Above L-R: Mike Morris, vice president, Polk-Burnett board; Jeremy Browning, VP, generation, Dairyland Power Cooperative; Solar Sam; Ed Gullickson, president, Polk-Burnett board; and Steve Stroshane, Polk-Burnett general manager.
Dairyland VP is special guest at 85th Annual Meeting
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y General Manager Steve Stroshane
I'd like to thank all who attended our 85th Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day June 9. It was a picture-perfect day, with 630 members and guests at our office in Centuria. The event is always a great time to have fun, hear from you and share the benefits of co-op membership.
This year, we were pleased to welcome special guest Jeremy Browning, vice president of generation from Dairyland Power Cooperative, our wholesale power provider. Browning was introduced by Polk-Burnett Board President Ed Gullickson, who also serves on the Dairyland board. Mr. Browning presented the keynote address on the state of the power market and its impact on local members. He began by providing an overview of Dairyland Power, a generation and transmission cooperative based in La Crosse. Dairyland's priority is generating and transmitting safe, reliable electricity to 24 distribution co-ops across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, including here in our own service territory, Polk-Burnett Electric Co-op.
Mr. Browning also shared Dairyland’s commitment to sustainability and a diverse generation portfolio. Dairyland's current energy mix is 39% natural gas, 37% coal and 22% solar, wind and other renewables. Browning explained that Dairyland is researching small modular nuclear reactors and energy storage technology, and that natural gas is essential for the transition to renewables. Dairyland has a carbon reduction goal of 50% by 2030, and renewable energy generation includes a hydroelectric station in Flambeau.
"Sustainability means working to lower our costs and carbon footprint, without sacrificing safety or reliability for members. We understand the importance of grid reliability for your families, farms and businesses, and we must use a balanced, measured approach to carbon reduction. Innovation will drive the transition, and traditional resources will keep the lights on." ~ Jeremy Browning, Dairyland Power Cooperative
Co-op Polk-Burnett performance is focused on reliability, service and cost controls
Ed Gullickson presided over the meeting and reported on giving back to members through Capital Credits, and giving back to the community through co-op scholarships and Operation Round Up.
In my review of co-op performance, I reported to members that Polk-Burnett delivers reliable electricity to 21,422 services and has 3,493 miles of power line; 1,894 are underground and 1,599 are overhead. Revenue for electric operations was $35.4 million, with 59% ($20.8 million) going to purchase wholesale power from Dairyland Power. “The remaining 41 cents is what we have to work with to keep your lights on,” said Heather Gerber, finance and accounting manager.
Inflation forced Polk-Burnett to increase electric rates in March, but prices in the power market have been lower than expected and we’ve passed those savings back to members with power cost adjustment credits.
Guests at the annual meeting also saw the co-op’s new Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck and learned about two local solar developments, including the new Georgetown array scheduled to open late fall. Kids received $5 DQ cards, took pictures with Polk-Burnett’s Solar Sam mascot and had a chance to experience a day in the life of a co-op lineworker, trying on safety gear and riding in a bucket truck high above the event. Adults received anniversary and appreciation gifts, and entered prize drawings for bill credits and electric yard tools. Lunch was served at 11 a.m., with the meeting following at 1:30 p.m.
Three incumbents re-elected to co-op board
Results of the 2023 board election were announced at 85th Annual Meeting. Three incumbent directors were re-elected.
L-R: Ed Gullickson of Amery representing District 3, Cindy Thorman of Osceola representing District 1, and Mike Morris of Luck representing District 2.
The election was conducted by mail and online by an independent election contractor. Ballots mailed to members April 28 and the deadline to vote was May 30. Voter participation was 12.6%, with 723 paper ballots and 173 online ballots received from 7,101 eligible voters.
Gullickson, Thorman and Morris will serve three-year terms on the board. Directors meet monthly to make policy and budget decisions. They are elected by members, and each represents a district in the co-op’s service territory. Overall, nine co-op directors serve on the electric cooperative board.
Other Polk-Burnett board directors are Joe Metro, Balsam Lake, District 4; John Ukura, Luck, District 5; Wilfred Owens, Frederic, District 6; Jerry Okonek, Spooner, District 7; Chuck Brookshaw, Webster, District 8; and Tom Swenson, Webster, District 9. Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative is owned and governed by the members we serve, and local board governance is one of the greatest advantages of our co-op business model.
We thank all of you who participated in our 2023 board election, 85th Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day!
Annual meeting highlights, handouts and a list of prize winners are posted on our website. Printed reports are also available at co-op offices in Centuria and Siren.
