April 1997 Minutes News & Views from Your Elected Representatives    According to 1995 statistics from the U.S. Department of Energy, Oregon has the 4th CHEAPEST electricity rates in the nation. That's right. The average, delivered price of electricity to all Oregonians' homes, small businesses and manufacturers was 4.8 cents a kilowatt hour. What's even better news is that in late 1996, many Oregon electric utilities REDUCED their retail rates even more. Electricity customers are usually categorized by sector...residential, commercial and industrial. Residential customers in Oregon enjoy the 3rd CHEAPEST rates, compared to rates charged to residential customers in other states. The statistics show that Oregon's average residential rate was 5.5 cents a kilowatt hour. Only Washington and Idaho on average, have lower residential rates.  Oregon's small businesses, the commercial customers, enjoy the 4th CHEAPEST electricity rates in the United States. The statewide average for commercial customers was 5.1 cents a kilowatt hour.  Oregon manufacturing and processing facilities, industrial customers, are tied with three other states for the 5th CHEAPEST electricity rates in the U.S....an average of 3.7 cents a kilowatt hour. Idaho tops the nation at an average industrial rate of 2.8 cents a kilowatt hour.  With all this good news about low cost power comes the need to stand vigil. Ongoing efforts by advocates of deregulation and retail wheeling continue to pose a threat to the low-cost power we enjoy.  Our natural abundance of hydroelectric power in the Northwest is being eyed by international corporations which seek the Northwest energy market as a cheap source of power to be "resold" and "retail wheeled" to high cost markets in California and elsewhere at the loss to local consumers.  Texas-based Enron Corporation is running television ads in the Northwest media market advertising lower rates...what they fail to mention is that the ads were produced for the New Hampshire media market where average power costs were 11.7¢ a kilowatt hour compared to the same period in Oregon at 4.8¢. Oregon consumers must protect the regional preference and not allow retail export of our hydro-produced power.  We will continue to apprise you of developments at the legislature as they affect you, the consumer. --  Jeff Anderson, President TOP Minutes of the Meeting Held on: February 25, 1997 At the February 25 meeting of the Board, General Manager Bob Speckman announced that retired General Manager Jere Overs, had been selected as the sole recipient of the Northwest Public Power Association's Paul J. Raver Award for 1997. The award recognizes outstanding community service through superior leadership in the betterment of cities, locales, states or regions. Overs will receive the award at the NWPPA annual meeting in Kalispell, Montana this July.  Member Services Manager Terry Kelly reported that the Dr. Wilderness Program, which focuses on energy conservation and environmental awareness, was put on at four elementary schools in the Salem Electric service area. Fourth and fifth grade students at Cummings, Brush College, Myers and Salem Academy all enjoyed the presentation.  Sara Baker-Sifford, General Manager of the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA) updated the board on ORECA's activities in regard to the restructuring issue. She fielded questions from the board regarding pending deregulation legislation.  Engineering and Operations Manager Roger Kuhlman provided background on Salem Electric's temporary service policy and described the success of the pilot project that began last July. He presented a staff recommendation that SE supply non-metered temporary service pedestals to residential builders for $160 for four months. After four months, there would be an $8.85 charge per month for energy. The recommendation was approved unanimously by the board.  Also approved by the board was a revision of the policy regarding the use of company vehicles which limits use to company business, except as approved by the General Manager.  In preparation for the upcoming annual membership meeting, the board discussed possibilities for this year's guest speaker. Consensus was to invite Representative Peter Courtney who has, since the meeting, agreed to be this year's speaker. Speckman suggested that some of SE's employees could also speak at the meeting, as their presentations have always been well received. There are two positions up for election at this year's meeting: Position No. 1, currently held by Jeff Anderson, and Position No. 2, currently held by Nancy Towslee.  Board member Curt Culver shared that he had thoroughly enjoyed spending three hours in the field observing and visiting with Salem Electric's line crews. He reported that being in the field with the crews certainly gives you a different perspective and respect for the work they do.  The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. --  Jeff Anderson TOP  | Board Reports |