October 2007
Manager's Message ~
Clarifications to Amendment 37
I would like to take this opportunity to bring everyone up to speed on Amendment 37 and, perhaps, put this issue to bed for a time. Let's go back to the year 2004. An initiative titled Amendment 37 was placed on the ballot to allow the citizens of Colorado the opportunity to create a renewable energy standard by requiring electric utilities to purchase 10 percent of their power from renewable sources by the year 2015. The initiative did pass. The Amendment was very well supported in the urban areas but was soundly defeated in the rural counties. In fact, the precincts in MVEA's service territory voted against the Amendment 2 to1. This sent a strong message to MVEA's board of directors that our members did not support the Renewable Energy Mandate.
The Statue only applied to those utilities over 40,000 customers. The electric cooperatives that surpassed the 40,000 mark had the opportunity to opt-out by a vote of membership. At the time the Amendment passed, MVEA was well under 40,000 meters. But, the Board had made the decision to allow the MVEA membership to vote on the matter again when we reached the 40,000 meter mark. This decision was based on two very important reasons. First, the new law allowed the membership to make the final decision and the Board felt the members should be allowed their right to vote. Secondly, the Amendment did not pass in the MVEA precincts.
The initiative had language that required the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to establish rules and procedures for the utilities. The PUC attempted to clarify the meaning of the 40,000 meters and the time period when a growing utility had to comply with this law. The PUC interpreted the meaning of 40,000 meters to be defined as 40,000 members. This was an entirely different concept as MVEA has many members with multiple meters in their name.
Although we were near the 40,000 meter mark, we were significantly under that number for members and decided to postpone the opt-out vote. As of the end of June 2007, MVEA had 37,087 members. This was a good decision on the part of our board since the law was, once again, re-written by HB 1281 in 2007, so every cooperative, regardless of membership or meters, must start supplying a percentage of renewable energy on the state's timetable. This was unfortunate for two of Colorado 's cooperatives since they had already conducted member ballots and their members had opted out by approximately 4 to 1 ratio. Sadly, the MVEA membership was denied the right to elect local control.
Also incorporated in the Statue, is a restriction on the amount a utility can raise rates to cover the extra cost of buying green power. The Amendment started out at $0.50 per residential customer per month, but has since been changed to one percent of the electric bill. When MVEA raises rates, it is only because our supplier has needed to increase their cost to us. We can only wait and see what the actual cost will be to meet the requirements of this Statue.
I know renewable energy is a hot topic right now and some of our members are very interested in the process. As I stated earlier, MVEA supports renewable energy, but we do not support government mandates and we believe the majority of our members do not want to pay a premium price for their electricity. As technology advances, we hope the cost of installing renewable generation is reduced and this energy will become more available. Our number one priority is to provide our members with reliable electricity at the lowest cost.
CFL Success Stories!!
As MVEA has been advertising, we offer non-profit groups the opportunity to sell compact fluorescent light bulbs for money making projects. We are very pleased to report that this has been an overwhelming success! Our first group to sign up was the 4-H Washington, D.C. Delegates. They started in June and are still hard at it. Some other groups who have conducted or are still conducting fund raisers are the Black Forest Lutheran Church Youth Group, Karval Community Alliance; Summit Bible Church Youth Group; MS Alliance of Southern Colorado; Tri-Lakes United Methodist Youth; a senior citizens group and the Monument Boy Scout Troop 6.
For Troop 6, the money they make on this campaign is the seed money for their troop. Until recently, there was only one Boy Scout Troop in Monument. This became so large that Troop 6 was started. However, when starting a new troop, you have nothing – no camping equipment, no money for awards, no money for activities or programs. The Troop leaders spotted MVEA's ad for CFL fundraisers and the rest is history. These young men have worked very hard for their troop selling at the Farmer's Market, Walmart and door-to-door.
MVEA's CFL campaign not only helps these organizations, it also helps our members become more energy efficient and in turn reduce MVEA's power consumption as a whole. If you would like more information on this great fundraising opportunity, call either MVEA office or look on this website.
Another Foster Retires!
This month we bid a happy retirement to Margie Foster whose husband, Larry, retired last month. Margie has been with MVEA as a full time employee since 1996. The year before that, she worked as a temporary engineering aide. When she returned in '96, Margie was hired as receptionist/cashier in the Falcon Operations Center . She was promoted to consumer relations representative, moved to mapping clerk and finally settled in as the mapping technician. In this position some of Margie's duties included: updating the co-op's facilities on maps; maintaining a database of work orders; making corrections to maps and maintaining a database of changes; verifying and correcting transformers' sizes and map location data for equipment and consumers; creating and maintaining various diagrams and digitizing existing manual drawings into CAD format.
Margie and Larry have sold most of their belongings and are planning on traveling around the country in their 5 th wheel trailer. This is not a new experience for the couple as they traveled in a trailer for 10 months in 1994 and loved it. This trailer is a bit of an upgrade from their old digs so they will be livin' the high life. Next summer they have plans to drive to Alaska for the summer and will be wintering in Northern Arizona . Besides traveling, they enjoy riding their ATV in the back country and have even fitted the vehicle with dog seats for their West Highland Terriers – Joey and Mia. And, of course, there is the fishing in Lake Powell where they have their boat stored. Life is good!
