2010 Annual Meeting

The sun shined brightly on the more than 9,000 people who attend the 72nd edition of South Kentucky RECC’s Annual Membership Meeting held on June 10. There were about 2,471 members registered.

As with years past, there were educational and informative exhibits for those in attendance to visit, including health booths, civic organizations, and businesses and many others. In addition, members were treated to some wonderful gospel music this year with opening act gospel group Higher Call. Country music star and American Idol finalist Josh Gracin was the featured entertainment. He provided a wonderful concert that included his hit songs, the #1, “Nothin’ to Lose,” “I Want to Live,” “Stay With Me,” and “We Weren’t Crazy.”

One of the highlights of each year’s annual meeting is the presentation of the flags of the United States and state of Kentucky. Five SKRECC linemen, David Hughes, Byron Koontz, Robert Phillips, Ricky Fletcher, and Kenny Burton climbed a pole set in the middle of the grounds and, with the help of lineman Mitchell Staton and Safety Team Leader Eddie Black, handed up the flags and displayed them at the top followed by the National Anthem.

The primary purpose for the Annual Meeting is the business meeting, which started around 7 p.m. The cooperative’s bylaws provide that each year there shall be an Annual Membership Meeting for the presentation of reports from SKRECC officers and leadership.

Allen Anderson, CEO of South Kentucky RECC, reported to the membership that even though the co-op is having to weather the difficult economy as everyone is, it will not have a rate increase in 2010. However, the co-op’s power supplier East Kentucky Power has filed for an increase, which is a pass-through to SKRECC members. It is expected they will see a $5 increase in their monthly residential bill, should the KY Public Service Commission pass their request. Members may not see this EKPC rate increase on their bill this year, and South Kentucky RECC retains no money from the increase. It is strictly for EKPC. Anderson added that SKRECC does expect to apply to the Public Service Commission for a rate adjustment by mid 2011 or early 2012. He said if the economy turns around, and the co-op can see growth again, the increase request may be delayed until closer to 2012.

According to Anderson, South Kentucky has had two rate increases in the last 21 years - the last of which was four years ago. All other adjustments members have seen have been the result of increases in SKRECC’s purchase power cost from EKPC, which must be passed through to members.

Anderson encouraged members to keep their costs down, which in turn helps South Kentucky RECC lower their costs, by taking advantage of the many energy efficiency programs the co-op has to offer. Among those programs are:
  • Tune Up
  • Button Up
  • ETS Heating
  • All Season Comfort Home
  • Geo-Thermal
  • Fossil Fuel Conversion
  • High Efficient CFL Bulbs (70,000 to date) like the ones given to registering members at annual meeting – more than $1 million in savings so far
  • Energy-Efficient Water Heaters
  • Free Energy Audits and Energy Technical Advice
Anderson talked about other beneficial programs available to members, such as:
  • The Touchstone Energy Co-op Connections Card, which earns members savings at places like restaurants, shops, and even pharmacies.
  • Envirowatts or Green Power, which is available through SKRECC.
  • People Fund, in which members can round-up their electric bills to the nearest dollar with the money being used for community projects that don’t receive much funding elsewhere, such as school resource centers, God’s Food Pantry, etc.
  • Facebook and Twitter – SKRECC now have a presence on both social networking sites where members can follow and get information on energy efficiency programs available, energy savings tips, electrical outage updates, and much more
Lastly, Anderson talked to members about South Kentucky RECC’s newest project Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). This three-year project, which involves a changeout of all members’ meters to new enhanced ones, will offer many benefits to SKRECC members, such as:
  • Access to their electric account via internet
  • Monitor their electric usage much closer
  • Provide information about how members use the electricity and when it is used so they can make more efficient choices
  • Provide both the member and SKRECC more information so members will have the help needed to use less electricity and help to reduce costs
After the Business Meeting, South KY RECC recognized the Washington Rural Electric Youth Tour recipients and also awarded $11,000 in scholarships to 11 high school seniors in the service area as part of the Senior Scholarship Program.

South Kentucky RECC believes that investing in our youth has a profound effect on the improvement of the quality of life in the communities we serve, which fulfills our mission. South KY RECC’s Mission Statement reads “South Kentucky RECC was formed for people not profit. Its mission is to reliably provide electricity and related services to its members at a competitive price, and to improve the quality of life in their communities.”