Having Your Say At HomeWorks
This headline has a double meaning for the member-owners of Tri-County Electric Cooperative.
First, you have a say in a very important decision that will be made January 6, and I’ll be reviewing here each of the many different ways you can make sure you’re heard.
Second, you have a say in how your electric cooperative is run. Not only do you elect the board of directors who set the policies that guide our operations, you also are provided their phone numbers along with their addresses every month on this page. If you have a concern, it’s very easy to make sure the right people hear it.
Why is this important? It’s important because “democratic member control” is more to us than just one of the seven Cooperative principles. It is part of our culture. It’s why a real person answers your phone calls almost every time. And it’s why our field crews work so hard to make sure your power stays on, then work through the night if a storm causes damage anyway.
And it’s why your board of directors is considering a move to member regulation for rates, fees and billing rules, removing the Michigan Public Service Commission from those areas of our operations.
We believe member regulation will eliminate a barrier that prevents true democratic control. Why should you have to go to Lansing for a public hearing on your electric rates when you can talk to your local director or come to meetings at Portland or Blanchard?
We’ve talked about member regulation at our district membership meetings, at the Annual Meeting of the delegates, and in previous issues of Country Lines magazine. If you still have questions or concerns about member regulation, you are encouraged to comment in any of these ways:
- At the special open meeting on Wednesday, January 6, set for 1 p.m. at our Blanchard office.
- By sending an email. Directors’ email addresses are listed here, or you can email me at mkappler@homeworks.org.
- By postal mail. Directors’ mailing addresses are listed here, or you can mail your comments to me at 7973 E. Grand River Avenue, Portland, MI 48875.
- By telephone. Call me at 517-647-1281 or 800-562-8232, or call your director at the phone number listed here.
- In person. We’ve designated two days where we’ll keep the office open later to accomodate your schedule: December 8 at Portland or December 9 at Blanchard, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Any comments made via these opportunities, pro or con, will be responded to and then provided for your board of directors to review before considering the proposal to become member-regulated.
We hope to hear from you. No, we NEED to hear from you as the owners of HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative.
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Mark KapplerReprinted from Nov / Dec 2009 Michigan Country Lines magazine.
