, puts Tri-State in the unenviable position of having to raise rates in wholesale power to meet its obligations. Until we get some new baseline generating facilities developed, we're going to have to buy expensive power on the open market to meet the demands. Because of that, our purchased power costs are projected to increase from $204 million this year to nearly $247 million in 2007, which makes up a significant portion of our operating budget, said Shafer. Along with rapid system growth, comes increased financial obligations, which must be met to maintain our fiscal stability and the continued health of our power supply infrastructure. We're working toward a period of operational stability by building additional facilities to meet the growing loads, but in the meantime, we're facing numerous challenges and pressure on rates is primary among them, continued Shafer.
A couple of months ago I spoke of Tri-State's comprehensive resource development plan aimed at adding to the association's generation and transmission network through a series of projects over the next 15 years. This plan includes up to 2,100 megawatts of generation assets and the necessary related transmission infrastructure. The first of these plants, the Springerville Unit 3 in Arizona was completed in just 33 months months earlier than expected. It came on line this past July and generates 418 megawatts of power. Tri-State is partnering with Sunflower Power in Holcomb, Kansas to add two new 700-megawatts units onto the existing plant. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008. A 700-megawatt unit is being planned for southeast Colorado. And finally, Tri-State and Western Area Power Association have partnered to develop a proposed 1,000 mile high-voltage transmission line from eastern Colorado and western Kansas in addition to substations which is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
It is important that Tri-State move forward on the development of these projects to enable them to return an era of reasonably stable rates. The rate increases are to strengthen their financial standing in order to build these much needed facilities.
What does this latest rate increase mean to MVEA members? The Board of Directors has decided to absorb a portion of the increase and only raise rates an overall average of 6.4 percent. In reference to the green power rate, we are pleased to announce we will be lowering these rates from $2.50 per 100-kWh block to $1.25. If you have any questions, please call either MVEA office. We regret the increase, but 60 percent of MVEA's operating cost is the purchase of power. To remain a financially stable cooperative, a rate increase is necessary.
Free Trips for High School Juniors
How about a week long, all expense paid trip to Washington , D.C? Or, how about a trip to the Steamboat Springs area? Either of these trips could be yours just by writing a short essay on What is clean coal technology and why is it better for the environment?
During your trip to Washington , D.C. in June 2007, you'll have the opportunity to hook up with approximately 1500 other high school juniors from around the U.S. They'll be tours of the nation's capital, dancing the night away while cruising down the Potomac , meeting and talking with your state's representatives, and the opportunity to make some great new friends.
You might also win a trip to Clark , Colorado , located just outside of Steamboat Springs in July. High school juniors from Colorado , Kansas , Oklahoma and Wyoming will gather at a beautiful resort located on the Elk River and spend the week at an outstanding leadership camp. You'll participate in activities to improve personal goals and get an inside view of the state and national legislatures. There is plenty of time for swim parties, barbeques, dances, and banquets during the week. Many of the attendees call this camp a life changing experience.
All you have to do to enter is write a 500-word essay on the above topic What is clean coal technology and why is it better for the environment? and, meet the qualifications listed below. There is plenty of information on the website and in your library for this topic, so have at it! Attach the entry form to your essay and send it to: MVEA, Attn: Deborah Skillicorn, P.O. Box 1600, Limon, CO 80828. Your parents or guardians must receive electric service from MVEA and you must be at least 16 years old by January 1, 2007. Entries must be received or postmarked by November 18, 2006.
Don't miss out on these two great trips! Call Deborah Skillicorn at 800-388-9881 ext 2577 for more information.
Click here for ENTRY FORM
It's MVEA Scholarship Time
Don't miss out on the 15-college scholarships available through MVEA.
10 - $1,000 MVEA Scholarships
1 - $1,000 MVEA Vocational/Technical Scholarship
2 - $500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarships
1 - $1,000 Basin Electric Scholarship
1 - $1,000 E.A. Mick Geesen Memorial Scholarship
To qualify for these scholarships
- Your parents or guardians must receive electric service from MVEA
- You must be a graduating high school senior
- You must meet ACT or SAT and GPA requirements (these vary according to which scholarship you apply for).
- Applications must be received by January 15, 2007
MVEA Scholarship Application
MVEA Vo/Tech Scholarship Application
Geesen Scholarship Application
Don't miss out on the cash!
Hurry, Time is Running Out!
Each year MVEA sends out season's greetings to our associates. This year we would love to send a card with a drawing from one of the children in our territory. So
we're having a little contest.
To enter:
• You must be between 5 to 12 years of age
• Your parents or legal guardians must be members of
MVEA
• It must be an original drawing
• It must be a holiday picture (whatever holiday your family celebrates in December)
• Picture must be in color on a piece of white paper 5.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall or 8.5 wide and 5.5 tall (your option).
