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Volts and Jolts Published monthly for the members of RED LAKE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, Inc. One of the Minnkota Power Systems SERVING THE FOUR-COUNTY AREA OF MARSHALL, PENNINGTON, RED LAKE AND POLK VOL. 45 – NO. 06 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE COUNTY), MINNESOTA 56750 APRIL 2010 Red Lake Electric Cooperative holds 72nd annual meeting Approximately 300 members and He stated there are many things people RLEC's expenses. The energy charge friends of Red Lake Electric Cooperative don't have any or much control over but makes up 51 percent of the cost of power attended the Cooperative's 72nd annual discussed ways customers can have a say in for $3.5 million. The peak demand charge meeting. The meeting was held March 31 in each of these areas. is 30 percent of the total cost of power the Imperial Room of the Ralph Engelstad Johanneck discussed the impact legisla- while the transmission and substation Arena in Thief River Falls. tion is having on the way Cooperatives charge make up the balance. The meeting opened with the National operate today; specifically Environmental RLEC's operating expenses were down Anthem sung by Becca Kruta of Thief Protection Agency mandates that are from 2008 to $1.8 million. This equals River Falls. Kruta is a senior at Lincoln requiring massive environmental upgrades about 20 percent of the Cooperative's High School and the daughter of RLEC on Minnkota Power's Young generating expenses with depreciation and interest members Steven and Jill Kruta. units; how renewable energy mandates being slightly over $1 million. In his president's report, Kelly Lundeen have impacted the Cooperative and the new RLEC built 59 new electric services in said the past year was very good in many Conservation Improvement Program. 2009 and has invested $25.8 million in respects. RLEC was spared any major He also talked about the Cooperative's electric plants which is about $750 thou- storm-related outages and the main cause concern of possible climate legislation that sand higher than 2008. for service interruptions was due to under- is being considered and stated if members Minnkota Power CEO Dave Loer talked ground cable failure. have an opinion on (6907001.03 Dean L. about power supply issues, wind genera- He stated outage time per customer Kalbakdalen) climate legislation to contact tion, upgrades at the Young generating unit averaged 50 minutes in 2009; the second federal representatives and let them know that have been required by the EPA and the lowest on record and about half of what the what they think. $400 million that has been invested in the Cooperative averaged in service interrup- Johanneck also reviewed some of the power plant to meet these environmental tions over the past five years. service interruptions over the past year and mandates. Lundeen reported over $493,000 was explained ways members have a say in the He also spoke about the impact the paid out in capital credit retirements and cause of some of these interruptions. nation's economy has had on the demand member equity was a strong 51 percent of Accountant Shirley Bregier gave the for energy and the cause and effect the low assets. He also thanked the Cooperatives financial report for 2009. Operating rev- market prices have had on Minnkota members who participated in the Operation enue was up from 2008. Kilowatt hour sales Power's surplus energy sales and the rev- Round Up program. were also up from the previous year to an enue Minnkota Power received for these Roger Johanneck, general manager, all time high of 134 million kilowatt-hours. sales. gave his report and discussed three differ- The 72nd annual meeting of Red Lake Electric Cooperative was held March 31 in the The cost of power RLEC purchased RLEC annual meeting, ent topics: Legislation, rate outlook and Imperial Room of the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls. Pictured are some from Minnkota Power Cooperative was Continued on page 2 service reliability. of the meeting attendees as they visit prior to the call of the meeting. $6.8 million and is about 70 percent of More photos on pages 5 and 6 Operation Round Up grants total $13,150 Three directors elected at annual meeting for three-year terms The Red Lake Electric Trust board met recently and awarded 21 grants to area non-profit and com- munity organizations that totaled $13,150. Since its inception in 1993, Operation Round Up grants totaling $345 thousand have been gifted to area community organizations. The Red Lake Electric Trust receives money for grants from the Opera- tion Round Up program adminis- tered by the Red Lake Electric April Ballard, right, Thief River Falls, accepts an Operation Round Up Cooperative. grant check in the amount of $1,000. She accepted the check on