President's Message  

I hear from time to time “My power bill has never been this high,” and looking at my own power bill, I seem to be in somewhat the same situation.

I have been on North Itasca Electric’s system 39 years and the price per kWh is not that much different than it was in 1969.

What has happened over the past 39 years is that my one light bulb storage shed became an 800 square foot shop with a large air compressor, numerous saws and electric hand tools.

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Over the CEO's Desk  

The Board of Directors said I talked too long at last year’s Annual Meeting and I should shorten it up! I tried to tell them that I had a lot to talk about, and the information I had to share was important. The Board said I should narrow it down to two or three of the most important issues! Again, I responded that all the issues were important and the Members needed assurance that their money was being put to good use. In the end I conceded that perhaps I could go into detail on only a few issues and just touch base on some others with the hope of getting some questions later in the meeting.

As an owner of this business, you need to know the direction we’re headed: How our rates will be affected by global warming theories and legislation on CO2 emissions. Whether our load management programs can survive if the demand for electricity skyrockets in the face of rising oil and natural gas prices. How we plan to improve the infrastructure of our distribution system to deliver safe and reliable energy. OK, so maybe I’ll have more than two or three issues to talk about, but I will try to shorten it up a bit!

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Office Generations  

Since our last issue of the WATTS NEWS, Annual Meeting Edition, Operation RoundUp® has had two grant meetings. At our October 2007 meeting, 44 grants were awarded totaling $11,404.00. At our April 2008, meeting, 48 grants were awarded in the amount of $10,650.00. The number of grant requests are increasing at a steady pace while the dollars available to be awarded are staying fairly steady. If you are not participating in the Operation RoundUp® Program, I encourage you to call the office and sign up for this worthwhile cause.

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Staff Assistant Report  

Wow! Annual Meeting time again. With the warming in the spring comes the time to get ready for the Annual Meeting. This year with the late spring it seems June has crept up on me, but plans are all made and we are ready to have another great Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is a time when we get a chance to see many of our members that we normally don’t get to see everyday. It also gives us a chance to show off our headquarters building and gives the members a chance to get updates on the status of the co-op. Hopefully you will learn a little bit of what’s in store for us in the coming months and years.

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Load Management News  

There are going to be new challenges for all of us in 2008 and the years to come. With gas prices on the rise and all the talk about; global warming, alternative fuels, and reductions to almost eliminate all new coal burning power plants, it will be a challenge to keep prices as they are today. Congress is working on bills that would tax all coal burning power plants for carbon entering the atmosphere. North Itasca Electric and 27 other cooperatives are working with Great River Energy (GRE) to keep energy costs at the lowest possible rate.

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Update from the Line Department  

It seems that each year we are challenged with more difficult problems than the previous year. Television is stuck on presidential candidates promising a better tomorrow, or the media is announcing financial recession to global destruction. Is there any good news?

Your electric cooperative continues to provide low cost energy at affordable rates! As the cost of fuel, copper and steel continue to rise, we realize energy costs will only increase. I thought it might be important to let you know how we are attempting to cut costs.

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