• You must have fun while drawing this picture.
All entries must be received or postmarked by November 18, 2006. The winner will receive a stuffed McGruff, the Crime Dog and a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.
Send your entries to MVEA, Attn: Deborah Skillicorn, PO Box 1600, Limon, CO 80828.
Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill?
The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is designed to help low-income households with winter home heating costs. It is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating . Following are phone numbers for your county LEAP offices. Applications will be accepted from November 1 through April 30.
El Paso 719-442-0007 Elbert 719-541-2369
Douglas 303-688-4825 Lincoln 719-7432404
Washington 970-345-2238 Pueblo 719-583-6356
Crowley 719-267-3546 Arapahoe 303-636-1100
or, go to the LEAP website at www.stateboard.cdhs.state.co.us/oss/FAP/LEAP/default.html
Other agencies in the area to assist with emergency situations:
Health & Human Service Information & Referral 211, 719-955-0742, 866-488-9742 www.ppunitedway.org
Pikes Peak Community Action Agency:
Administration office - 719-471-7870 Eastern El Paso County 719-347-2976
Eastern Colorado Springs 719-385-7930 Fountain Area 719-382-8515
Northern Churches Cares - 719-277-7470
Tri-Lakes Cares 719-481-4864
Salvation Army 719-636-3891
Silver Key (60 and over) 719-632-1521
Army Emergency Relief (military personnel and retirees) 719-526-4783
The Home Front Cares (active military, reservists and National Guard) Military Service Center
Give The Gift of Light
The holiday season is sneaking up on us and it's time to start thinking about gifts. MVEA can help you give a gift guaranteed to be used and appreciated and you don't have to fight the holiday shopping crowds to buy it! Give the gift of light!
MVEA's gift certificate program makes it easy for you to provide a credit on a friend or relative's MVEA electric account. Simply fill out the following form and return it, along with your check, to either MVEA office or in an MVEA dropbox. To simplify things even more, instead of filling out the form, you can call us with the information and we'll charge your credit card. How easy is that for holiday shopping!
- The recipient's electric account will be credited in the amount of your gift;
- You will receive confirmation of the gift, and
- The recipient will receive a certificate listing your name and the amount of credit they receive (you can remain anonymous if you wish).
Give us a call for more information or click here to download an application. An MVEA gift certificate can be given anytime throughout the year.
Mail completed applications to: MVEA, P.O. Box 1600, Limon, CO 80828.
MVEA Members See Hidden Images
Bob and Marlene Raskey of Falcon were the sharp-eyed winners of the Julie Kramer Cole print featured in the September issue of Colorado Country Life Magazine. The couple and their two dogs moved to Colorado last April from Chicago , IL to be closer to their son. Bob had recently retired after 33 years with the telephone company. He now works part-time at a Home Depot, just to keep busy.
Marlene explained that the couple did not look at the picture and immediately see all nine images. Instead, they found what they could and then left the magazine open on the kitchen counter. Every time they went past the magazine, they would look for another figure hidden in the painting. After finding what they thought were the nine images, they submitted their guess to the magazine. The Raskey's were very pleased and surprised when notified they had won the print. We have the perfect place to hang the picture in our new house, says Marlene. Congratulations on your win!
It Pays To Own Your Electric Coop
At the October Board Meeting, the MVEA Board of Directors voted to refund capital credits in the amount of $2,400,000.00. This represents 100 percent of the patronage assigned in 1991 and approximately 36 percent of patronage assigned in 1992, maintaining a 15-year rotation of capital. In mid-December, MVEA will mail checks to all members of record in 1991 and 1992, provided they have more than $5 in their account for that year.
Any annual operating margins realized by MVEA are allocated to all consumers who purchased electricity that year based upon their total dollar billing and usage. The patronage capital is then retained for a period of years to be used for operating capital; thereby reducing the amounts MVEA borrows from other sources. This cost savings helps the cooperative maintain rates at the lowest level possible to meet the financial ratios required by our lenders. The capital credit refund is the major difference that distinguishes electric cooperatives from other electric providers. The ability to return these capital credits underscores the utility's strength as well as the benefit of cooperative ownership.
Please call either MVEA office for more information on this refund.
DCP Utility Consulting
DCP Utility Consulting will be conducting an attachment audit of MVEA's overhead electric distribution system for approximately ten months (until summer 2007). The purpose of the audit is to insure that all joint use attachments to our poles are in compliance with applicable safety codes and that appropriate joint use agreements are in place for all attachments. DCP employees may require access to your property in order to complete their work on our system. They are only gathering data and should be able to complete their tasks at any given location very quickly. Please extend them the same cooperation you would extend to an MVEA employee. If you have questions please call Mike Garland at 719-495-2283 or 800-388-9881.