We all wish Margie and Larry the very best in their travels. Margie has been a wonderful person to work with and very dedicated to MVEA's members. She will be missed, but we know she will be having a wonderful time wherever she is. Congratulations!
MVEA Scholarhip Time!
Don't miss out on the cash!
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, 2008
To download scholarship applications click here or they can be picked up at either MVEA office, from your high school counselor, or by calling Deborah Skillicorn at (719) 775-2861 or (719) 495-2283.
Don't miss out on the cash!
Round-Up Nears the Million Dollar Mark!
Grants over the last month has brought Operation Round-Up grants closer to the $1 million mark. Groups included in the last awards were:
• Peyton High School for CPR equipment;
• Pikes Peak Community Action Agency for an assistant in their Fountain office;
• Creekside Middle School for an aide to the school nurse and
• Lewis Palmer Middle School for broadcasting equipment.
The Round-Up board of directors also awarded several grants to individual in need. The Board of Directors is composed of volunteers from districts within MVEA's territory. If you or your organization is interested in applying for a grant, please download the applications and information off of MVEA's website or call either MVEA office.
Seventy percent of MVEA's members donate to Operation Round-UP with the maximum contribution for the year being $11.99 – a small price to pay for helping our communities. But when we all worked together, great things happen. If you currently do not round-up your electric bill to the next dollar, please consider joining. Give us a call if you would like more information on this fantastic community program. Small change = $1 million.
Effeciency Today At MVEA!
MVEA is kicking off a new energy efficiency campaign and asking for your assistance. We would like to start by lowering our monthly power costs. A little change on your part and our part could go a long way in helping us stabilize our rates and reduce our peak need for power.
First, let us explain how your co-op pays for the power we provide to our members. The largest portion of our monthly power cost is a component called a Demand Charge. MVEA is billed this charge based on our highest consumption period, or peak, of the month. By reducing these peaks and spreading out our usage, we could reduce our wholesale power cost and our need for unnecessary generation to accommodate our peak period.
Here is how you can help. We will identify our peak hours based on MVEA's past history. We will publish the forecasted peak periods in the local newspapers and in Colorado Country Life Magazine so you can target these time periods to reduce your usage on a month-to-month basis.
Your co-op has approximately 38,000 members spread out over 5000 square miles and residential usage is what drives our monthly peak. If you could picture our usage curve on a daily basis, it starts out low and rises dramatically when everyone gets up for work and school. Then around 9:30 a.m., it drops back down until the evening peak. The evening peak varies throughout the year based on when the sun sets. People generally go into the house after the sun sets and turn on lights, prepare dinner, take showers and start laundry. These types of activities help drive our peak. In the wintertime, this peak usually occurs between 5 and 6:30 p.m. and in the summer, between 8 and 9:30 p.m. With a little concentrated effort and awareness of these time periods, we could take a few giant steps toward reducing this peak demand. The smallest of adjustments from each of us could make a big difference. With a force of 38,000 cooperative members and neighbors, we can definitely make an impact.
For those of you that have the flexibility to shift the majority of your power usage to off peak periods, MVEA offers a time of day rate. This rate's peak times are between 5:30a.m-12:00p.m and 4:30p.m-10:30 p.m. While this rate will benefit you with lower energy charges during off peak times, you will pay a premium for energy used during the peak times as well as a small increase in the monthly facility charge. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions regarding our time of day rate.
So, let's ban together and get the ball rolling. Watch for our peak period notification and remember every little kilowatt counts!
Click on this link to view the PEAK CHART.
Attention High School Juniors!
How about a week long all expense paid trip to Washington , D.C or, a trip to the Steamboat Springs area? Either of these trips could be yours just by writing a short essay on “Is nuclear power the answer to global warming?”
During your trip to Washington , D.C. in June 2008, 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. It is an experience of a lifetime.
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 – Is nuclear power the answer to global warming? – and, meet the qualifications listed below. Nuclear power is something your generation will have to consider in the future, so this topic will be some research and your own personal opinion. 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, 2008. Entries must be received or postmarked by November 16, 2007.
For an entry form, click here.
Enter Our Holiday Drawing Contest
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 16, 2007. The winner will receive a stuffed McGruff, the Crime Dog and $50 cash.
Send your entries to MVEA, Attn: Deborah Skillicorn, PO Box 1600, Limon, CO 80828.
Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill? Click Here
Get in the LOOP with compact florescent light bulbs
Fund raising opportunities!
MVEA urges you to join in conserving power by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in your home and business. The Energy Star© qualified bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than a standard light bulb and use 2/3 to ¾ less energy.
The first CFL bulbs were developed in the 1980's and were expensive. Many people complained about dim light output, flickering, noise, funny colors and sizes that were too big to fit in many fixtures. Today's CFLs cost much less while offering great performance. They have instant turn-on, quick warm-up and great light quality. They come in a wide variety of shapes, most of which are no larger than the standard bulbs they replace.
MVEA has joined the national Energy Star© campaign to encourage all Americans to install CFLs. A component of this effort is MVEA's CFL Fund Raiser in which non-profit organizations can sell CFLs as a fundraiser for their organization. MVEA will provide these light bulbs to the non-profit groups at less than wholesale cost. Groups can expect to make approximately $1 for every bulb they sell.
If you are a member of a non-profit group within MVEA's service territory and would like more information on how your group can participate, contact MVEA member services department at 719-495-2283 or 719-775-2861. Energy Efficiency today at MVEA!
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.