behalf Today, 90 percent of Red Lake of the Early Childhood Family Advocate program of Thief River Falls. Colette Kujava Randy Versdahl Peter Mosbeck Electric's members voluntarily The check was presented to Ballard by Kim Swanson, Thief River Falls, "round up" their monthly bill for president of the Red Lake Electric Trust. Colette Kujava, Newfolden, is Randy Versdahl, Red Lake Falls, Peter Mosbeck, Red Lake Falls, the Operation Round Up program. the newly-elected director for Dis- is the newly-elected director for was re-elected as director represen- Four area emergency services Advocate Program of Thief River a safer environment and childcare trict 3. She replaces Joyce Johnson, District 6. He defeated challenger tative of District 9. He was first providers received grants. The Falls was awarded $1,000 to help are examples of their fund uses. Viking, who did not seek re-elec- Daniel Schmitz by a vote of 46 to elected three years ago. 23. He replaces retiring director Goodridge Fire and Rescue with their mission of working with A $250 grant was given to the tion having served six years. District 9 includes the townships received $1,000 toward the pur- families who have children, birth to Red River Valley Emerging Leader- District 3 includes the townships Henry Wieland who served 28 years. District 6 includes the town- of River Falls, Black River, Polk chase of a defibrillator for one of age five who are at-risk for abuse or ship Program that provides training of West Valley, New Maine, Marsh their rescue units. The Oklee Fire neglect. to develop and expand leadership ships of Wylie, Louisville, Browns Centre, Sanders, Bray, Numedal Grove, Newfolden, New Solum and Department received $1,000 that The Strandquist area food shelf skills (4317005.06 Sharon Piche) Creek, Red Lake Falls, River, Ger- and Norden, all in Pennington will be used to equip an additional received $400 to help stock their focusing on agriculture and natural Viking, all in Marshall County. vais, Terrebonne and Emardville, County. rescue unit they recently received, shelves and provide help (food) to resources for area ag couples. The Kujava is originally from Har- all in Red Lake County. Mosbeck has been a rural Red with a contractors tool box, jaws of low income, disabled or elderly in Goodridge Lion Tamer Lions was vey, N.D. where she was raised. For Versdahl is originally from Lake Falls resident all his life. He McIntosh. He is a 32-year veteran life and other rescue items. The need. awarded $250 to help make the past 10 years she has been and his wife Janette reside on their Viking Volunteer Fire and Rescue Inter-County nursing service of upgrades to the Lions hall used in employed at Wikstrom Telephone employee of Garden Valley Tele- farm in Polk Centre Township. Department was award $1,000 to Thief River Falls received $850 to hosting community events. The Co. in Karlstad. She works in sales phone Co. of Erskine. For the past They are the parents of two chil- help fund a pager repeater tower provide maintenance home health Pennington County Humane Socie- which includes internet and website 13 years he has served as facilities dren, Dustin and Brittney. Dustin and base radio unit at their fire hall. care for the elderly whose needs do ty received $500 to update their services in addition to telephone manager and safety director. Versdahl and his wife Kris have Polk County Sheriff's Mounted not qualify them for Medicare or existing ventilation system to directory sales. lives in Polk Centre Township also. been residents of Gervais Township Posse received $850 to help fund other program assistance. The Mid- remove harmful odors that will Kujava and her husband Gordon Brittney is married to Tom Johnson state mandatory continuing educa- dle River-Thief Lake living at home improve the environment for the for 30 years. Kris operates a graph- and resides in East Grand Forks. reside on their farm west of New- ic design studio from their home. tion and training for their Posse. block nurse program was awarded pets, staff and visitors. Peter is involved in a family Area youth will benefit from $700 to help them help the elderly Pembina Trail Resource Conser- folden in Marsh Grove Township. Versdahls are the parents of two grain (5105001.02 Leslie Wilde) Operation Round Up grants made live at home by providing medical vation and Development (RC&D) They are parents of three children. daughters, Kari who is married to to the following organizations: Lit- transportation and other related working cooperatively with J.A. Daughter Teri works at Digi Key, Danny Gagner and Erica who is farm operation and works as an tle Brother/Little Sister program of home health care. Hughes Elementary School in Red daughter Kelli attends Moorhead married to Alan Sundby, both resid- auctioneer.

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