Vol. 68 Number 4
News orthwestern Electric February 2017
NWEC announces rate adjustment for 2017 Increase takes effect with bill due Apr. 10
B
eginning with the February- March billing cycle, Northwestern Electric Cooperative will implement an average rate increase of 2.93 percent (actual increase will vary depending on size and usage). Members will see the new rate reflected on their bills due Apr. 10.
As consumers, the term “rate increase” is not something we like to hear. However, implementing a modest rate increase is sometimes necessary for the Cooperative to remain financially stable for the foreseeable future.
As a responsibly run cooperative, we consider the task of financial management to be one of the most important things we do here. Just like you and your family, NWEC must
pay its bills and be accountable to our lenders. In order to meet our financial obligations while continuing to serve you effectively, we must ensure that we charge our members no more, and no less, than what is necessary to run your electric co-op. With this important goal in mind, we recently completed a cost-of- service study using an outside consultant, C.H. Guernsey, to examine whether our rates cover our actual cost of service. After reviewing the results prepared by the independent consulting group located in Oklahoma City, we found it necessary to adjust our pricing structure to maintain the quality, reliability and integrity of the services we provide. Consistent with this study, the NWEC Board of Directors voted unanimously to
increase our rates.
This was not an easy decision to make and NWEC employees, staff and trustees share your concerns over rising energy costs. Over half of our employees and 100 percent of our board are rate-paying members also. We understand times are difficult and we will do our best to help minimize the impact of a rate increase by offering different ways you can conserve energy and manage your electric bill.
If you have any questions regarding the rate increase, we encourage you to call us at 580.256.7425 or 800.375.7423. We are here to help you with your concerns. Watch for more information about the rate adjustment in future editions of the NWEC News.
Why you should attend your district meeting I
t’s that time of year again—dis- trict meeting time! On behalf of Northwestern Electric, we’d like to personally invite the members resid- ing in districts seven, eight and nine to join us at their district meetings. We look forward to gathering with you to catch up, hear what you have to say and enjoy some good food and fellowship. The meetings are not only a chance to visit with members of our co-op community—it’s also a great oppor- tunity to learn about programs offered by Northwestern Electric and get to know your co-op staff. Our district meetings makes it possible for us to gather feedback from you by provid- ing a forum where you can let us know how we can better serve you and your family.
At the meetings, you will have the opportunity to exercise one of the greatest benefits of being a member of an electric co-op by voting for your board of directors representative. Having a voice in who makes the major decisions that directly affect your life and your family is a right we all share as Americans. We all vote for our state and federal Congressional representatives, but not every Ameri- can has the right to vote for those who will represent community interests within their electric utility. You have that right, so why not exercise it? We remain dedicated to providing you with safe, reliable and affordable electric service, but we encourage you to take part in helping us improve how we deliver that service. So make
it a point to join us at your district meeting. We promise we will make it worth your while!
Important dates
Meal at 6 p.m. - Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Buffalo First Baptist Church
Meal at 6 p.m. - Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Buffalo High School
Meal at 6 p.m. - Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Gate Community Center
District 9 Meeting Monday, Feb. 20, 2017
District 8 Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017
District 7 Meeting Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017
Inside
Healthy cooking............2 Membership benefits....2 Fire dept. donations .....3 Recipe............................3 Top five energy users...4
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