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The Salem
Electric Board of Directors met at 7:00 p.m. April 27, 1999. Board members
present were: Jim Dyer, Nancy Towslee, Bill Wolf, Jeff Anderson and Murray
McCreary.
Auditor's Report
Administrative Services Manager Jack Belleque
introduced Jenny Standage from PriceWaterhouseCoopers to present the annual
audit report. Salem Electric got a clean, unqualified opinion and was
complimented on the efficiency of the staff throughout the audit. She went
through the report with the board and said that the cash flow statement is one
of the strongest she has ever seen. The board was given a printout comparing
Salem Electric with other local cooperatives. I was particularly impressed with
the fact that Salem Electric spent a smaller percentage on administrative costs
than all others, while spending more on the member services/conservation
category. Motion was made by Anderson, seconded by McCreary and carried
unanimously to accept the auditor's report as presented.
Manager's Report
General Manager Bob Speckman reported on the status
of the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association Deregulation Task Force.
SB1149 passed the Senate and seems likely to pass in the House without changes.
The cooperatives, as an association, had agreed to remain neutral on this bill
as long as some specific language was included in it. Some of the most
important language was regarding local control. Salem Electric and many other
co-ops are now in the unfortunate position of having their hands tied by not
being allowed to oppose the bill even though they are adamantly against it.
Anderson said he feels the cooperatives have been led down a path and that now
the door is open to power deregulation, when it could have been killed in the
Senate.
Although Salem Electric, as a co-op must remain
neutral, I, as a member of Salem Electric, will stand up and oppose the
deregulation of power in Oregon. It is a certainty that no benefit will come to
residential customers and that cheaper rates will only be available to
industrial customers using large quantities of power. The Northwest stands to
lose the low-cost power they have enjoyed for so many years. The local control
language and all other consumer safeguards included in this bill will only be
assured for the time being, as our legislators meet every two years and all
bets are off in 2001. You can expect that bills will be introduced at that time
to erode the local control language and other consumer protections in the law.
I hope that the ORECA will once again unite to lead the way for the protection
of our members, when that time comes.
In other business, Speckman informed the board that
the SE logo may be redesigned and that the board room has been fitted with an
additional exit door so the room can now be used for community meetings after
hours.
Speckman asked for the board's approval to pursue
renaming the Brush College Substation, now owned by Salem Electric, in memory
of a former SE employee who contributed 16 years to the operation of the
system. Motion was made by Anderson, seconded by McCreary and carried
unanimously to provide authority to the manager to change the name of the Brush
College Substation to the James R. Hughes Substation.
I would like to thank the board, Bob Speckman, the
Salem Electric staff and the members of Salem Electric for the support I have
received during my three years as a director. I am honored to have served.
Meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Bill Wolf
Secretary/Treasurer
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